In late 2006, due to a buyers' chain problem with my forthcoming new house, I'd moved in with my aunt and uncle for a month or so, who had dragged their 1973 Mk4 Spitfire kicking and screaming out of the garage to make way for my vanload of possessions.
Having more or less grown up with this car, I'd barely given it a second glance, but when my aunty announced - on the day I was moving out – that she was going to scrap it, it took me approx half a second to make a rash decision and say "don't do that - I'll rebuild it!" The curse of hating to see stuff go to waste strikes again...
Because of clutch and engine problems, the bonnet had been removed and left standing outside for quite a few years – don't think the car has seen action since 82 – but that aside, having been more or less constantly garaged, the rest of it was in astonishingly good condition. As it had never been fitted, the refurbed Herald engine with new clutch even came as part of the package - in other words, it's all free, but if I sell up, I pass on what they'd have got for spares.
Oh yeah, did I mention I've never done anything like this before? I've done my own maintenance and repairs over the past 10 years or so, mainly to Haynes 3- and occasionally 4-spanner ratings, so was/am looking forward to the project as much for its educational opportunities as having another car to drive.
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