This is the story of how I started in this whole British sports car thing. When I was young, my parents did not have lots of money to pay for new cars. Instead Dad would buy a used car and repair it himself. When he needed help, he would call me into the garage and tell me to "hold this wrench, and give it a 1/4 turn when I tell you to". Together we replaced engines, transmissions, worked on brake systems. What ever broke, we fixed.

My son turned 14 this year and I thought that it's about time that he learns about how cars work. Fortunately our cars are 3 years old and in perfect repair. I suggested to my wife that we buy a little British sports car that needs total restoration so that he (and I) can learn the basics of automobiles.

The first add we came across was for a 1967 Spitfire mk 3 without an engine for $100. By the time we called, the car was sold and the tow truck was hauling it out of the back yard.

A month later I spotted an ad for a 1972 Triumph Spitfire, not running, $250. I talked to the owner on the phone, his story was that he had a spitfire that he gave his college bound daughter back in the early 80's. While in school in Texas she got into an auto accident and totaled the spitfire. Her boyfriend (at the time) told her that it was repairable.

The father had it hauled back to Connecticut and wound up pulling the engine and anything else that was worth anything and found a body. He started working on it 15 years ago at his shop figuring that he would surprise is daughter with another spitfire. His wife found out about it and put her foot down. It sat for the next 15 years in the back of the shop until he retired and sold the business. He brought it home and the Mrs. said that she did not want that thing in her back yard.

My wife, son and I took a look at it. She had lots of potential, and a trunk loaded with spare parts. We purchased her for the full price of $250.00 and contacted the local tow truck to haul her home for another $125.

We needed to name our new baby. It had to be a British name for a British car. We found Audrey to be the perfect fit because:

1. It was British.
2. It was a small car and there was a cartoon when I was a kid called "Little Audrey".
3. Its meaning in old English is "Noble Strength" which I hope it has
4. It was the name of the country Girl wooed by the clown "Touchstone " in Shakespeare's "As you Like It" need I say more?

REMEMBER, She was purchased to work on and she needs LOTS of work.

Audrey being set on the truck to go home

Strapped down and ready for the journey home.

On the road

We made it. Nice hood scope. Looks like we're in the market for another bonnet.

Another picture of the bonnet. The current color of Audrey is primer gray.

Under that is a golden yellow. Original color is Damson (17)

This is the driver side door. No Bondo!

This is the color Audrey should be.

Note the previous tenants (wasp nest in the center).

The driver side floor is rusty. See the black areas, that’s the

driveway showing thru. Looks like I'll get to learn MIG welding.

What a nice custom-made wood grain dash. I'll be in the market for a

replacement. The hardest part of replacing the dash is the foam

padded bottom. I haven't found one in a catalog yet.

Nice engine. . . . From the serial number (FC 12113 HE) she is a 1147cc. from

a mk 1 or early mk 2, nice SU carbs though. The silver on the top of the

rear carb is duct tape. I guess if I'm going to keep this engine, I'll have to do some carb rebuilding.

Another reason that I'll need a new bonet. The passenger side fender is the only

area that rust is apparent on the outside.

This is the trunk. When we went to see it, it was storing extras like

a windshield, transmission, intake manifold with a single zenith carb., distributor, starter, lots of trim pcs and a whole lot of junk.

First thing I'll have to do is make a storage shed. We have a one car garage that is full with the family bikes, tiller, lawn mower, yard tools, you know the rest of the junk that gets collected over the years. Once we get that, Audrey can go into the garage. I don't want to work on her out in the open. Too many thing that can get lost in the open.

I'll update this site once we get started.