My car as purchased in March 1980.
I have owned FHN 548J since March 1980 when I was only 31 years old! As they say, it has had one owner since 1980 (ignoring the previous 6). It was bought on the recommendation of an article called, ironically “Cars to Keep” written by motoring journalist/racing driver Roger Bell for the first issue of a magazine called “Old Motor”, now defunct. Little did I know that I would keep it for over 45 years, and still counting! Originally I used it as a daily driver, when it visited such far flung places as London, Guildford, and Scotland (reputedly at the hands of the driver who stole it in Luton). My Dad tried to persuade me to sell it when I bought my first new car in 1982, an Austin Metro, but I decided to keep it as a second car! When my future wife Liz’s car broke down in 1985, I lent the Metro to her, again using the Triumph as a daily driver. I remember using it for the first viewing of our present house in Chester. Just before we married she bought a more reliable car, a Hyundai Pony and the Triumph was again consigned to the garage. Over the years I used it occasionally until July 2000 when it failed its MoT. The high cost of raising a family of 3 meant that there were no funds to keep it roadworthy so it was laid up, and gradually became a glorified cupboard in the garage. The car was kept because I had owned it for so long that it had a place in my heart, becoming almost a member of the family! When I celebrated my 50th Birthday in 1998 my friend Garry even made a birthday cake in the shape of a GT6 (complete with brown patches of “rust”), see below:
When I finally retired at the end of 2013 I had already made a start on it’s second restoration by getting the engine going after being silent for over 12 years. Fortunately it sounded as good as ever; I had rebuilt it meticulously back in 1980.
I have tried to contact the previous owners but without success. The logbook and records kept by British Motor Industry Heritage Trust indicate that it was purchased from the Cleveland Car Company Ltd in Darlington by a Christopher McAndrew who lived at Dilston House, Aldbrough St John, Richmond, Yorkshire, the car’s first “home”. The McAndrew name is not uncommon in the Darlington area. Dilston House is a substantial property, and can be seen here. The car has now been in Chester for two-thirds of its nearly 50 year life and I will have owned it for 40 years in March 2020.
Below are details from my British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate of the car as manufactured:
Above, the original key as per the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate. Below, a period Dunlop SP68 advert.
