FI Spyder's weblog

Not finding the time to start the restoration on my 76 and 78 Spitfires I decided I needed a British ride NOW. It had to be ready to drive and meet requirements for Collector Plates (cheap insurance). I always liked the TR7 back in the day although my keen eye for design had trouble with the roof line. The DHC took care of that. A few false starts and there it was on eBay, owned by a "little old lady from Pasadena"....well Stockton anyway.

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It had been stored for last seven years, owned by a lady from 1985 to 2006 who decided at 60 she wouldn't put it back on the road. Always garage kept it looked in good shape as the desert doesn't promote rust. Taking the bus down I started driving it back the 1000 miles. On the freeway I noticed a shimmy above 50 mph from the bald tires. That's OK I had three days before presenting to Customs. I tried to get tires at Costco in Folsom at noon but couldn't wait the four hours on a Monday (proving nobody works in California they just shop). I passed all the trucks going up the Shasta Mountains at a fast idle in 5th and they passed me on the way down. I also noticed steering column flopping around (no firewall bushing) shifter flopping around (no bushings) and no signal lights. I did get 39 mpg due to low speed, 36 psi in tires and Bosch fuel injection. I also got three thumbs up from three young dudes in a furniture moving van going from Swartz Bay ferry to Victoria. Next Blog: Getting it ready for BC safety check.