Tinkering around with TVRs is so much easier thanks to the internet. Who would have thought that the possibilities for Blackpool's best-known automotive company would have been so much wider thanks to the World Wide Web? But here you have it, an online community of TVR enthusiasts swapping knowledge and selling machines and parts - it would have made Trevor Wilkinson proud!
I, for one, am glad to be able to not only restore the vehicles that I've got currently in my garage, but also the opportunity to sell parts and power tools that I've accumulated along the way. A refreshing spring clean every so often helps me to work towards achieving my main goal: buying more bits to piece together another classic vehicle. It's also handy to do a bit of stocktaking every so often so that I can keep track of what I've got, and also to access the other essentials that I've got tucked away in my garage-cum-workshop-cum-toolshed. Every so often I get my hands on my lawnmower, hedge cutters, or Makita tools and have a potter around in the garden, but when it comes down to it, my real passion is automobiles and the majority of my hand tools are car-related.
If you're thinking of getting into car restoration but don't know where to start, here are a few indispensable ideas for starting points:
- Subscribe to car restoration magazines, or alternately join the TVR car club to receive the award-winning official publication, the monthly magazine Sprint. Produced for members, by members, you're guaranteed to get the best range of articles, suggestions and deals for TVRs.
- Secure yourself a large, clean place to house the vehicle while undertaking any work. A plastic sheet spread on the floor will help ensure that you don't lose any small parts during the disassembly phases.
- When it comes to repainting the car, you have the choice between taking it to a professional and doing it yourself. You just need to get your hands on the right equipment after sanding and priming it.
- Don't forget the finishing touches - you might be required to rewire the headlights and taillights or replace broken mirrors. When you finish this, there's bound to be seven years of good luck in store!