My Triumph Spartan

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Years ago, before I was married, I had a 1938 Singer Roadster. I did a lot of work on that car, restoring the bodywork , spraying it red, making a new hood, rebuilding the engine etc and used it daily for work for about three years. After marriage I had ordinary cars but always hankered after that old Singer, not so much the car but the shape and idea of a 30s sports type car. So when a friend said that he was selling his kit car which he had only partially started I readily bought it from him. The kit was that of a Triumph based Spartan which embodied the spirit of a 30s sports car, everyone sees in it the type of car they remember such as an MG or a Morgan etc.

When I bought the kit my friend had stripped down a Triumph Herald, refurbished the chassis, installed the engine and running gear and bolted the body frame in place. It took me another twelve months to complete the work. I welded in extra strengthening pieces and adjusted the body parts so that they fitted into a good looking shape. Finally spraying it red it was ready for the road and after an MOT it was in use and I have used it daily now for more than twelve years.

    
The beginning                                     The Engine                             The Dashboard

The only real problem I have had with the car was that the thrust bearing on the crankshaft wore away and an Engineer friend machined and silver soldered a bronze bearing in it's place. Recently I had a spare cylinder head fitted with hardened valve seats and have installed ready it for the totally unleaded era.

   
The Dash Wiring                                  Almost There

Now that I am no longer in work and don't need my Spartan to travel to work any more I will probably  have to sell it.

Now after 18 years of ownership I have sold the Spartan, a very sad day! So I am no longer a Spartan owner but am always willing to offer advice and info to other Spartan people.

Great News

The Spartan Car Company has been restarted under new ownership. The new owner says:-

'at the end of May 2004 some parts for the spartan will be made again. Depending on demand we will be able to supply everything for the Ford based Spartan very soon and later on this year we will be producing a new Spartan kit car.'

As soon as they have their new web site completed I will be posting a link here.