Just because you can doesn't mean you should......

The no negativity rule has always been about subjective issues (appearances basically). Dangerous stuff (with evidence) can be called out. That thing is a dangerous turd.

I raised those points on FB regarding points and IVA many months ago and all I got was abuse from other users so I left the group , cars like this will only lead to stricter rules

The bit that got me was:

they are also drilled for BMW hubs, i.e. 5×120. The rear hubs are Audi, 5×112 so I had to slot the wheels to make them fit.

All I can say is WTF!

To comply with rich post please see below picture of my shortened Mini that I built 20 years ago

that spitfire had been all over a page on facebook as you have said and some questionable engineering involved .

it’s when he called out the handling needed looking at as the front is really light and it doesnt exactly handle that great i just laughed

hats off to having an idea and pushing through with it but i think this will end in tears and wrapped around a tree or worse

A classy looking spitfire found off of google, photos from ten years ago in USA...


www.martinaveyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aveyard_spitfire_parkade_940_1.jpg

www.martinaveyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aveyard_spitfire_parkade_940_5.jpg

www.martinaveyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aveyard_spitfire_parkade_940_4.jpg

(The site doesn't seem to allow an embedded image so had to link to them.)

I read about that Spitfire in Practical Performance Car. I didn't understand the thinking behind the car - it's effectively been completely rebuilt as something else so *Should* have had an appropriate test. As has been stated above, having an idea does not equal having the ability. If you're going to do the job, do it properly. Or get someone who can. 

I did a bit of welding early on during my Midas rebuild - building something with captive bolts. Someone pulled me up on the quality of the welding, so I junked the part I'd made and started again. Practice, practice, practice. If you can't figure it out, ask someone who does know. Advice is usually free, and there's no shame in admitting you're struggling. I have very little knowledge of electrics, so I enlist the help of my friend who does. He's not someone who knows "a bit" - he's done car electrics since he left school, and he's now approaching 50, so I completely trust his abilities. I reckon there's a lot of "mates" who can "do stuff" who have assisted without having the heart to tell the owner that it might be a bit sketchy. If that thing gets pulled over for a VOSA test they'll have a field day.

I am also all for modified vehicles but a little knowledge can be way too much. 

Edit: Spitfire with a 350ci V8 

Stuff like that really winds me up. It's badly built and engineered plus illegally registered. Look at what one accident involving a badly modified Landrover did for that community. This isn't just modified badly, it's just shyte flung in a heap.
We have a legal way of registering stuff like this (not popular in some quarters I know). It's not the nightmare it's sometimes painted but it stops this sort of death trap.
And breath...

1939 Willys gasser for penance.

I'd settle for a highlights

I said nothing about reporting. It's not something I'd normally entertain. I admit I was thinking about it here though - and that is something that has NEVER happened before to me before.

Your comment about MoT testers picking it up though...... Apparently not. The car in question appears to have had an MoT only last December. Presumably while it was fitted with those horrific "vertical links" and god only knows whatever other horrific bodges. Assuming it was a legit MoT where it was actually inspected, that raises some very serious questions with me as to whether that MoT tester needs retraining or, at the very least, some new glasses? The scariest aspect being that the creator of this frankenshite no doubt feels vindicated and legitimised by it having been inspected and passed.

Never mind DVSA points, IVA, SVA or whatever, how could anyone charged with ensuring the roadworthiness of the UKs vehicles look at those links and think, yep, they look safe.....?

I don't do facebook, but I understand that even our man might have realised that all was not well with his front end due to "handling oddities" and is now refitting Triumph parts and stumped by how to set wheel bearing end-float...... Holy curse word - 100% enthusiasm unhampered by talent, knowledge or self-doubt is a truly scary thing. I guess we should be grateful he's not into nuclear physics!



Have another modified Triumph as a penance. A 1972 2500 PI I re-commissioned (everything mechanical was dead)


Megasquirt conversion using the original PI manifolding. With a bit of headwork and TR6 manifold it made just shy of 150bhp with the standard cam and >160 lb/ft of torque from 1800 - 5200 rpm. Did pull very well. I fitted Stag brakes pretty soon after sorting the engine......


BMW coupe seats. Absolute cow to fit and didn't really work for me. Everyone else loved them!


Should have been a decent car, but it didn't like me. It wound me up once to often and I advertised it at what I thought was a daft high price. It sold in under 48 hours..... idiot! New owner was very happy with it when I talked to him a year later - so I guess it liked him better!

I didn't do many big trips in this.  The one that stands out was a Club Triumph Historic Counties Rally, basically an all-night scatter rally that might take you anywhere in mainland UK.  We did 1,127 miles in 30 hours door to door.  In no small part because the start and finish were miles from home.  Home near Taunton, event start near Cambridge, half-way stop near Leeds, finish in Barnoldswick, via Scotland.  It did well on that one - champion mile eater.

Nick