VALUES

If you fancy your chances with a basket case, then a little over £1000 should secure you a project, but a complete car ready to restore will be closer to £5000. Running, MoT’d examples will be closer to £7000, with £12,000-£15,000 buying a nice usable example without any problems. At the top end of the market, expect to pay up to £20,000 for show standard examples. The free tax for pre-January 1973 cars makes them worth £1000 more.

ENGINE & GEARBOX

• The Triumph six-pot is robust but can suffer crankshaft end float
• Oil leaks from the top gasket on the left-hand side are common
• All healthy engine will show 70-80 psi at 3000 rpm
• Erratic or rough running especially in warm weather can be down to the fuel pump which lives above the exhaust. Relocate it or fit an uprated Bosch pump
• US imports on carbs are 104 bhp. Pre-’73 European cars are nominally 150 bhp but post-’73 cars ran softer cams for 125 bhp
• If it jumps out of gear, you’re looking at a replacement box
• Clunking on taking up drive can point to a corroded diff mounting on the chassis
• Pre-’73 cars have overdrive on  second, third and fourth. Later cars have overdrive only on third and fourth
• Clutch operation should be smooth and quiet. If not, suspect a worn gearbox layshaft 

STEERING, SUSPENSION, BRAKES

• Disc/drum set-up is fine but can easily be upgraded
• Worn rear suspension bushes will affect the handling. Stiffer springs and poly bushes for the trailing arms are a common upgrade
• Lever arm dampers can be replaced by telescopics

To read the complete Buyer's Checklist feature buy the July 2011 issue of Classic Car Mart