Ragamuffin, my 1972 T/E!
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:42 pm
Thought I would finally get around to do this as I haven’t done one before.
I bought the car from Mike (210bhp) in August 2008 who had been using is on a daily basis. The car is very original matching numbers and untouched and has a lot of patina. Delivered in Sepia Brown with dark brown interior.
It was manufactured in May 1972 and first delivered in June 1972 to UH San Antonio to what I believe was a doctor. The COA lists the following options but thought some research some of the details are not correct.
470 Comfort Package
400 Alloy Wheels 6x15
From what I have found out the Doctor sold it to a lady in Boulder, Colorado who kept it until she sold it to the third owner in the early 80’s. I managed to track down the third owner and although he bought it in Colorado he moved to California and it spent most of it’s time in San Diego. Larry (the 3rd owner) sold it to his son in mid 90’s who ran it for a couple of years and subsequently sold it a British car sales man, who was working in LA. He returned to the UK and brought the car back with him.
I had Bob Watson look over it and pop a set of SSI’s on it. He also set it up on his rolling road. First run was 112bhp, second was 130 and the final run it made 154bhp. Happy with that! Engine has never been touched.
I ran it that summer, attending the Welsh trip to get some mileage in it, but during the trip I noticed that the car handled like a boat. I took the car off the road for the winter and replaced the following:
Front shocks upgraded to Bilstein HD
Rears are Bilstein Sport
19mm front and rear anti roll bars
fitted Superpro Bushes on the rear spring plates / torsion bar pivot
During the winter I was also getting a set of steel wheels banded.
Once everything was complete I went up to Tuthills to get the corner balanced and aligned. But I never really liked the look of the widened wheels, I don’t know if it was the colour, width but something wasn’t right.
The car was on the road for about 2 months, but then it decided to do a big oil wee on me!
Once again I took the car off the road and did the following;
Replaced all engine breather oil and fuel hoses,
Replaced all the large oil lines.
Removed the oil tank and sent it to Alan for refurbishment
Replaced the oil return tubes
Filter console cleaned and new seals
New oil breather gasket
New pressure sender and o ring
Replaced o ring oil temp switch
Fitted Turbo lower valve covers and silicone gaskets
Whilst off the road, I decided to change the wheels (again). I bought a set of Deep 6’s, which I know are not correct for my car but I just prefer the look of them. I sent them to Alan for a full refurb. I also lowered the car a little as although it was bang on spec before I just always thought it looked too high.
There are still things to do but I really need to get some mileage out of it and enjoy it!
Other things done or replaced;
Coco mats in Jasp (keeping with the 70’s brown theme)
Fitted one of Jamie’s knobs (!)
380mm Leather bound steering wheel
New engine mounts
New master cylinder
New track rod ends
New front callipers and pads
Rebuilt the pedal cluster
Speedo refurbed by Speedy cables
New voltage regulator
Petronix fitted and removed by Bob(!)
New rear centre panel
Fitted a Turbo Thomas twin out exhaust
As it stands today
On its banded steelies, looks so much better on Fuchs!
On the Welsh trip
Interior
I bought the car from Mike (210bhp) in August 2008 who had been using is on a daily basis. The car is very original matching numbers and untouched and has a lot of patina. Delivered in Sepia Brown with dark brown interior.
It was manufactured in May 1972 and first delivered in June 1972 to UH San Antonio to what I believe was a doctor. The COA lists the following options but thought some research some of the details are not correct.
470 Comfort Package
400 Alloy Wheels 6x15
From what I have found out the Doctor sold it to a lady in Boulder, Colorado who kept it until she sold it to the third owner in the early 80’s. I managed to track down the third owner and although he bought it in Colorado he moved to California and it spent most of it’s time in San Diego. Larry (the 3rd owner) sold it to his son in mid 90’s who ran it for a couple of years and subsequently sold it a British car sales man, who was working in LA. He returned to the UK and brought the car back with him.
I had Bob Watson look over it and pop a set of SSI’s on it. He also set it up on his rolling road. First run was 112bhp, second was 130 and the final run it made 154bhp. Happy with that! Engine has never been touched.
I ran it that summer, attending the Welsh trip to get some mileage in it, but during the trip I noticed that the car handled like a boat. I took the car off the road for the winter and replaced the following:
Front shocks upgraded to Bilstein HD
Rears are Bilstein Sport
19mm front and rear anti roll bars
fitted Superpro Bushes on the rear spring plates / torsion bar pivot
During the winter I was also getting a set of steel wheels banded.
Once everything was complete I went up to Tuthills to get the corner balanced and aligned. But I never really liked the look of the widened wheels, I don’t know if it was the colour, width but something wasn’t right.
The car was on the road for about 2 months, but then it decided to do a big oil wee on me!
Once again I took the car off the road and did the following;
Replaced all engine breather oil and fuel hoses,
Replaced all the large oil lines.
Removed the oil tank and sent it to Alan for refurbishment
Replaced the oil return tubes
Filter console cleaned and new seals
New oil breather gasket
New pressure sender and o ring
Replaced o ring oil temp switch
Fitted Turbo lower valve covers and silicone gaskets
Whilst off the road, I decided to change the wheels (again). I bought a set of Deep 6’s, which I know are not correct for my car but I just prefer the look of them. I sent them to Alan for a full refurb. I also lowered the car a little as although it was bang on spec before I just always thought it looked too high.
There are still things to do but I really need to get some mileage out of it and enjoy it!
Other things done or replaced;
Coco mats in Jasp (keeping with the 70’s brown theme)
Fitted one of Jamie’s knobs (!)
380mm Leather bound steering wheel
New engine mounts
New master cylinder
New track rod ends
New front callipers and pads
Rebuilt the pedal cluster
Speedo refurbed by Speedy cables
New voltage regulator
Petronix fitted and removed by Bob(!)
New rear centre panel
Fitted a Turbo Thomas twin out exhaust
As it stands today
On its banded steelies, looks so much better on Fuchs!
On the Welsh trip
Interior
and we can go for a burn! 
damn damn and double damn.
