Author Topic: Florida TC  (Read 963 times)

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Offline Exlimey

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Florida TC
« on: Monday,August 09, 2021, 01:28:48 PM »
Seriously rough,but the frame looks ok from what you can see. https://www.ebay.com/itm/154558776013

Offline Bainford

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday,August 10, 2021, 05:32:27 AM »
Yup, that poor old thing needs a good bit of love. Paint shows the classic patterns of an engine fire, though similar damage to the tops of the front fenders is curious. Also curious, the engine bay doesn't look to have been burnt, but being so grimy it's hard to tell. Not for the faint of heart, this one.
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Offline Jmarkusic

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 08:44:37 AM »
In looking at this car, it appears to have been in a garage fire rather than having an engine fire.  Hot enough the tires burned which explains the tops of the front fenders.  Perhaps something fell on the rear that caused the damage above the engine.  Also the bumpers got hot enough to do damage themselves.  The dash sort of looks like it was hot when water hit it to me. 

No title sort of says it is has been neglected a long time in any case. 

Offline 4129R

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 09:40:32 AM »
IMHO, if the fire caught the tyres alight, the whole fibreglass body would have gone up.

I have burned many surplus fibreglass crashed panels which were beyond repair including a GT40 complete front and rear clams, and it does not take much to set them alight, and once they go, you cannot put the fire out without specialist fire fighting equipment.

That paint looks like it has been cooked by years in a very hot sun.

Just saying .....

Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 12:26:41 PM »
Monty Python & the Holy Grail....run away! run away!

Offline Jmarkusic

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 02:05:50 PM »
4129R-I don't know about how this car end up the way it did.  Could be the sun, but that's not normally what I have seen as sun damage even on paint over fiberglass.  But without knowing where this car came from I realize that a hot sun could do more than I have seen.

By the way, tires burn at 750 deg F and fiberglass not until 1112 deg F.  Paint of course much lower. 

If I were a betting man, I'd bet both of us would be wrong.  Murphy at work.

Offline Jmarkusic

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 02:09:30 PM »
Lou - yes, on first blush it was interesting as I have ended up with a lot of stock parts I will never use that this car seems to need.  But......no title, long sitting with a possibility of being in extreme heat...yeah, not the one.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 08:32:04 PM »
I just took a close look at the pics.
Having lost an XKE to a small fire and then the total destruction of the fire department, I know too well what fire damage looks like.
I say no fire, the seats are too much intact, glass is intact so not heated then doused with cold water, carbs and cam covers appear intact, I do not see burned tires.
I would bet on extreme neglect in the Florida sun.

Offline literarymadness

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 11:28:52 PM »
Being a Native Floridian and from Broward County, that particular style of Florida/Broward County license tag, based on a color scheme of an orange Florida logo with green letters and county name at the bottom (plus those particular pre-fix letters and numbers) was only specifically issued from Nov/1991 to Nov/1994. This basically means this TC sat in a South Florida backyard in scorching heat and humidity (plus a hurricane or two) for at least 27-30 years ago or longer.  That would explain a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Florida

« Last Edit: Thursday,August 12, 2021, 12:17:46 AM by literarymadness »

Offline 4129R

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday,August 11, 2021, 11:51:25 PM »
There is so much missing, and so much in need of replacement, that seems to be beyond economic repair.

No fuel tanks, alternator, starter, steering wheel centre, wrong wheels, 5 tyres neede, engine cover grills missing, wiring loom looks awful, every rubber part would need replacing, complete re-trim and re-spray, every cable needs replacing, dashboard, plenum chamber fan missing, front and rear bumpers, the list goes on and on.

Very sad. Whoever buys it would have to spend a serious amount to get it into decent condition. I have renovated slightly better than that, and it is amazing just how much needs to be replaced to get long term reliability, and the car looking good.

I don't suppose the engine turns over. I have just spent £650 having 4 new liners put in a block where rust had damaged 2 bores.

Good luck to whoever buys it. 

Offline mrwierdwrench

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #10 on: Thursday,August 12, 2021, 11:07:11 AM »
If it was a fire the 2 extinguisher were in a useless position.

Offline Jmarkusic

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Re: Florida TC
« Reply #11 on: Thursday,August 19, 2021, 04:22:17 AM »
The car is back on eBay at a slightly lower starting bid.