Supply Chain!

I have now been an owner of Triumph motor cars since 1982 and have almost certainly spent money with many suppliers of parts from three types of supplier, these being:
A: Triumph Specialists
B: General Motor Factors
C: Suppliers of Motor Sport Parts

I thought it would be fun to go through the many I have used and give my opinion and experiences, so will start with group A.

The first supplier I used was
Sport Six Spares, that became Kingston Sports Cars
This company run by Tony Lindsay Dean used to be situated between Hounslow and Whitton in Middlesex, then moved to an ex tyre suppliers premises in Kingston. I first used them when I burnt out the inlet and exhaust valve on no.1 cylinder of my first Triumph, that being a Vitesse mk2 convertible in 1983. Tony was very helpful and sorted the head, although I remember that the exhaust valve jammed in its guide resulting in having to take the head back to him to have some more repair work carried out. My next purchase was a mk2 engine for my GT6 from him that he took out of a rotten mk2 GT6, this engine was subsequently rebuilt by Hilthorne Engineering in Hanwell many years later, I gave this engine to Doug Foreman for his mk3 GT6. I liked Tony and found him to be a very capable engineer, however as with many of his type he was not that commercial and used to let people down. I believe he still operates in Suffolk, but does not advertise, seems a bit word by mouth!

Cox and Buckles/TriumphTune/Moss Europe
I used to frequent their shop in Manor Road, Richmond and remember spending hours poring over their catalogue, just wishing I had the money to spend on their parts. I did use their shore 70 rubber bushes, 330 lb springs for my GT6 suspension rebuild in the late 80s and seem to remember buying Koni shock absorbers from them. When they were at Richmond the shop was split into two, the LHS being Triumph and the RHS being MG, Saturday mornings always being busy with a queue for both parts of the business. I was always taken by their magenta Spitfire 1500 that had TR7 alloys on it, this car being parked out the front next to a french blue TR6. Quality parts, but pricey, still the same now! I still spend with Moss, and must say that although a bit dearer than many, they do hold good stock levels. Adam Chignell works there these days, a good man who is very helpful and full of enthusiasm.

John Kipping Spares/Canley Classics
In my opinion the best supplier of parts for the small chassis range of Triumph cars, now run and owned by Dave Pearson who is by far the most enthusiastic Triumph man I have met, Dave has put his business' profits to good use and has a number of special Triumph motor cars, to me the best being the modsports Spitfire that he owns. When finished, that car will be something, so come on Dave, get your finger out! The shop is an aladdins cave of wonderment, its full of parts, some rare, some not so. Its also features a piece of modern art, that being the pyramid of  4 cylinder engine blocks, I love the way the front gaskets all seem to bring an air of age and rust! When last up there, Dave was working on his ex World Cup Rally 2.5Pi mk2 and Andy Martin's Scottish Rally winning similar car. As I have said, a top place. Dave and Clare (Dave's wife) price their parts competitively and are always honest if they do not have something, as I said the place to buy your Herald, Spitfire, Vitesse and GT6 spare parts.

Chris Witor
Chris specialises in the Triumph saloon range and is known for the quality parts that he sells. A bit pricey, but all parts are of a very good quality. Chris knows his stuff, one can buy in confidence and know that they will fit and last. Top supplier!

Six Spares
This small business that was in a dingy unit just off Twickenham high street, it was a brilliant place to go to buy parts. Run by Bill Livingstone and his wife Jo, what a shop. Bill and Jo had a grunge/grebo/traveller look going on that I always thought suited their business. Sadly they split and I think Bill lost his interest in the Triumph parts scene and shut the business down, anyone know where he is?

John HIll's Triumph Parts
I remember their advert in The Courier, quite racy as sometimes featured a topless woman (how terribly not PC), I bought a few parts from them, however they did not make the grade and stopped trading in the 80s.

James Paddock Parts
I buy what I suppose could be considered to be service parts from them now, very good stock levels and competitive prices. It must be said that some parts are lacking when it comes to high quality, but you get what you pay for and they do arrive very quickly.

Revington TR
Only started purchasing from them this year following the purchase of a TR6. I get the same feeling about quality as I do from Chris Witor, but as it seems with some other TR parts suppliers, one pays higher prices than can be expected from other parts of the Triumph scene. Still compare these prices with those one would pay for parts for a modern car from an authorised dealer and the prices are cheap! So far, my experience has been very good, their stores man, Paul is most helpful. Somehow I expect to be spending more hard earned there!

Rimmer Brothers
Similar to Paddocks, but not as cheap. Again, massive stock levels and one does get the feeling that Triumph are the favoured marque that they serve. I have had one or two disappointments, but I don't consider that to be bad news as I have been buying parts for over 20 years from them.

Shacktune/Harveytune
These two part time businesses run by James Shackford and David Harvey are operated in their spare time. All parts are excellent and come with superb advice and help. Both of them know their stuff!

The Triumph spares hobby seems to get a lot of stick online or on farcebook, in my opinion this is unfair and unwarranted. The majority of these suppliers got into selling Triumph parts through a love of the marque, some have stayed low key in an attempt to keep overheads down, some have gone the other way with very modern websites and modern shops and have had to move into selling parts for other marques. All have a well deserved place in the business and have obviously helped to keep many a Triumph on the road.

More general car spare businesses:

Autoparts, Staines, Middlesex.
A local motor factor, I think I may be one of their longest frequenting customers, first going there in 1983. Back then, one could buy services items such as brake and clutch parts, radiators etc etc. Now I just go there to buy garage consumables and to have a chat with the staff. Saff (Spelling?) is a top bloke, massive cricket fan and all round good guy. Not many motor factors around these days, to be still trading is a mark of the quality of the business. His sons used to be into Escorts, so yep, top blokes! Saff still drives a Volvo P1800, good taste.

Halfords
Er, no comment, apart from the high quality of their batteries!

Merlin Motorsport
A cheaper version of Demon Tweeks! Quality parts at not bad prices. They sell some very nice parts from reputable suppliers such as ITG, Racetech, Mocal, Goodridge etc etc.

Namrick Limited
The go to place for fasteners, prices not that brilliant, but quick service and lots of stock. Excellent shop to visit.

These are the traders that I use the most and I can count on mine hand the bad service or experience I have ever received. Sadly, one or two have drifted away, and as interest in these cars diminishes one can expect further culling. When one thinks about it, being able to buy parts for our old Triumph motor cars in the 21st century is a wonderous thing!