Hoping everyone has had a very good Christmas despite most of the Country suffering from colds and bugs possibly due to unseasonally warm weather.

Very grateful to the two Fourteen owners who have agreed to provide headlamp glasses and rims plus nave plate to the small Museum in Uruguay. Thanks also to the offer of transport from France to Montivideo by sea, that will help a lot.

In Bulletin 232, March 1973 is an Article on the dedicated Fourteen topic, the Afterburn Eliminator. As the author pointed out ”nothing to do with ‘afterburners’, which are go-faster bolt ons for jet aircraft’. Most Fourteen owners, whose afterburn eliminators are not properly functioning have experienced the violent rocking of the engine when the ignition has been switched off. The Article is well worth a read but the synopsis is that the whole mechanism should be thoroughly checked through ‘eliminating all backlash and making sure the cable is free. Further checks are detailed. The author also recommended considering fitting an additional stay to the engine to prevent it rocking sideways, as fitted to the T series MGs, to be called ‘the Rocking Eliminator!

Bulletin 232 saw a very knowledgeable scribe, over 50 years in the Motor Trade, advise that afterburn could be eliminated by a control supplied by the Alvis Stores. Does Red Triangle still have that part for those where the mechanism has been removed?

This gentleman also knew what do do for a sportier Fourteen!

‘There were no ‘tune-up kits’ in those days and the first thing we undertook was to raise the compression by machining the cylinder head. Gasket trouble was eliminated by mating the head to the block by hand scraping and fitting a solid copper gasket, the valve ports were also polishes, a new manifold cast and dual SU carburetor fitted and you had a vast improvement in power, not cheap and certainly not for the weekend amateur motor mechanic’!

Duncan, chassis 21707 was sold by Bonhams recently and went for £31050, less than the guide price but still a good sum. Interesting to note that the original car, including extras and tax was for sale at £2199 in 1948. You could have 2 Mulliners for that. It was also more than £1000 over the price of a new Jaguar XK120 launched the following year. Well who wouldn’t rather have had a TA 14.

Spares are often sought after particularly when they are a little outside the mainstream. When the usual channels have been exhausted take a look at http://www.britcot.com. This is an American site that is not for profit and provides a showcase for small operators who do not have their own site and who make parts for old cars, particularly British.

Should you want to look closer to home it is worth checking out http://www.ClassisCarama.com, a free site for goods and services with some recognizable names advertising.

On page 40 of the Driver’s handbook there is reference to a separate leaflet relating to the steering box. Should anyone have a copy of the leaflet I should welcome an email copy to put up on the site.

With the good news that stainless petrol tanks are more freely available, a recommendation has been received for those who just want to repair the existing tank. D&T Radiator Repairs of 
Liverpool have been highly commended recently,for their work and value, by a Fourteen owner.

Should anyone wish to join the mailing list for future Red Triangle Newsletters the address is newsletter@redtriangle.co.uk and I am sure they would welcome suggestions for future Articles

Now all that remains to say is to wish everyone and their Fourteens the Very Best Wishes for 2017.

Eileen, Terry and ‘Aunty May’

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com