Preamble.
I am currently in the process of importing my Triumph Vitesse on to the Danish register. The car is now to be assessed by the tax department which makes me
very nervous. The car must be displayed in original condition to be eligible for the reduced veteran car status.
My question is, were Minilites ever an optional extra on any Triumphs? I have admitted that it has these wheels but, although I have the original wheels
(which isn't strictly true-they are still in England), they are missing the hub caps and therefore the Minilites are a 'period' part. I know a lot of
owners have fitted these wheels and I have downloaded a bunch of photos as an example of the fact that these are the accepted replacement wheel type.
Anyone have any comments which may support my case.
The difference to me is that I have already paid a deposit of £700 in registration fee but they will want £2500 if they deem the
car to be 'modified'!
Failing that, is there anyone in Copenhagen who can lend me a set of original wheels for the week?
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Posted By : Chris Taylor, 09-Mar-2006,
06:24pm
Sorry, but in reading original roadtests etc, and brochures, I don't recall seeing minilites as an optional extra on any Triumph. Not even sure wire
wheels were offered on the Herald or Vitesse, but were on the Spitfire and GT6 so COULD easily have been provided by the factory as "special order" or
such like.
There were'nt that many alloy wheels available at the time, and minilites were one of the most popular and readily available, so I'm sure a number of
Vitesse's were fitted with them at the time, maybe even some dealers fitted them to a new car at a buyer's request, but proving that would require some
original documentation.
BUT
just to add to your woes, are you sure what is on your car are actual genuine Minilites? The vast majority of so-called minilites are modern replicas.
(Probably better than the original as the alloy is probably better now, at least on the good ones!!)
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Posted By : David Rumens, 10-Mar-2006,
03:01pm
Minilites were never offered as Factory or Dealer option. However, they were available from SAH who were a Standard Triumph approved supplier of after
maket options. SAH items could be order through most Standard Triumph Dealers who would fit them to your car if required.
I found the fact that you could exchange a standard cylinder head for an SAH type at your local ST Dealer a great help.
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Posted By : Chris Taylor,
10-Mar-2006, 06:11pm
I was not aware of the SAH option. If that could be proven in documentary form, that could be the evidence the Danish authorities want? (Assuming
of course that they ARE minilites, although would anyone inspecting the car know the difference? They certainly LOOK like genuine minilites if
comparing with an SAH catalogue picture for example)
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Posted By : David Rumens,
10-Mar-2006, 06:51pm
Just look in the SAH book.
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Posted By : David Rumens,
10-Mar-2006, 07:03pm
SAH sold quite a few non engine bits. The Minilites are in the SAH book, I will see what I can do.
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Posted By : David Rumens, 10-Mar-2006,
07:09pm
Jason,
If you require a letter from me stating Minilites were available from SAH, who were an approved supplier, then email be direct with you home
address.