1977 Triumph 2500 TC
A recent addition to Kelly St Classics arrived 31 May 2019, after being delivered in person by the very personable nephew of the 96-year-old long-term previous - the car's second - owner.
The car was originally purchased by the late Mike Willesee, a name familiar to any Australian during the 1970s through to the recent past. It was delivered to Mike's company, Transmedia Pty Ltd, on the 10th June 1977. Mike thankfully optioned the car with manual transmission and overdrive, power steering and push-button AM radio, which was definitely a desired configuration for me. It also is finished in the very attractive Australian-only colour, Bamboo (thanks to A.M.I. who originally assembled these CKD kits in Australia).
Mike owned the car for its first 20,000km, until the end of 1978, when it went to a new owner, Leo Dwyer, in Strathmore (Melbourne) who was aged in his mid 50s. Leo (yes, the same name as my faithful Beaglier companion for 15 years who many of you will have known before he died in October 2017) is a WW2 Navy veteran, ex-HMAS Quickmatch destroyer, which took part in the Tokyo Bay WW2 surrender ceremony.
The car was garaged for the last 4 years without being started at all, and was recomissioned for use by a trusted garage before the car was offered to me. The nephew who handled it all, and who generously drove the car 200 km to me made the comment, "it's a sweet ride, where I wasn't even tired after 200 kms straight. If I had your passion I would have bought it!"
Now, 41 years later, it has become part of the Kelly St Classics family, and a very deserving one. The car is delightfully original, which makes it the perfect new 'resident' at Kelly St Classics.
Watch this space as this gem is brought back to its true brilliance!
This is the car's original owner; Mike Willesee, at about the time he owned the car, but the car in the photo is not the Triumph!