This is a sad, sad day in the Kent Life office - Monkey has Come To A Decision, and it's not been an easy one. The following announcement is in his own words, for I simply cannot do justice to the pain he is experiencing. Here it is then, in full and unexpurgated form.
"Unfortunately the time has come for me to part with the love of my life, a 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500. Desperate for it to go to a home where it’ll be looked after, i've has so far resisted selling it but sadly – for now - my run of owning silly cars has to come to an end.
The last three years has seen me up to my elbows in boot carpet, working on the engine (occasionally with a pizza balanced on the rocker cover), taking the electrics apart to fit interior lighting, re-hanging the twin stainless exhausts, sorting a stereo you can actually hear over said exhausts, fitting a gearbox with overdrive for motorway running, and doing the million and one other little things that classic cars demand. My dad's been fairly involved too and although he'll pretend otherwise, he'll be sad to see it go as well.
It’s not refined, or economical or easy to look after but it is bright red, loud and convertible, and on a summer’s evening in Kent there’s nothing better to be driving."
If you’re interested in owning a bit of British motoring history, and you think you can convince him he’s selling it to someone who’ll look after it like he does, contact Michael on michael.palmer@kent-life.co.uk. For a picture of it, click here - I’ll warn you now though – there’ll probably be tears and possibly tantrums, and getting the keys off him might not be easy.
Told you it was tragic, didn't I? Kind owners only, please.
Sarah (and Monkey)