Taking 1970 Triumph Vitesse to France

[bricol]

Don't know much about the Triumph six-cylinder, but I needed an oil cooler on my four cylinder to allow it survive long motorway journeys.

A girlfriend and I did 4000 miles in two weeks with little motorway use across Europe in a Caterham 7 - that meant packing light! Made sure I had breakdown cover - didn't need it. A mate with a Mini on a similar trip did break down - took several weeks for the car to be returned.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Was your landy petrol powered?

2.25 Diesel with Range Rover diffs !

 

[Dragnet]

Route-wise, if you're going to Quimper then consider Plymouth - Roscoff. Uncrowded, under six hours for the crossing and easy to get to from Worcestershire. Pleasant driving straight out of Roscoff, too.

 

[Misterg]

Has anyone else on here have any experience or tips to share with this type of trip ?

Serious point: Make sure you're aware of the controlled emissions zones (ZFE) around major cities (e.g. Rouen, Rennes & Bordeaux on your rough itinerary).

You can be fined for driving in them without a "Crit'Air" sticker, but pre 1997 vehicles can't be issued with a sticker.

Crit'Air Sticker for Classic Cars - Pre-1997 Vehicles and French ZFE Zones

Vehicles registered before 1997 cannot get a Crit'Air sticker and are banned from all French ZFE zones. Here are your options for driving a classic car in France.

francestickers.co.uk

 

[mr haynes]

Think all i can add now is take your time (mechanical sympathy takes you a long way) and enjoy!

 

[Bouledogue]

Serious point: Make sure you're aware of the controlled emissions zones (ZFE) around major cities (e.g. Rouen, Rennes & Bordeaux on your rough itinerary).

You can be fined for driving in them without a "Crit'Air" sticker, but pre 1997 vehicles can't be issued with a sticker.

Crit'Air Sticker for Classic Cars - Pre-1997 Vehicles and French ZFE Zones

Vehicles registered before 1997 cannot get a Crit'Air sticker and are banned from all French ZFE zones. Here are your options for driving a classic car in France.

francestickers.co.uk

The assembly voted last month (against the wishes of the government) to bin ZFEs throughout France, as being inconsistent with a constitutionally egalitarian society. i.e. they have the effect of banning poor people from the big cities. I know we're not allowed to talk politics, but it really feels like a win for the ordinary motorist.

I don't know when the change will take effect, or indeed whether the greenies & co. still have options to block the "projet de loi".

Worth keeping an eye on the news to see when / if it lands.

 

[octo0072000]

make sure your recovery insurance covers cars over 10 years old normally in the fine print

 

[Cobbler]

I had a 1600 Vitesse in about 1970, anything that could break did! But it was well knackered before I had it. It never seemed to suffer the dreaded “tuck under” like the Heralds, I assumed it was due to the stiffer suspension. I had it on an early Spitfire one time, not a nice experience. Later Vitesse’s changed the rear suspension to stop it.

 

[dave h 2]

I have no idea if the Triumph 2.5 lump is similar to yours, but if the clutch starts to drag and you have to preselect 1st before you stop on your trip you can bodge it by extending the slave push rod an inch. The real problem is the knackered spigot bearing in the flywheel letting the spigot shaft droop, bit like brewers droop but less fun getting it and just as disappointing finally.
I found one in a scrapyard with 2 pistons in the slave so it is a thing.

 

[indy4x]

@dave h 2 same block and bore, longer stroke crank to get the extra 500cc

Flywheel is different as is the gearbox but pretty sure clutch hydraulics are the same