Father in law bought it on eBay drunk a couple of years ago and then realised that classic car ownership was more than putting the roof down and going to the beach on a nice sunny day.
Knew I was into cars and confidently proclaimed that it was now as much mine as his. Which is a really lovely gesture.
Except I wish I could have had had a say in it, because I would have rather the Stag for the childhood nostalgia of my uncle’s.
There was once a time when Spitfires were quite common, plenty showing up at car shows and such, but they seem to be quite a rarity now. In fact I’m not sure the last time I saw one of any Mk in the flesh other than my own.
Anyway, here she is. The Spitty.
It always blows my mind that Triumph made cars at one point.
And that they were relatively good at it. Shame that the British car industry (British Leyland) became so bloated, confused and self defeating. They created some truly pioneering cars, both in their contemporary and in hindsight.
What a beauty!
What kinds of issues have you and your FiL had with it? Mostly electrical? I ask because my dad is looking at maybe getting one of these or a Fiat 124 Spider as a first project car and I’d like to help him make an informed decision.
Honestly nothing more than any other car of its age and heritage.
When we got it, it was a runner. But it was rough. The obligatory oil leaks from knackered gaskets, carbs needing cleaned and rebalancing, brakes sticking and undoing the years of the most egregious naff bodges (mainly around the dashboard).
Basically mostly stuff resulting from it being sat for a bit too long.
It was about 2000£ worth of work off the top of my head.
Honestly the biggest thing to worry about with them (or any old British car) is rot. Mechanically and electrically they’re really simple.
Things that are still ‘wrong’ with it? Hard top is held on by what I can tell is 2 of the 6 bolts that should be there. The gear box is on its way out. 1st synchro is a bit iffy and it likes to be caressed into 3rd.
But nothing that you wouldn’t expect from any car of its type for its age.
In regards to a choice between the 124 or Spitty? It really depends on what you want. The 124 is a modern machine with its comforts and performance. The Spitty won’t pull the skin off a rice pudding. It’s depends on if you want a car that won’t let you down, start on the button every time and require very little fettling, or a 50 year old British sports car!
Thanks for the write-up! He’s been leaning towards the 124 and that last paragraph really cemented his decision lol.
The 124 is a modern machine with its comforts and performance.
Funny that cars produced in the same years can have one considered modern and the other old!
My bad, I was thinking you were talking about the new 124!
I think both are probably comparable in their mechanical and electrical simplicity. The 124 is more lusted after, it’s Italian after all. Personally, it it were my money I think the 124 would be the one I’d go for. It’s a bit more exotic. Looks a little bit Ferarri-ish with the PinaFarina name.
They are pretty dang rare though, depending on your market. I’m UK and I don’t think there’s any for sale here at the moment, at least not on the mainstream classifieds.
If you can afford the 124, go for it. A Spitfire is interesting, it’s playful, but it’s just another British 60s/70s little sports car in a market of Sprites, MGBs, Midgets and TR2//3/4/5/6s.
By all accounts, the 124 was far more pioneering and ahead of it’s time. It’s a much more drivable car according to what people seem to say. But the Spitfire can be a bit more nimble and go-karty.
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