Triumph Spitfire Buying Guide - The CHEAP British Sports Car!

[@-triumphgt667]

You oil the trunnions rather than grease them. EP90 gear oil - grease can result in more wear and the upright can break - or get the Trunnionless kit.

[@paulelverstone8677]

That's a lovely looking example. Always liked the design. I think one of these with the 6 cylinder engine would be a very desirable sunday toy...

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Great point!

[@-triumphgt667]

It is - I have one - fantastic sounding engine .

[@EuropaSman]

No mention of the "swing spring" rear suspension that came on on the Mk4 and also ended up on the 1973 model year GT6 Mk3. Nearly as good as Rotoflex in solving the tuck under issue but simpler and cheaper (I had a swing spring GT6 Mk3 in the late 1990s and couldn't fault the back end). By the way, the trunions were good enough to be used by Lotus in the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. They were used on the Elan, Elan +2, Europa, wedge shaped Elite, Eclat, and even the Esprit S1, S2 and S3 & Turbo Esprit up to 1985!

[@-triumphgt667]

The trunnionless kit was developed for racing Caterham 7s - has a ball joint at the bottom. I have a swing spring as well - my Mk2 GT6 had rotoflex and the noises it made always made me expect a drive shaft to appear through the rear floor! Also a lot heavier. I think the one featured here was up for sale at about £15,000. A lot for a spitfire but seemed a very good one.

[@-triumphgt667]

I saw this one for sale a month or so back. Mine has a similar interior with the white dials, door cappings etc but a red leather interior. Mine is blue with a fuel injected 2 litre six cylinder engine. Very smooth and like this one, has the column mounted overdrive and metal ball gear knob. Also uprated suspensionn and 3.27 diff and a variety of enhancements. Can easily keep up with modern traffic though our Volvo V90 could certainly show it a clean pair of heels. However that is not the point - it is just fun to drive and to maintain!

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Nice little car!

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It sure is!

[@yorkshirewanderer9957]

Surely the title ‘Last of the Cheap British Roadsters’ belongs to the MGTF? The TF is a far superior car to the Spitfire which, nice though it is, is an antique.

[@-triumphgt667]

But I suggest that if a Spitfire goes wrong, you can get the parts and likely fix it yourself. The MG TF is of the era of all electrics and the engine is no joke to access. Nice car though.

[@Hideyourtoes_miyazaki]

i dont think the TF looks anywhere near as good as this and whilst it is objectively better just doesnt make me feel as happy to drive as the spitfire also just isnt old enough to be diserable in my opinion. (if you mean the TF from the 50s which i do actaully really like but that certainly is not a bargain and much more of an antique)