Sometimes, even I’ll admit that a car is simply destined for the scrapyard. Now, as any of you who visit this site regularly know, I often lament how many good cars end up junked (and celebrate the vendors that keep good classics out of the junkyard). But when you see cars like this 1969 Triumph Spitfire for sale here on craigslist, which is full of rust and doesn’t seem to have an undamaged body panel anywhere, it makes you question what the seller has in his head as it relates to what the next guy will do with it.
So, we’ve got a fragile British sports car hunkering down under a ratty cover in the winter wonderland of Sandown, New Hampshire. I wouldn’t be surprised if that luggage rack was outfitted to carry a set of skis in addition to the occasional picnic basket. The seller isn’t very loose with the details, but does go so far as to say you could use it for parts (maybe) or rebuild it (unlikely). He does have a title, which is a surprise given New Hampshire is one of those states that doesn’t issue titles on vehicles past a certain age.
So it has a title. What’s that worth – $100? I don’t even know if it matters, given this Spitfire barely has a future as even a parts car. As you can see, that tarp hasn’t done squat for keeping the interior dry and the smashed fender and front glass indicates its time stored in the driveway hasn’t exactly been kind to it. Although I’m not an expert in drop-tops, it appears the convertible roof frame has snapped – perhaps by whatever broke the windshield and dented the driver’s side fender. Dash, carpets and likely the seats are all lost causes.
Almost everything under the hood is coated in surface rust, and I spy some pretty significant rot-through that could threaten the structural integrity of the Spitfire. The other issue is simply that better options exist if you’re hankering for a Spitfire, as both whole vehicles and parts cars are not uncommon. I suspect the seller’s asking price reflects what the local scrapyard offered him, which I’d guess is in the range of $200. The price has dropped by $100 since I first saw the listing, so perhaps reality is setting in for the seller about what he actually has.
Jeff, if I were anywhere close to this I would pay his asking price right now. The reason: the American racing dealer optional wheels that are as rare as hens teeth. They are probably aluminum in which case they’re certainly worth his asking price, but they actually look like the magnesium ones, in which case they are even rarer, although I’d never want to actually drive on them. Surprise!
Jamie, I stand corrected. I looked at the wheels but figured they were just a set of tired Minilite knock-offs. I doubt the seller knows what they are – I bet someone would hand him $300 and tell him to scrap the rest.
VTO is reproducing them now, and they are probably higher quality, but I’d take the originals 😀
As a sidenote, if the header doesn’t have a hole in it, between it and the twin HS2 carburetors and intake, you’d probably clear another $150.
As evidenced, there are plenty of decent Spitfire’s around. Well worth it as a parts car.
Hey Howard, overdrive?
Are you sure it wouldn’t buff out? :-D
Basketcase
A/C needs to be charged…
I saw a similar set of wheels on a same year vintage GT6 for sale here some time ago, neat looking. No one is going to just sell wheels off the car and be left with the hulk, for good reason. If you’re a Spitfire fan, like I am, buy it for the parts – which, from experience, you will probably never need – and can’t give away when you start tripping over them in the garage.
Ran when parked?? American Racing wheels might still be useable.
It’s worth it just for the steering wheel!! (Not the one in the trunk)
OMG that steering wheel! What drove that car…a cat! LOL 😂
Everyone seems to be missing the boat on this one. If that is an original engine then it definitely has some value. The 68 and 69 engines are THE engine to have. I know a guy in the New England area that will probably want to scoop this one up. He vintage races Spitfires. I’ll forward the Craigslist link to him.
I don’t think people are missing the boat on this one at all. As a car, this is junk. As a parts source, then maybe. Pretty much exactly how all the conversation has gone.
Unfortunately, the engine looks to be an older six-port 1147cc; you can tell easily by the exposed pushrod tubes on the cylinder head. Still might be nice to have for parts, though! Oh, and that means the intake manifold is a bit less desirable as well. Of course, if that “factory header” — unique to the Mk2 Spitfire — is intact, it’s worth a bit!
Andy,
Good eye. 1147s are still fairly easy to find so not much value there. And yes the MK2 header is worth some bucks if, as you said, it’s intact.
Dan,
I meant that everyone was missing the most valuable item which was the engine. But if everyone else caught that it was an 1147 then I guess I was the one that missed the boat. Hate when that happens…I don’t swim very well.
Wait a few more weeks, then you can pick up the car with your dustpan and broom……
“It was pretty nice till the tree fell on it, messed up my car cover too”…………..
LOL. Love you guys
I hope it had a good life. Summer evenings in the Northeast, an always willing 1147 cc. Peter Egan, where are you?
Ran when parked I guess. Just clean it up a little and drive it.
When I see cars in this kind of condition, about all I can think of is building a tube chassis for what’s left of the body, bead roll some floors, and go.
PARTS ONLY!! good deal for the right triumph person.
thankfully its a looooong way away. Else-wise it would be another guest here at the Spitfire Ranch
Landt – 69 would have been a 1296…THE racers engine.
I guess it took a tree branch falling on it for the owner to decide that he/she will never get around to fixing it up.
I drive through Sandown when I want to take the backroads (backwoods) home from work.
Put an LS in it…JK
Kinda glad I won’t be in NH until July or I might be chasing this thing for transplant parts for my Herald 1200. Still haven’t figured out Brit math rounding where 1147 becomes 1200!!
Yeah I am thinking it is seriously worth as a parts car, All the lights & lenses, engine, Tranny, the gauges, rims, even the shift knob still has the triumph emblem on it. Trunk lid. The grill, the letters on the front of the hood. Come on there are lots of good parts on that heap of shite. :-)