I’ve given this article the title of Anything but Average, and I feel that it is an appropriate description for this 1975 Triumph Spitfire. You will find this little Triumph listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Bernville, Pennsylvania, it comes with a clear title and an asking price of $1,200. There is also the option to make an offer.
The body is essentially complete on the little Triumph. The owner states that he has most of the body components that appear to be missing. As you can see it is rough, but there is certainly scope for returning the body to a fairly pristine state.
This interior shot indicates that there has been some fabricating work completed on our little Spitfire, and that all may not be as it seems. This seems to be a person with the smell of gas in their nostrils who is trying to combine old world charm with improved performance.
Well there’s something that you don’t see every day! The standard Spitfire engine has been given the old heave-ho, and has been replaced by a 3.5 liter Honda Accord engine and a 6-speed transaxle. This V6 pumps out 272hp in its natural home, so transplanting that power into the significantly lighter Triumph should provide attention-grabbing performance. The seller states that the engine runs great but it requires some finish work. The engine wiring is complete with the electronic throttle, hydraulic clutch, cooling system and ignition all in working order. There will be some suspension issues to sort out including dealing with axles, springs, shocks and definitely ensuring that the brakes are up to the job. If these can be dealt with and the car has enough torsional rigidity, then this could turn out to be a laugh a minute to drive. Of course getting it finished may be one thing, but getting your Road Traffic Authority to accept it may be another thing altogether. There is a great possibility that this may finish up being a track-day car.
I’m really not quite sure about this car. I would like to have a good look at it, and I think that it would need a full assessment by an engineer before the project proceeded any further. This may be viable as either a road or a track-day car. The price is low enough that you could actually part it out and come out ahead. Mind you, if it could be made into a driver I can guarantee that it would be hugely entertaining.
Decidedly below average, I’d say.
Heartbreaking.
Frankencar!!!
Quality track day cars can be found for reasonable prices. It doesn’t make sense to finish something like this for that purpose.
This is a parts car.
Steve R
If it’s rear engine, Why wouldn’t they have flattened the trans tunnel, rather than enlarging it?
Probably worth the asking price for the drive train, but finishing it up would certainly be a labor of love.
No different than those drug induced body shop adventures we occasionally see here. Just awful.
If it’s the guy I think it is then this isn’t his first. He did a Spitfire with a Corolla motor that was all but a restomod. It was fully sorted out. I had a chance to be a passenger in that one. It was a blast.
I bought a more normal Spitfire from him that was from an estate sale that he freshened up for resale.
If that is really where the engine is going to sit then it is going to be about two inches away from your right ear. Wait, what did you say? Huh? Sorry, having a hard time hearing since I went for a ride in that Spitfire.
Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should. Poor lil Spitfire. Somebody shoot that poor thing and put it out of it’s misery.
Just, no.