I am shocked that this listing has lasted for the two days it took me to write it up. Here on craigslist is a 1965 Triumph Spitfire Mk 1 with an asking price of just $9,200, located in Kansas City, Missouri. Perhaps this is a case of wanting to shed a convertible before the winter sets in but 1965 is in the most collectible realm of years for the Spitfire, and this car has been substantially restored, making the price look like a bargain. We have Gunter K. to thank for this sterling tip! The Spitfire was actually conceived in 1960 as a competitor to the Bugeye Sprite, but due to Standard-Triumph’s financial difficulties, it was shelved. While the little Spitfire slumbered, Standard-Triumph was merged with Leyland. In 1961, a Leyland executive noticed the prototype under a sheet in the corner of the factory, and the Spitfire was off to the races.
This older restoration is holding up well. We don’t know when the work was completed, but details I appreciate are the body-color engine bay (too many restorers settle for black), decent quality paint even on the underside of the bonnet, cleanliness, and the crisp finishes on engine bay components such as the wiper motor, valve cover, springs, and radiator mounts. It’s not perfect but it’s only a short distance away from being show-worthy. The engine bay of any car is difficult to keep clean, especially these ground-huggers; this one really shows well. Oh, yes: the motor. Well, that would be an 1147 cc inline four-cylinder equipped with two SU carburetors putting out about 65 bhp – enough to propel the Spitfire to about 92 mph. The transmission is a four-speed manual with overdrive optional on third and fourth gears. Yes, early Spitfires suffered from swing-axle suspension, but hey, early Porsche 911s get tail-happy. Just be careful.
More good news is in store when we examine the interior. Other than the two non-original gauges – the nature of which I can’t quite make out – the finishes here are as nice as they come. If the buyer wants perfection, I’d remove those two gauges and repair their counterparts. Note that like many British cars of the era, the dash is symmetrical to make it easy for the factory to produce either left- or right-hand drive renditions.
The distinctive upright grille is a hallmark of these early Spitfires, and the way Michelotti first designed them. Later cars have the “bone in teeth” grille arrangement as the bumper was drawn upwards to meet height requirements. The Mark I also has a cleaner bonnet line. This car has a new top, though it could use re-fitting. An original owner’s manual, service booklets, and other documents come with the sale. Buy it now and bond with it over the winter, by cleaning it up to show it in the summer of 2023.
Probably as nice an early model you’ll see anywhere. Fun, easy to work on, relatively fast for a small engine, and it’s red. What more do you want?
Left gauge is water temp, right fuel level. The 2 add ons look like oil pressure and amp meter. Could use a better mounting plan for the two add ons.
They are great little cars and this one is cheap
Spitfires are great cars. I personally don’t care for them ( a MG guy) but a more simple, fun, underpowered roadster, you just wont find. An expert may confirm, while O/D was an option from the get-go, I’m not sure this car has one. It’s not mentioned in the ad, unless I missed it. It added probably another 25% to the price, many opting not to have it and just put up with the noise. Again, it’s all about what you are going to do. Obviously, not barrel down 6 lane interstates, with some RAM about to roll over you for not going 85 mph, but if life doesn’t dish out that madness for you, a Spitfire is the ticket.
Before I bought the Jeep, I thought maybe a British roadster, and looked at several Spitfires, for half this price, all needing a ton of work, cars you could see already had a lot done, and the seller clearly just giving up. If that’s for you, by all means, have at it.
I bought a 65 spitfire used in 68. Drove it from PA to Ft Sill OK. Drove it around OK for nine months. After being discharged from the army I drove it back to PA. The only problem I had with it was I had to replace the clutch. Not bad for a nine hundred dollar car. I probably would have gotten many more miles from it if it didn’t get totaled in a rear end collision. At this time I’m looking to purchase a AH sprite, MG midget, triumph spitfire or an MG B for a summer car. Turn key only, no prodjects.
No OD switch on the gear shift indicates a standard set up. That coveted ID is really needed to make it freeway happy, but then these cars really want to be on back roads, twisting about.
The rear swing axle can be calmed by a Joe Curry anti-sway bar kit. Easy install and addresses the overswing habit.
While OD was available to early cars, I have never seen a Spit earlier than a Mk3 have one. If it were to be an OD car, the last digit on the Commission plate would be an “O”. So in this case the “L” signifies a left hand drive car and if there had been an “O” next to it it would have signified an overdrive car.
As for the market, it is nice to finally see Spits getting their due. This car just 2 years ago would have been half this dollar. Since I’ve got 4 of them (64, 65, 71 and 73) an appreciating value is always welcome. Not to mention that they are stingy on gas…
I once had a 67 Spitfire. It was a project in and of itself. Took a fair bit of work but eventually got it running right. Drove it 25 miles one way to college for a year. Biggest complaints were parts and the heater only worked in summer. It was a thrill driving that in freezing weather and trying to keep the windshield clear.
This one looks a whole lot better than the one I had
early spits had lever on column for OD, shifter switch on mk4 on.
Oddly, I never had a Spit in the 8 some odd Brit cars I owned, but these little guys deserve respect.
They are not dragsters, but a lot of fun for driving around on a summer or fall day.
When I had my MGA while in the service, and drove it in the winter, I used my winter military coat (horse blanket) over my legs to survive the cold.
Anybody that has experience with MG or TR3 side curtains knows about that.
Oddly, I never had a Spit in the 8 some odd Brit cars I owned, but these little guys deserve respect.
They are not dragsters, but a lot of fun for driving around on a summer or fall day.
When I had my MGA while in the service, and drove it in the winter, I used my winter military coat (horse blanket) over my legs to survive the cold.
Anybody that has experience with MG or TR3 side curtains knows about that.