Triumph released the original Spitfire in 1962, with the car undergoing various running changes until the final vehicle rolled off the line in Canley, Coventry, England, in October 1980. During its illustrious career, an incredible 314,332 Spitfires found their way onto roads across the globe. Our feature car appeared in 1976, and it is a gem. Its presentation is hard to fault, and it is in excellent mechanical health. It is a turnkey classic requiring nothing but a new owner. If a British sports car sits high on your Wish List, this Triumph is available exclusively at Barn Finds Auctions.
Triumph hit a sweet spot with the Spitfire’s styling, electing to perform minor cosmetic upgrades and those required by legislative changes during its long production run. It is a stereotypical British sports car, offering seating for two and a peppy little four-cylinder engine. This Triumph presents beautifully in Pimento Red. It has undergone a high-end color change, with the Tag indicating it rolled off the showroom floor wearing the less attractive Russet Brown. If you compare the two shades, the current one dramatically lifts the car’s overall appearance. The paint shines warmly, with no flaws or defects worth mentioning. The panels are straight, with consistent gaps across the entire vehicle. There is no rust, and the Black soft-top is excellent. The Spitfire sports the correct bumpers and rolls on a set of color-coded sports wheels with chrome center caps and trim rings.
The biggest news with the final generation of the Spitfire was the company’s decision to increase the capacity of its “SC” four-cylinder engine from 1,296cc to 1,493cc. It produces 68hp, which feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. It doesn’t make the Spitfire a powerhouse, but these little cars will happily cruise at highway speeds and genuinely come alive when pointed at a stretch of winding road. One of the quirks with these cars is that due to the low seating position, speeds always feel faster than the speedometer indicates. It is an illusion that adds to the driving pleasure. This Spitfire is in excellent mechanical health. It runs and drives well, with no problems or issues.
Traditional British sports cars offer seating for two, and the Spitfire is no exception. This car carries the features you would expect, including comfortable bucket seats and a timber dash with an excellent array of gauges that cement its sporting credentials. The upholstered surfaces wear Tan vinyl that looks excellent. There is no wear or damage, with the same true of the dash and the carpet. The gauges have crisp markings and clear lenses, and the heater controls fall readily to hand. The thick wheel should help prevent fatigue on long journeys, while the retro-style stereo provides tunes on the move.
It is fair to say that the final series of the Triumph Spitfire is when the model genuinely hit its stride, and the engine upgrade may be partially responsible. The Spitfire 1500 appeared in December 1974, and the production total of 95,829 was the highest in the badge’s history. With values consistently climbing, they represent a vehicle that combines an engaging driving experience with a solid long-term investment. I can’t find anything negative in that scenario, which could be the perfect reason to park this beauty in your garage.
- Location: Junction City, Kansas
- Mileage: 32,933
- Engine: 1500 Inline-4
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
- VIN: FM46322U
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
- AUTOMANRUSS bid $5,000.00 2022-12-21 14:35:56
- shane0319 bid $1,600.00 2022-12-21 11:41:36
- Duke bid $1,500.00 2022-12-21 01:54:02
- Hook bid $1,000.00 2022-12-20 23:23:06
- shane0319 bid $500.00 2022-12-20 19:52:59
- bcausey83 bid $100.00 2022-12-20 18:35:24
Superb looking Spitfire there. Happens back in the day I had a 67 I picked up to be a driver when I was going to college. That one was ridden hard and put away wet, it needed so many things fixed on it, but I got it cheap. Biggest issue was the heater only started working around April, in the winter there was nothing. Not bad if you live in Arizona or Florida, happens I lived in Iowa and below 0 temps were a common occurrence.
My uncle had a ’73 Spitfire that sounds very similar to your ’67.
I remember going somewhere with him during a snow storm and freezing half to death lol. There was just enough heat to fog up the windows.
Sure was fun in the summer!
Sounds like it needed a thermostat.
In looking back, I think the heater core was air locked. I had change the thermostat at one time but when both heater hoses are cold, that makes for one cold ride.
In the case of my uncles bike, it was the holes in the roof, the holes in the floor, and the windows you had to keep down because of the exhaust fumes lol.
Awesome in summer though!
I’ve obviously owned way too many cars in my 68 years. I just get done extolling the pinto i owned in comments last week and here i am. Yes i owned one of these as well. 1979 bought in 1980ish. I say ish because there were literally hundreds of 79 models covered in dust at long beach pier. They were giving them away. I giess it was green. British racing green. The epa mods were dresdful. Tons of plastic vaccume lines routed across the valve cover melted imediatly. I replaced them with rubber. No desler support. They changed they’re names and went into hiding. But one night 2 a.m. top down i ran flat out from Phoenix to the grand canyon and back. Wlhat can I say. Thats a real sports car. Now lets get on to the alfa romeo veloce. I had two . ..
Yep. Father had two AR Veloce’s. Uncle had two Triumph Stags. V8 with 4 speed. Removable hard top. Loved the cars but always in the shop. He didn’t care. He just paid the mechanic whatever it cost.
Ok, let me be the first to say it, get rid of the US safety bumpers. A attractive car in resale red, sure beats the brown imho. Put a overdrive on the tranny and then cruise comfortably….. if you fit.
A mate has one of these. Been in it a few times. Plenty of leg room for me at 6′ and Alex at 6’3″. Shoulder room is tight though, and he admits he’d like an overdrive. For a weekend fun car, you don’t need it.
I fit great when I was 18 but I would love to try it again to see if it would still feel like as much fun.
I was 18 34 years and about 130 pounds ago…I ain’t gonna fit lol!
Wiring needs attention or Lucas will get the blame.
Actually.. these arent bad cars once you get the wiring issues fixed.. I sold these New…and out of all the MGs and Triumps… the Spitfire seemed to be the most reliable… THE MG’s…had many numerous problems.. I remember I had a friend who just had to have an MGB/GT.. I begged him not to buy it…but he insisted..Bought one off the showroom floor and wanted to drive it off the showroom floor.. he got in it..started it up.and it wouldnt move.. CLutch went out right on the showroom floor..He looked at me and said…can it be fixed by tomorrow? I knew then there was no hope for my friend…
I had the 1967 edition that proceeded to lose the rear crankshaft bearing in the block. The mechanic welded up the block and fitted a new bearing and I sold it running great. At6’2″ I was not real comfy but it was still a fun rally/gymkana car. Not a world burner but fun.
I like the brown or British Racing Green, but agree 100% about those ugly rubber chunks – especially on a graceful little sportscar like the Spitfire.
1974/75 I worked at an airport valet parking lot and got to drive a few Spitfires, which I loved (and still do). One customer’s didn’t like to start after a rain, so we’d try and dry out the distributor cap. I thought there was nothing cooler than the way the whole “doghouse” tipped forward, and you could sit right on the wheel. OK I still think that’s cool!
I prefer the Triumph Stag. V8 in that one.
Bought a NEW 73 Triumph GT6. Toured family of 4 around north and west “lower 48”; nimbly. Year 2020, not long after selling it, saw it parked in a rural setting; Sequim, WA. Spouse, I, 2 kids had all crammed inside! Paid $3,700. (New). 200,000(+) miles later, engine rebuilt, sold for about same $ as purchased.
Lovely car! My first car was a 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite w/ the 948cc engine and two SU oil filled carbs. Fun times! However, from my computer HD monitor, the paint job looks like an extreme amount of “ornage peel” effect. Sure hope that is NOT the case! Anyone else see that too?
Great pics, but those 8 of the rubber over/riders were probably overkill. They’d be the first things removed.
My 3rd Triumph was a GT6 with over 100k miles when I bought it. I drove it as a coupe for a couple of years before I rebodied it with a 78 Spit body. I now have over 100k miles on my Spit6 (with triple DCOEs). I ended up adding the ugly bumper over riders. Low car in a parking lot gets backed into. Once you have paid $$$ to have your bumper straightened and rechromed you tend to get over the ugly overriders real fast.
Had two of these at different times. The ‘76 was $#!t brindle brown and taught me that the 1500 was the same as the later model Midgets of which there seem to be an over abundance of when I replaced engine parts (except the starter was different). Got pretty good at replacing the rear axle boots and bearings, thanks to the patience of a retired USAF crew chief (Convair B36 Peacekeepers).
The ‘74 was BRG and had the electric overdrive with the switch wire running up through the hollow gearshift-it’s weakest issue (outside the occasional and erratic wiring gremlins).
Both were a blast to drive-about like the ‘61 Midget but with some POWER! (Emphasis on SOME..)
Someone will have a blast with this if they understand it’s mechanical limitations and parameters.
GLWTS
Fairly price at $5k for a driver. Electrics can be made to be reliable, get a relay for the headlights for one thing. Might consider a little wet sanding unless you like the orange peel look. Without OD, a good sports car for the secondary roads, keep off the Interstates except for some short intermittent runs. Always a good idea to rebuild the front and rear suspension, most bushings are shot and need to be replaced every 40 years or so. Currently have a good rust free driver ‘72 with a ‘73 1500 engine, so I can speak from experience. There will always be something that you will need to fix, so tinker away !