There is nothing quite like motoring through the countryside on a warm and sunny day behind the wheel of a classic British sports car. That is the sort of experience that potentially awaits someone should they choose to purchase this 1966 Triumph Spitfire. It retains all of the charm and character that the brand is synonymous with, but with a few minor upgrades that could make it easier to live with on a daily basis. It is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately, so that motoring pleasure may only be a bid or two away for some lucky buyer. Located in Middletown, Delaware, you will find the Triumph listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $7,000, and the reserve has been met.
This photograph pretty graphically demonstrates one of the updates that has been made to the Spitfire. The convertible top isn’t original, and I would assume that it has been tailored to cater to a fairly tall occupant. For some of us, myself included, this would be an unnecessary change. However, if your height is well north of 6-foot, then this would be a welcome update should the weather turn damp when you are out on the road. It looks a bit ungainly, but practicality has to trump style should the heavens open suddenly. The owner does admit that the Triumph has received a single repaint in its original Signal Red at some point in the past. He says that it remains presentable, but a cosmetic refresh of the panels and paint would help the vehicle to really shine. There are no major defects visible, so the vehicle could easily be driven and enjoyed immediately. Rust is not an issue, because apart from a very light dusting of surface corrosion in a few spots on the frame, this is a British classic that is as solid as a rock. The chrome and trim all look quite nice, while the wire wheels also appear to be in very good order.
Tilting the hood forward reveals the 1,147cc 4-cylinder engine, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, this Triumph doesn’t score the optional overdrive, but if the next owner isn’t too worried about originality, then maybe they could choose to rectify this. An overdrive upgrade can be secured for around $1,500 and would make the Spitfire a more comfortable cruiser on the open road. Lifting the hood also reveals another of the changes that have been made to the Triumph, and it should be a fairly practical one. The original SU carburetors have gone the way of the dodo, and in their place is a Weber DCOE unit on an alloy intake. The original tubular exhaust manifold has been retained, but has been wrapped, which I would assume has been done to prevent fuel vaporization. For those with limited or no experience, properly tuning a pair of SUs can be a frustrating task, so the whole idea of fitting a carburetor that is very much a “set-and-forget” proposition is probably a pretty good thing. If the next owner really wants complete authenticity, then a set of original carburetors would be easy to find. If they should choose to follow that path, then they could recoup the costs by selling this setup, which I suspect would not be that difficult. In standard guise, this little engine would have produced 67hp, which was enough to propel the Triumph to a top speed of 96mph. The new intake arrangement should have the engine breathing a bit better, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it has also unleashed a few additional ponies. We wouldn’t be talking about big numbers here, but it would probably make the Spitfire a bit more tractable in city traffic, or out of low-speed corners. On top of the upgraded carb, the little Brit is also fitted with new master cylinders (clutch and brake) and new wheel cylinders. Add in new plugs and plug wires, a new coil, new cap, a new speedo cable, and new tires, and it would seem that the majority of the mechanical work has been completed for the next owner.
Taking a look inside the Triumph reveals an interior that is neat and tidy, and that has received yet another update. The seats would originally have been upholstered in vinyl, but they now wear black cloth. This would be another of those upgrades that would be considered to be quite practical and should improve comfort on hot days. Once again, this is a change that might not appeal to all potential owners. If that is the case, then a set of replacement vinyl covers in black can be found for around $430. The carpet set is new, and while it looks nice at first glance, it could do with a bit of work to address a few fitment issues. Beyond that, the missing radio is about all there is to be critical of here. The dash and door trims look good, and with no urgent needs to be addressed, the interior seems to be just waiting for a new owner to slide behind the heel.
If you are an owner looking to sell a classic convertible of any description, now would normally be the perfect time to place the car on the market. With warmer weather fast approaching, there would be plenty of buyers eager to take to the open roads for a spot of top-down cruising. However, recent events have seen the classic car market take a bit of a hit, although this will almost certainly be a passing trend. What it does mean is that it is also not a bad time for someone with the cash in their pocket to look at buying the car of their dreams. If that sounds like you, then this little Triumph might be a car that is well worth a look. It may not be completely original, but it presents quite well and should be quite a practical British classic. Given its minor cosmetic needs, I would normally expect the Spitfire to sell for somewhere around the $11,000 to $12,000 mark. In the current climate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that price actually stay below $10,000, which could make this one a very respectable buy.
Nice Spit, and pretty much turnkey for a reasonable price. I always thought the early Spitfire’s front grille looked incomplete. They nailed the right design by 1970. I inquired about a red one just like this but with a matching hardtop in rough condition late last year. I doubt I could redo it to this standard for the asking price of this car.
Adam, c’mon now. ” The convertible top isn’t original, and I would assume that it has been tailored to cater to a fairly tall occupant. then this would be a welcome update should the weather turn damp when you are out on the road. It looks a bit ungainly.” The seller doesn’t mention this as an upgrade on eBay, these tops had that blown out look when affixed.
The convertible top as shown is factory and was ungainly looking. I restored my 1963 Mk.1 it was equipped with O/D on the steering stalk on the right side there was a switch just like the signal switch, only it was off on for the O/D unit. It definitely helped move the car through the gears up shifting because first gear on my car was not synchronized with the others. 1234 no problem. 432-double clutch slow down to about 10 mph then maybe you could go back to first. I am not sure about the 1966 model.
… hmmmm, the convertible top on my ’63 did not ‘hump’ up anywhere near as much as this one does. I bought mine in ’67 (and still have it), so assume it was still the original. When I returned home (from active duty) in 1968 I was out driving one day and a guy pulled up along side and asked me if I wanted to buy a nearly new factory hardtop — his girlfriend traded in her Spitfire and kept the top as they would not give her anything extra for it. When I saw it I snapped it up — think it was around $150. The shape is identical to the lines of the soft top, and is just a smooth/slight rise above the windshield frame — nothing like what is shown on this car.
Here is the red one I looked at with an almost perfect hardtop. These cars look best with their tops down, just like a well-tanned pinup star.
My ’68 did not have a noticeable hump like that and 1st gear was indeed still non-synchro. I once got it into first at an autocross without even a peep from the gearbox! I almost declared victory for the day just because of that!
When my non-synchro first gear quiets down, it means I’ve LOST first gear. Nothing more jarring or teeth-chattering than having your transmission puke in the middle of an intersection at 35 mph. Been there, don’t wanna go back!
Sorry, but the incredibly poor bodywork on the “nose” of this poor car ruins it for me!
Bought the same Weber set up for my Morris 1275 when worn throttle shafts caused high idle on dual SU’s. Was never able to get the Weber jetted and tuned properly. So I bushed the SU’s and put them back on. Those I know how to tune. Maybe I’ll try the Weber on my 1200 Shovelhead.
SU carbs are easy to set and maintain if you learn how. Then leave them alone. If later you have tuning issues, still leave them alone. 90% of British car fuel problems are electrical. To be tuned correctly, Webers require an extensive set of jets and should be done by an expert. Webers are also altitude-sensitive. I learned this on a trip in a BMW 2002 tuned at sea level and driven to 6000 feet. As we ascended the Colorado mountains, the engine stumbled badly. Plugs were fouled. Changed plugs and problem solved for another 1000 feet. So bought a few sets of plugs and just threw them away every 1000 feet. Much easier than retuning the carbs. Going back down the mountains was fine as well as the rest of the trip. Altitude has little effect on SUs as they served the British WWII aero engines well until fuel injection was adopted.
I bought my ’63 Spitfire in ’67, and she sits in my garage to this day. Early on I took the radio out and installed oil pressure and amp gauges in its place — car was so noisy you really couldn’t hear it very well.
A stock Miata puts out 116 horsepower, so it should move a Spitfire pretty well!
http://www.dailyturismo.com/2020/06/miata-inside-1976-triumph-spitfire.html?m=1
Love the look of these, but both these and MG Midgets are just so small that they are virtually invisible to distracted drivers in their oversized SUVs and Pickup Trucks these days. At first glance this one looks nice, but when you add up all the things you need to make it right, it’s a bit rich IMO.
I think a better, more driveable alternative is a GT6 coupe, which has similar lines, but is larger, more powerful and better suited for serious cruising.
My MG Midget only gets driven on the beautiful byways of scenic middle Tennessee. But with that said, an approaching SUV or worse a large dually pick up truck in your rearview can make you rethink your choice of hobby cars. I’ve attached a big flag and mast like they use during golf tournaments to the rear of my car when traveling with a group. Perhaps I’ll just keep it on there permanently from now on. We sometimes paint our cars bright colors and add a third brake light for a tad more peace of mind.
There was no “Reply” option on your picture of the hardtop above, but that is the same factory metal top I have on mine. My car is red and the top is a dark navy blue — nice color complement.
@Little_Cars, wise move.
I should have added previously that my comments came from direct experience, having owned/ restored a 68 Midget for 20 years. I sold it when the roads got crazy. Moved up to a Jag Xk150s, though I know that’s not a realistic alternative for most enthusiasts.
A $7000 convertible sports car!!! What a deal!!
I bought a 67 Spitfire as a commuter car when I was going to college. It has been run hard and put away wet, but it was fun when it ran. Unfortunately it was very temperamental with it’s share of mechanical and electrical issues. Back in the 70’s, gas was expensive (which equates to cheap now days) and it did get good mileage. When it ran, the biggest issue I has was the heater only worked from June to October, it was a cold day driving it in the middle of winter. I learned very quickly how to scrape the windshield on the inside with a credit card while driving.
Ended:Jun 06, 2020 , 9:00AM
Winning bid:US $7,100.00
[ 14 bids ]