We don’t have much to go on for this little Triumph Spitfire 1500, but maybe you don’t need much information at this price! It’s available here on craigslist in Roanoke, Virginia and is listed for only $1,100–and it runs, has new tires and the factory metal hardtop!
Not only does it run, but the interior, although not original upholstery, doesn’t look bad at all. It needs a gear shift knob, dash control knobs and you can bet there’s a good reason that center dash panel has been unscrewed. More than likely it has to do with the lighting switch that’s in the middle of that panel. The hard top on this one means you can use it in chilly weather as well, as Spits of this vintage actually have pretty decent heaters and fans. It also stiffens up the body on frame structure considerably. If I didn’t have so many Triumph projects already, I’d be going after this one myself! Let us know if one of you does!
Christmas is coming, should I send you my address? Huh? Please???
Sorry Richard…Santa has you on the naughty list! I, however, have been somewhat good this year. If this isn’t under the tree, I’m kicking the Elf on a shelf to the curb.
$1,100 sounds like a steal. Will be gone very soon.
Personally, I’d love it if one of you Barn Finds readers would buy it! Then you could stop by my place which isn’t that far away from Roanoke, and pick up a load of Spitfire parts to go with it….make my wife happy 😊
On the way to make an offer. Cash in hand, wish me luck!
So? Did you get it?
Well don’t leave us in suspense, motoring mo. Did you snag that deal? Is it as good as it looks?
I bought an old Spitfire with no shift knob. As a temporary solution I used a golf ball. I liked it enough that I never changed it.
Again, doesn’t appear to have O/D. The switch is on the shift knob, you’d think there would be a wire there. Not a big fan of the Spitfire, but you can’t go wrong here. Great entry level car, but you will want O/D, trust me. And Jamie, you’re a funny guy. Not sure why you are writing for BF’s. A BL car with a decent heater? (laughing hysterically) My MGB heater BARELY defrosted the windscreen. Mittens, hat, and scarf were the order of the day( even had a hardtop)
Howard–Spit heaters are better than both TR’s and MGB’s. That being said, note my other comment…I’m in NC, and it’s perfectly acceptable here.
Hi Jamie, you’re right. Cold is relative. I’m probably on a similar parallel with Martin, and we don’t see the freezing mark for months. I’d say down to maybe 30, or so, not too bad, but like 10 or below, not bloody likely. I had to run my MGB with a small vise grip on the choke cable, so it would run at that temp. I then put warm air hoses on the air cleaners and jammed the other end under the exhaust manifold, and that helped too, but that poor little MG heater, with a core the size of a pack of hotdogs and one speed fan, clearly wasn’t meant for below freezing temps.
Decent heaters? Pardon? As someone who had the pleasure of daily driving one for about 4 years I’m here to tell you that the heater is NOT up to even a mild Canadian winter. I actually ducted hotter engine bay heat into the cabin because gassing myself beat freezing to death. But otherwise the most fun vehicle I ever owned. especially in six inches of fresh snow.
Martin, I guess I should have qualified my statement. Having driven both early and late Spitfires as daily drivers for most of my adult life, the later cars put out a lot more heat than the early ones, and the ducting allowed you to both defrost and get warm as opposed to one or the other. However, I’ve lived in North Carolina as opposed to up North!
I’ll verify the the capabilities of the spitfire’s heater. We would drive with the top down in the snow back in the 70’s (1969 spitfire mkIII ).
Why are the good ones always east of the Mississippi? So far from California! I’m still looking for my old high school car…………1940 Mercury convertible. If you see one available (and drivable) please let me know.
It’ll vanish like the pioneers did in the 1700s
‘Hope you scored, @motoring mo!
Either way, good on you for being decisive and going for it. Like a lot of us, I have to remind myself that real life begins beyond the keyboard. Indeed, there’s a Mk1 Spit in the garage, calling my name and asking to be put back on the road, next spring!
It’s now mine.
Will update with all the details of how the transaction went down as soon as I get a chance…
Yahoo!!!! I love it when a plan comes together! Congratulations! Let me know if you need any parts ;-)
Way cool! You are the new Hero of Barnfinds! Congrats & keep us posted!
Hey! Way to go Mo!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!