Since we’ve had some recent conversations about sub $5,000 projects, here are two from Coventry. I can hear you thinking now: “Jamie can’t count – there are three Triumphs pictured!” You’d be right and wrong; the red and blue Spitfires are being sold as a pair. Thanks to Bentleyguy for telling us about the 1971 TR6 advertised here on craigslist in Scottsdale, Arizona, and to Jim S. for highlighting the two Spitfires, listed here on eBay and located in New Market, Alabama.

The 1971 TR6 was the seller’s wife’s uncle’s car. The seller bought it to turn into a racer with his son; there’s no reason given for the sale at this point. The car looks sun-baked, and it has been at least partially stripped of paint and parts. While there is light surface rust visible, as a whole it looks pretty solid. Without seeing the floors and the areas of the frame where the trailing arms attach you can’t be sure, though.

You can see from this shot that the left front fender has received a little too much attention, but replacement fenders, both used and new ones made on the original dies, are readily available. The seller assures us that the engine was “fogged” when put away and that it was running at the time. It’s for sale for $2,500.

As far as the Spitfires go, both the red and blue cars are 1973 Spitfire 1500’s, which are an in-between model where it’s about 1/2 a Mark IV and 1/2 a later 1500. The seller has had the red car since 1983, previously restored the car once and has stored it in a garage since 2007.

The blue car, with the worst rust I’ve ever seen on the nose of a Spitfire, ran 10 years ago but the engine both burns and leaks oil. The seller states that some of the body components are better on the blue car than the red car. I hope they look better than the bonnet!

The interior doesn’t look too bad, or at least it wouldn’t once it was cleaned up. The wiring looks a little scary, though! Carpet kits for Spitfires are easily obtained, and with bidding on this pair opening at $1,000 with no reserve, this could be a real bargain. Tell us if you are interested in either project, and why, in the comments below!