Car of the Month May 2014 - Triumph Spitfire (1962-80)

Triumph's Spitfire is affordable, pretty, simple and fun, so it doesn't need

to be a road-burner appeal. It can be bought and run cheaply, up-rated

easily and give excellent service.

On sale for almost 20 years, the Spitfire was conceived by Triumph in 1957 as a response to the market for Ford side valve specials and cars like the Standard Ten-based Fairthorpe. BMC brought out the Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget, but Triumph's foray was delayed by development costs, finally arriving in 1962 with an uprated version of the Herald 1200's 1147cc engine.

The pretty and practical Spitfire offered a decent-sized boot, wind-up windows and a more spacious interior than a Midget. It was one of the most successful shapes from Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti.

Making use of mainstream Herald componentry, it boasted independent rear suspension and a tiny turning circle. It had a better ride than other small sports cars and, although criticised for a tendency to 'jack up' if the driver lifted mid-corner, it only let go if driven hard. the problem was eradicated with the s[ring spring set-up fitted to MkIV's in 1070, which can be fitted to earlier cars.

Pretty and practical, but the Spitfire can rust in many areas.

Trim is simple and widely available.

Spitfires are great fun on a sunny day and civilised enough in bad weather, especially with the optional hardtop. MkI's am II's are the cutest, MkIII's the most turnable, MkIV's the cheapest and lat 1500's the most practical.

Spitfires out-sold Spridgets throughout and more than 300,000 were built. They were rallied and raced at Le Mans, spawning the fastback GT6. Triumph never built an open GT6, but many have been converted. If a Spitfire body is fitted to a complete GT6 chassis/running gear, the conversion is successful - fitting GT6 running gear to a Spitfire rarely works as so much must be changed.

Many more Spitfires were sold in the US than the UK, but very few have come back. Emissions equipment took the MkIV 1300 down to 48bhp and US cars used the 1500 engine from 1973.

BODY/CHASSIS

For a restoration project, you should walk away from a car that needs major body work. It costs too much to do it properly. The sills are key to a good restoration, and they are key to a good Spitfire purchase. The sills are structural and are critical to good door fit and consequently also affects the fit of the hood.

Spitfires can rust in many areas, but thankfully most of it is easy to find because of the way these cars are built. Door bottoms rust, as do rear wheel arches as well as the valance below the rear bumper. The optional hard-top is a desirable extra, but check that all fittings are present and look for rust along the front edge and below the windows, especially on MkIV's. The Spitfire chassis rarely suffers any rust, but should still be checked.

ENGINE

The worst engine is the MkIV 1300, though its cylinder head has better porting and bigger valves than the MkIII, which is easily swapped over.

Despite starting life in 1953 with 803cc, the four-cylinder Spitfire engine is robust and dependable. Spitfires never had an oil pressure gauge as standard. If one is fitted, expect 60-75psi at speed when cold, dropping to 40psi when thoroughly hot. A good blast on a motorway is needed before the pressure on a worn engine will drop to around 25psi at speed.

TRANSMISSION

Marks I-III used a three-rail gearbox with synchromesh on the top three gears and optional overdrive; the MkIV added synchro on first (and stronger overdrive in 1974), while the 1500 had a stronger single-rail gearbox (with four synchros and optional overdrive).

Mks I-III used a 4.11:1 Herald-spec differential; MkIV used the 3.89:1 larger flange diff developed for the Vitesse 2-litre, while the 1500 went to 3.7:1.

SUSPENSION

Spitfire suspension is simple and reliable if well maintained, but needs regular attention. You cannot over-lubricate them and neglect leads to rust forming at the top of the thread on the vertical link.

Scruffy interior is inexpensive to refurbish.

INTERIOR TRIM

Spitfire trim is simple and virtually all available. It's vinyl on early cars (with extremely rare leather option), but seats acquired hounds tooth cloth centre panels on 1500's from FH100020. Hoods made on the original tooling are still available for MkIV on, ut Mks I-III hoods vary in quality.

SPITFIRE MKIII 1969

ENGINE : 1296cc four-cylinder OH valves Twin SU carbs

POWER & TORQUE : 75bhp @ 6000rpm

TRANSMISSION : Four-speed manual, optional overdrive, rear-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE : Top speed 95mph, 0-60mph - 12.5sec

WHICH IS WHICH?

SPITFIRE 4

1962-64 - Original 63bhp gave 92mph, with 5.20x13 crossply tyres on 3.5in disc wheels. From 1964 optional 4.5in wires, overdrive and hardtop.

SPITFIRE 4 MKII

1964-67 - Carpets replace rubber mats, vinyl trim over metal dash, power up to 67bhp, with new camshaft and tubular exhaust manifold.

SPITFIRE MKIII

1967-70 - Re-designed for US bumper legislation: 9in higher in front bumper, one-piece folding hood, wire-spoke Vitesse/TR4 steering wheel, wood-veneer centre dash panel, 1296cc eight-port engine giving 75bhp.

SPITFIRE MKIV

1970-74 - Major re-design by Michelotti cleaned up body styling and modernised interior. Hardtop also re-designed. All synchro gearbox and alternator standard.

SPITFIRE 1500

1974-80 - 1493cc long-stroke engine with 2.5in SU carbs gave 71bhp. Stronger single-rail gearbox plus higher final drive.