Take a look at this Triumph Spitfire! The short version is that it's a solid car that you can get in and drive. I bought this car from a very nice lady over the winter, and brought it home so that I could get it out of storage and back on the road. Right about the time I succeeded, my wife told me we're buying a new house, so the car must go. :-(

Here's the rundown:

Body:

The body is all metal, and looks to have been repainted once some time ago. It's not a recent paint job, though, so any areas that need attention are already showing. There's a slash on the bonnet where it looks like someone keyed the paint, a couple dings on the door panel, and a fist-sized dent on the rear quarter where the paint was also damaged. The front quarter valence on the passenger side has been replaced with a used panel, but the driver's side would still benefit from some help. All panels are readily available, and body work on a Spitfire is not difficult. It's a little tired, but the problems are all cosmetic.

Chassis:

The chassis has had some maintenance done. The rear tires sit upright (not severely tilted in like on some Spitfires where the rear suspension is shot), and the engine mounts are all attached to something instead of broken in half. Not much more to say about a Spitfire chassis... They're pretty straightforward and this one seems solid. The brake master is new, and I don't see any oil drops on the garage floor where I park it. Mind you, there is no warranty against this happening in the future.

Drivetrain:

I haven't touched the engine itself, but a lot of the bits attached to it have been given recent attention. The alternator, fan belt, distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs, coil, and various other bits are all brand new in 2014. The transmission was apart last winter, and the synchros replaced (so it will shift smoothly into all 4 gears). The clutch was replaced at the same time and works without a problem. The ignition is a Crane XR-700 and works flawlessly. You will get smooth power all the way to the Panasport wheels and 1-year-old tires!

Interior:

It's basically all original. The radio was replaced, but I've never plugged it in. I imagine it would work if you connected a few wires. The dash has a minor crack or two, but is probably the best original Spitfire dash I've seen (most of them are cracked all over the place, and you would get splinters just from looking at them). The armrest was replaced with an original armrest that it still a little beat up, but isn't split open with stuffing hanging out (which dulls the driving experience). The carpets are all accounted for and the seats are nice and plush given the car's age (not flat as in most Spitfires). You'll only need to replace or work on the interior if you are doing a nice restoration or if you happen to not like the color. It's actually pretty good, and my wife will even sit in it without complaining that she needs to shower afterwards!

Other stuff:

The fluids have all been replaced. Everything was clean coming out and new going back in. You shouldn't have to change or do anything to the car unless you want to (for example, you might decide you'd like to repaint, but there are no looming details that I'm aware of that require attention). Think of this as a driver that needs some dents fixed and some damaged paint repaired, and you'll be very happy. The top has a 1-inch fray where it hits the back of the passenger-side window, but nothing that would affect it's water-proofness. It's a canvas top and looks very nice (as a side note, I haven't had it in the rain and have no idea how well canvas tops actually seal--but they do look pretty!).

Final thoughts: I have a TR6 that she's letting me keep, so I don't mind letting the Spitfire go, but I'm already approved for the mortgage so I'm not desperate for the money either. Please keep your offers reasonable, and PLEASE come see the car before putting your money out there. I make my own schedule at the office and will be happy to accommodate you. I am familiar with Triumphs and would be happy to answer any questions, so fire away!

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Auto blog

Jaguar F Type V6 S vs Triumph Street Triple R in open-air track attack

Sun, 21 Sep 2014

Typically, these track battle videos pair up car against car or, in more disparate circumstances, car versus crossover, as we saw the other day. While the outcome of that battle was quite predictable, what'll happen when an equally fetching (and fast) four-wheeler is put up against one of the icons of the two-wheeled world? Evo just had to find out.
Matching up a Jaguar F-Type V6 S Convertible against a Triumph Street Triple R is at least more of an even fight than the last battle between the Porsche Cayman GTS and Macan Turbo. The Triumph has a 675-cc engine to work with, and is very light. Meanwhile, the Jag has a thumping 380-horsepower, 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 to haul about it's considerably heftier heft. Who will come out on top?
You'll need to watch the full video to find out.

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