Anyone have experience of Triumph Spitfire 1500s?

[Guest Breadvan72]

I have been offered a Spitfire 1500 for a suspiciously low price in what appears to be suspiciously OK nick  (ie: shiny polish covering 4000% wob and Daily Mirrors).  I have had two Triumphs before - a Mark 2 Vitesse, which was GR9, and a Toledo, which was not as dull as you might expect.   Neither gave much trub apart from being rusty.   I have also driven a couple of GT6s but never owned one.   I have never driven a Spitfire of any variety.  

 

 Anyone think they are ace, avoidable, absurd, etc?  Me being a fat bloke, I will look stupid getting in and out of such a tiny yarmouth, but who cares?  My daughter might like it. She misses my drophead Lancia, wot I haz sold.

[Junkman]

It's not so much the getting in and out bit that bothers me, it's the windscreen header directly in front of my eyes when sitting in it.

Those were clearly designed for the Pygmies as the target market, when there was still an Empire.

[brickwall]

You're mean tto slouch in it, but if you do, you end up looking like you've got severe rickets.

[Rocket88]

More civilised than an MGB, not as quick, but more comfortable. I'm 6 ft, never had any issues with header rail. 1500 ain't the nicest engine in the world,

[purplebargeken]

1500 engine can sometimes be prone to bottom end grumbles and is a little less nice as a good 1300 a la Tolly.

 

Rust, rust, rust........ chassis rails and so on. Am also of large build and baulk at the prospect of getting in one. The GT6 was bad but a Spitty??? Hmm. Parts and panel availability is good but condition is everything tbh.

 

Get an MGF for peanuts and have some fun in comfort.

[Guest Breadvan72]

It's not so much the getting in and out bit that bothers me, it's the windscreen header directly in front of my eyes when sitting in it.

Those were clearly designed for the Pygmies as the target market, when there was still an Empire.

 

 

You mean the Fukarwe Tribe?  That long lost tribe of short people who lived in a region of long grass and spent all day every day jumping up and down shouting  "Where the Fukarwe?!"

[red5]

1500 doesn't like to be revved - 4 spot ok but o/d box a must on a 1500 or the bottom drops off it (longer stroke 1300 motor basically)

 

The usual rot.

 

if suspension needs a overhaul do it ALL. All of it. Especially rear.

 

Loved mine. Despite many previous bodgy owners it commuted 66 miles a day through Brum and didn't break it a fashion that impeded progress.

[red5]

Ps 6' 2" and the top rail was a bit close.

 

Would have another. Don't tell wife.

[Guest Breadvan72]

More civilised than an MGB ...

 

 

Conan the Barbarian is more civilised than an MGB.

[red5]

Conan the Barbarian is more civilised than an MGB.

 

Never owned one yet....hmm...

[Guest Breadvan72]

Never owned a mighty thewed Cimmerian warrior?  Call yerself a shiter!

 

Here is the owner's handbook -

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PQ6335puOc

[Guest Avs]

Had a great mk3

Look out for all the usual, watch doors aren't dropped, metal behind seat can come apart if knackered

Carbs can get too hot and vaporize petrol, but think they put a heat shield on later ones to sort that.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Taking on board the points about the 1300 being the better engine, I had a root around for Mark IVs, but the ones on sale are either spenner or look well skanky.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Mechanical stuff's easy and usually inexpensive. Check the sills. Triumph cut the side rails off the chassis and made the sills structural.

 

[Bobthebeard]

I had a Spitfire 1500 (FUA 33T I think...) Bought in 1984 so only a few years old. British Racing Green with a gold side stripe. Looked lovely but it rusted. Boy did it rust. The engine was fine at 30,000 miles or so, but it had some serious remedial body work done to keep it looking good. Ex wife took it as part of divorce settlement and ran it for a while, but I believe rust finally killed it.

[Junkman]

You mean the Fukarwe Tribe?  That long lost tribe of short people who lived in a region of long grass and spent all day every day jumping up and down shouting  "Where the Fukarwe?!"

 

Yeah, same area where the Noplises live.

[New POD]

My first car was supposed to be a 1500, but I was 18,and stupid and it turned out that someone had ringed in more than once in the previous 15 years and It was a 1300. 

 

Mine was shit.

 

30 years on I own a mk1 mx5, which is so much more what a car should be.