For more info, read about our auctions or email us with any questions. The Mk IV and 1500, due mainly to the steps backward in performance from earlier Spitfires, sell for slightly less. The Spitfire used a shortened Herald chassis, with many outriggers cut off and stiffening built into the sills instead to give it a low floor. Are you sure you want to proceed? Crankshaft wear: the 1493cc engine fitted to the Spitfire 1500 has problems of its own, as the crankshaft can wear badly, along with the pistons and rings. Rot: there are plenty more rot spots to inspect too: the rear quarter panels, door bottoms, boot floor and the windscreen frame can all corrode badly. 1962 OctSpitfire 4 launched (45,753 made), 1964 Feboptional wires and Hardtop added, also tuning kits giving 70-90bhp, with eight-port cylinder head and twin Weber carbs, 1964 MarSpitfire MkII (37,408 made) replaces 4; carpets, vinyl-trimmed dash, 67bhp, tubular exhaust manifold; 0-60mph 14 secs, 94mph, 1967 MarSpitfire MkIII (65,320 made); 9in higher front bumper, one-piece hood, wood centre dash panel, bigger brake calipers, 1296cc eight-port four, 1969 Alloy-spoke steering wheel, black plastic grille, 41/2in wheels replace 31/2in, new rear lights, 1970 OctSpitfire MkIV (70,021 made); all-synchro gearbox, alternator, higher final-drive ratio, 1974 Dec1500 (95,829 made); stronger, single-rail gearbox, diff ratio raised again, 1979 Jandual-circuit brakes, 5in wheel rims. A super little machine that fits like a glove and feels remarkably sporting for its limited pace. Styled for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, the Spitfire was introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. [1] Fuel economy was 32mpgimp (8.8L/100km; 26.6mpgUS).[1]. Itll do around 100,000 miles between rebuilds if well maintained, but is likely to need hardened valve seats after about 20k miles on unleaded. There was a feel of enthusiastic amateurs about Triumph in the 1950s, as keen young men such as Harry Webster and Giovanni Michelotti followed the make do and mend wartime philosophy to save the beleaguered firm. The MkIII featured a 1296cc powerplant, which was carried over to the MkIV, but with less power because of emissions control equipment. The Mark IV featured a redesigned rear, similar to the Triumph Stag and Triumph 2000 models, both also designed by Michelotti. The rubber steering rack mounts can also perish, usually after theyve been marinaded in leaked engine oil. Bid for the chance to own a 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. 1973 Triumph Spitfire This is a cosmetically freshened 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that has been a rust-free California and Arizona car since new. 1977:The interior receives minor fettling for greater comfort. I would purchase again but expect this one to last a long time. The engine was also detuned to meet new emissions regulations. Giovanni Michelotti, who had designed the Herald, styled the bodywork, which featured wind-up windows (in contrast to the Sprite and Midget, which used side curtains) and a cowl composed of the bonnet and wings that opened forward for engine access. As a result, theyre all equally sought after although the Mk3 is a particular favourite as it has nicer lines than the MkIV and 1500 yet its relatively usable. conceptcarz.com . Worn universal joints are given away by clonks as the drive is taken up when moving off in forward or reverse. 1973 Triumph Stag Price $19,000 1975 Triumph Stag Price $36,981 1974 Triumph Stag Price $21,912 Toledo Toledo (R4 cyl, 1296 cc, 58 bhp) Saloon 2-dr Saloon 4-dr. 1973 Triumph Spitfire Pricing Original MSRP N/a Price range $14,495 to $14,495 Average price on CG $14,495 YoY price change $14,495 to $14,495 Date Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22 Dec 22 Jan 23 Feb 23 Price (US $) $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 1975 Triumph Spitfire 1974 Triumph Spitfire 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1972 Triumph Spitfire Index Price VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION; Vin Plate : Vehicle Number Location: Adjacent to the left hand door striker plate. The car was largely based upon the chassis of the Triumph Herald saloon, but shortened and . 1973 Triumph Spitfire. In 1970, the rear suspension was decambered, by incorporating what Triumph called a "swing spring". Assess the box for worn synchros and a noisy layshaft, heard at tickover in neutral; dip the clutch to see if the noise stops. All rights reserved.Auto Express is a registered trade mark. , a concours condition example, today will fetch about $16,500, as will the similar Mk Is and IIIs. [4] It was manufactured at the Standard-Triumph Canley works, with approximately 315,000 produced over 18 years.[5]. The remaining leaves were mounted to pivot freely thereby eliminating the worst characteristics of the original swing-axle design. Good tires. [14] Options such as the hard top, tonneau cover, map light and overdrive continued to be popular, but wire wheels ceased to be available. [1] The factory claimed that at highway speeds (70mph (110km/h)) the car achieved 38.1 miles per imperial gallon (7.41L/100km; 31.7mpgUS).[1]. If a car has been badly restored, with the shell twisted in the process, the door wont be flush all the way down and neither will the shut lines be even. Rear suspension was by a single transverse-leaf swing axle,[8] an arrangement, that unless ameliorated by any of several options, can allow rear tyres to undergo large camber changes during fast cornering, leading to oversteer a dynamically unstable condition in which a vehicle can lose control and spin. . The older saloon's drum brakes were replaced upfront with discs, and the body was made stiffer to aid in performance around the corners. We empower classic and exotic car buyers, sellers, and enthusiasts with insights for the collector car industry - including market values, price comparisons, listing alerts and more. Actual costs vary depending on the coverage selected, vehicle condition, province and other factors. Power Change Manufacturer Select Year & Model 1973 Triumph Prices, Values and Specs Select any 1973 Triumph model Currently named Triumph Motorcycles Ltd., this elite motorcycle manufacturer is the largest surviving British motorcycle company, dating back to 1902. An all-monocoque construction derivative of the Spitfire with pop-up headlamps, named the Triumph Fury, was proposed with a single prototype being built. Triumph wanted a piece of this market and felt they could produce a better automobile than the Sprite. , had already created a prototype of the Spitfire, it was delayed and eventually shelved indefinitely. The repaintin Gunmetal Grey Metallic shows agood shine over a straight body. Reconnected! Please Visit Our Sponsors : Home Values The wider, lower stance gave an impressive skid pad result of 0.87g average. We did the Lige-Brescia-Lige rally in it last year. Please Visit Our Sponsors : Home Many know the company either for its popular TR series, which was built throughout the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, or for its early days as a motorcycle manufacturer, which led to the establishment of the separate Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd. (since revived as Triumph Motorcycles). by babetskt Jun 12, 2019. Flower Mound, TX, USA. Gearbox: all of the gearboxes are reasonably long-lived, but big mileages will lead to rebuilds being necessary. The engine was now rated at 63 horsepower for the UK market, with a 9:1 compression ratio and twin SU HS2 carburetors. Look for signs of overheating: recore the radiator every 10 years and youll have no problems. It overheated when I bought it, but a new oversized radiator cured that. Clean and runs well. Entering production in '62, the Triumph Spitfire featured a few improvements mechanically when compared to the Herald on which it was based. 1493cc/57hp 2x1bbl Add to watchlist Sorry. The front end was revised with a new bonnet pressing, eliminating the weld lines on top of the wings, door handles were recessed, the convertible top received squared-off corners. For most of the Mark III range, the instrument cluster remained centre-mounted (as in the Mark I and Mark II), easily accommodating right-hand and left-hand drive versions. Exterior trim featured a new grille and badges, and the interior featured revised seats, covering most exposed surfaces with rubber cloth. 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 73k mi 73,287 mi Redwood City, CA, USA. Lot #1,771. The main problem with the trunnions is wear of the threaded brass at the bottom, if EP90 oil hasnt been pumped in every six months or so. All parts are available. Although in this final incarnation the engine was rather rough and more prone to failure than the earlier units, torque was greatly increased by increasing the cylinder stroke to 87.5mm (3.44in), which made it much more drivable in traffic.[1]. The Mk II sold for GBP 550 when new in 1965, the equivalent today of almost GBP 11,000 or a hair under $15,000. While the rest of the world saw 1500s with a compression ratio of 8.0:1, the American market model was fitted with a single Zenith-Stromberg carburettor and a compression ratio reduced to 7.5:1 to allow it to run on lower octane unleaded fuel. 1979 VW Beetle convertible. BaT MOTO Alumni Gathering: May 6 at The Quail in Carmel, CARegister Now. Check for weak synchros and dip the clutch in neutral to listen for layshaft noise. Although, Giovanni Michelotti, the Italian designer who had also worked on everything from the Herald to Ferraris to BMWs to Fiats. . Second-hand hoods and frames are readily available, so dont reject a car if it doesnt have a hood the chances are that such cars will have been better looked after and stayed drier inside. The remaining leaves were mounted to pivot freely eliminating the worst characteristics of the original swing-axle. Ive had the diff and driveshafts rebuilt, but otherwise its only needed normal service items. Rear overriders were deleted and bumper mounted reversing lights became standard (initially as two separate lights on either side of the number plate, latterly as a single light in a new unit above the number plate). Triumph Spitfire 1500 Mk IV. Popular Cars for Sale. Use Classics on Autotrader' intuitive search tools to find the best classic car, muscle car, project car, classic truck, or hot rod. US specification models up to 1978 featured chrome bumpers, and on the 1979 and 1980 models these were replaced by black rubber bumpers with built-in over-riders, using chassis extensions to support the bumpers. IV engine displaced 1,296 cc (79.1 cu in) throughout the production run, and in 1973 received larger big-end bearings to rationalise production with the TR6 2.5-litre engines. The seller notes a flat spot in power delivery off-idle, likely requiring an adjustment to the carburetor. One leaf was eliminated from the stack and only the bottom leaf was attached rigidly to the differential. Get 1973 Triumph Spitfire trim level values and reviews. built 226,526 Mpg 30-42 0-60mph 12.3 secs Top speed 101mph Price new 928 (1971) Price now 3-5000+. **Figure based on a stock 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 valued at $9,700 with ON rates with $100/300K liability/UM/UIM limits. The first thing to check in the event of non-engagement is that the electrics are working okay; theyre often the main cause of problems. If it needs replacing, consider upgrading to a higher ratio. However, theres a good chance that something else will be fitted, such as an engine starting G (Herald), D (Dolomite) or Y (1500 saloon). Your best bet is to feel for play by getting underneath. The Cost Of A Classic Triumph Spitfire The Mk II sold for GBP 550 when new in 1965, the equivalent today of almost GBP 11,000 or a hair under $15,000. The Spitfire used mechanicals from the Herald saloon/sedan. buying and selling classic and collector vehicles. This gave a top speed of 92mph (148km/h), and a 0 to 60mph (97km/h) acceleration in 16.4 seconds. The design used body-on-frame construction, augmented by structural components within the bodywork and rear trailing arms attached to the body rather than the chassis. Imperfections are said to be limited to a dent in the passenger side front fender and a scratch on the rear fender. The Triumph Spitfire was launched in 1962, and aimed to compete with the Austin-Healey Sprite, but in the same year another rival also surfaced the MGB. If you would like to discuss your Hagerty Insurance policy, please call us at 877-922-9701. Water in the sills: also take a look at the leading edge of each sill; theres a good chance of holes here. Performance was slower than the Mark III due to its weight increase and taller 3.89:1 final drive as opposed to the earlier 4.11:1. Draughts are inevitable, but many soft-tops could be better fitted. 1- family owned, and 25,000 original miles per previous owner. Your daily digest of everything happening on the site. There were three different engines fitted throughout the life of the Spitfire, with each one also fitted to other models in the Triumph range. If the small British sports cars of the early '60s are the topic at hand, though, the chances are that it's one of Triumph's classic roadsters, which you will picture. of torque, enough to propel the sub-1,600 pound car from 0 to 60 in 16.4 seconds and up to a top speed of a respectable 92 mph. The bigger motor is needed because of all the emissions control equipment that has to be fitted. 1967:The MkIII arrives, with a 1296cc engine, a hood thats much easier to use and revised styling. External door locks and roll-up side windows were pleasant upgrades from what could be expected on similar cars like the Bugeye Sprite, though, and the driving experience offered by the Spitfire was by no means an unpleasant one. It remained unchanged until 1979 when it gained large, rubber bumpers before bowing out entirely in 1980. Bucket-list classics: whats on your list? 1978 Triumph Spitfire Conv, good older restoration, nice body, good original int, newer top, 4 cyl, 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 For SaleGet ready to take a step back in time with this stunning 1979 Tri, 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 Original 1500cc Engine in Excellent Running Condition. Classic & Sports Car values them at just under $12,400 for a concours condition car. Synchro: synchromesh is usually the first thing to go, so check if theres any baulking as you go up and down the gears. The Triumph doesnt have a huge amount of power on offer, but with just 670kg to haul along, performance is better than you might think especially as the 1147cc four-pot was fitted with twin carbs, a spicier camshaft and a more free-breathing exhaust manifold. We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience, personalize content and ads, and analyze how our sites are used. $4,500. *Please note: All prices shown here are based on various data sources, as detailed in, Membership by Hagerty Drivers Club (HDC), a non-insurance subsidiary of The Hagerty Group, LLC. While the rest of the world saw 1500s with a compression ratio of 8.0:1, th Country Classic Cars Click for Phone Staunton, IL 62088 (1,604 miles away) 27 1975 Triumph Spitfire The Spitfire 1500 saw further decreases in power due to emissions regulations and increasing weight, and the model was discontinued in 1980. The gearbox gained syncromesh on its bottom gear. The Mk IV and 1500, due mainly to the steps backward in performance from earlier Spitfires, sell for slightly less. Sign in now to prevent your Saved Listings from expiring. Never sold to the public, it remains on display at the British Motor Museum. and enthusiasts with insights for the collector car industry - including market values, price comparisons, listing alerts and more. The front bumper was raised in response to new crash regulations, and the front coil springs were slightly raised. 1965 saw the introduction of the Spitfire Mk II. In its first iteration, the car was referred to as both the Spitfire Mk I and the Spitfire 4, in reference to the I4 powerplant. Bearings: the wheelbearings can wear, as can the track rods end, steering rack and upper ball joints that locate the top wishbone. Pop-up headlights were proposed but never made it into production due to the expense of producing them. Here's How Much A Datsun 240Z Is Worth Today, This Is How Much A Ferrari F40 Is Worth Today, Here's How Much A Classic Jaguar SS100 Is Worth Today, This Chevrolet Corvette C8 Widebody Could Be Inspiration For The New ZR1, Pontiac Grand Prix: The Original Muscle Car Is Back For 2023 With Bold Intentions, This 2024 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Concept Proves GM Gave Up On Muscle Cars Too Soon, 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Here's What We Know, 10 Overrated Electric Crossovers We Wouldn't Waste Our Money On, The Owner Of This Neglected Lexus LS 400 Gets A Massive Repair Bill He Wasn't Expecting. More power came with the Mk II and these early cars are quite desirable if the driver respects the limitations of the rear suspension design. Even with twin SU carbs, the Heralds tiny 1.1 liter engine made little power and the swing axle rear suspension made for potentially hazardous handling near the limit. In 1962, the British company Triumph introduced a two-seater sports car named the Spitfire. The wheel arches were flared, which gave it a more aggressive stance. There are plenty of project Spitfires about, but if you want to restore the car properly, even at home, youll be doing well to break even if you buy something that needs a complete overhaul. Most relevant reviews. The doors were given recessed handles, the front end was changed now featuring a plastic grille and plastic bumper underrider covers. Differential: the differential will whine when its worn. With a focus on the economy, the Spitfire's trim options were not extravagant. In the UK the 9:1 compression ratio, less restrictive emissions control equipment, and the Type HS2 SU carburettors now being replaced with larger Type HS4 models,[1] led to the most powerful variant to date. Bodywork was bolted to the much-modified Herald chassis, the outer rails and the rear outriggers having been removed; with structural outer sills to stiffen the overall design. This variant was dubbed the Mk IV. It claimed a top speed of 96 mph and a reduced 0 - 60 time of 14.8 seconds. Home repairs: many owners restore their Spitfires at home and dont brace the bodyshell when the three-piece sills are replaced, twisting the bodyshell. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 28 Triumph models in Dover-Foxcroft, ME. Crash damage: accident damage is also a strong possibility, as these cars often appeal to inexperienced drivers after some cheap fun. According to Classic & Sports Car, a concours condition example, today will fetch about $16,500, as will the similar Mk Is and IIIs. Your CA Privacy Rights (Shine the Light) Giovanni Michelotti, Triumphs favorite Italian designer came up with a design for the Herald chassis that unlike the Sprite and Midget, was truly beautiful. U.S. pollution and safety regulations began to hit the Spitfire after 1967 with the Mk III heralding revised (and less attractive bumpers) and less horsepower in spite of a displacement increase to nearly 1.3 liters. Overdrive: many Spitfires have overdrive, which can also give problems. Restored-Original. Budget for a top end rebuild. The Spitfire was an inexpensive small sports car and as such received rather basic trim by today's standards, including rubber mats and a large plastic steering wheel. The stock exhaust manifold has been replaced by a header, and a Pertronix flamethrower electronic ignition has been added. Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith: somebody please talk me out of this, Video: The Classic & Sports Car Show 2018 highlights, Corrosion can penetrate almost everywhere, so thoroughly inspect the chassis and body. Once this has happened, a bottom-end rebuild is necessary. The engine was an 1,147cc (70.0cuin) four-cylinder with a pushrod OHV cylinder head and two valves per cylinder, using twin SU carburettors. Springs and dampers: the only other likely problem, apart from worn or leaking shock absorbers, which are easy to replace, is a sagging leaf spring. This 1973 Triumph Spitfire has been with the seller for two years and is in driver condition with 73k miles. It's not to, 1979 Triumph Spitfire PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO https://youtu.be/dCn8jIqpLho For sale is a 1979 Triumph, 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 Convertible. During nearly two decades of production the engine grew, the bodywork was restyled and the suspension honed to make the cars handling more predictable. 1973:A 1500 edition makes its entrance, for the US market only. The 1,147cc engine was replaced with a bored-out 1,296cc unit (the bore increasing from 69.3mm (2.73in) to 73.7mm (2.90in), stroke retained at 76mm (3.0in)), as fitted on the new Triumph Herald 13/60 and Triumph 1300 saloons. Buy wisely and you should enjoy many years together. Set an alert to be notified of new listings. Please try again later or you may try to reload page. Overdrive is a highly desirable extra; if not fitted, budget to convert. The interior dashboard was updated; the instruments were now in front of the driver rather than in the center console. Youre going to struggle to find anything that offers the same amount of fun as the Spitfire, if youre on a seriously tight budget, but such low values are a double-edged sword because theres a lot of rubbish available as a result. or $324/mo. Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production. Rover, Land Rover, and Triumph were not part of British Motor Holdings but became part of British Leyland in 1968. http://www.motorgraphs.com/heritage/malines-belgium-factory-leyland-triumph-1972_a156434.aspx, SPITTY TIPS 19. This was originally bought by me in 2017 after a wait of twe. The Austin-Healey Sprite had proven there was a demand for small cars with sporty intentions. Further improvements to the suspension followed with the 1500 included longer swing axles and a lowered spring mounting point for more negative camber and a wider rear track. 1980 Triumph Spitfire Convertible Always kept in climate controlled environment since new, in a hous. The car was given a partial restoration by a previous owner around 2007, and had been driven about 3000 miles since. The mere mention of the early days of the European supercar conjures thoughts of, . Rubber bushes: there are various other rubber bushes throughout the suspension, all of which will perish at some point but theyre cheap to buy if somewhat involved to replace if you want to fit a complete new set. Its been repainted with new upholstery, new. Although Giovanni Michelotti, the Italian designer who had also worked on everything from the Herald to Ferraris to BMWs to Fiats, had already created a prototype of the Spitfire, it was delayed and eventually shelved indefinitely. The same goes for the rest of the front suspension; there are all sorts of potential weak spots but theyre all quickly and cheaply fixed. The production design changed little from the prototype: the full-width rear bumper was replaced by two part-bumpers curving around each corner, with overriders. Early cars are certainly the most valuable, with Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 models all commanding up to around 8000 in top condition. Top speed crept closer to 100 mph, and acceleration was significantly improved, the 0 to 60 time dropping by almost two seconds. Attempting to connect. However, the 060 time of 14 seconds was still faster than the Mark II. The car was an instant hit and outsold BMCs Spridget rivals, ultimately sharing its 1500 engine with the last Midgets. The images shown are representations of the 1973 Triumph Spitfire and not necessarily vehicles that have been bought or sold at auction. All contents 2023 The best vintage and classic cars for sale online | Bring a Trailer, Privacy Notice Trim: similarly, the trim shouldnt pose any problems as most of it is being remanufactured. Swing-axle rear suspension works better than most think, especially in swing-spring form. The rear end was redesigned, resulting in improved cargo space. The MkIV was fitted with the same transmission, but with synchromesh on all ratios, while the 1500 received a Marina-derived unit, which is the most durable of all the gearboxes. It was progressively improved from the charming 1147cc Spitfire 4 and MkII to the livelier 1296cc MkIII. These cars were essentially MkIV's with 1500 badges and engine. 1973 Triumph Spitfire 93,000 mi $ 11,995 or $198/mo Classic Car Deals (844) 676-0714 Cadillac, MI 49601 (644 miles away) 1 Classics on Autotrader is your one-stop shop for the best classic cars, muscle cars, project cars, exotics, hot rods, classic trucks, and old cars for sale. Missed updates will be sent once your connection has been reestablished. Pioneer after market CD player with USB. The diff should be quiet and relatively clonk-free; it is prone to leak especially if the breather is blocked so topping up may help. For more information on how we collect and use this information, please review our Privacy Policy. The Triumph Spitfire Mk II, launched in 1965, was very similar to its predecessor but with a more highly tuned engine. The factory hardtop has been color matched to the bodyand shows well with good shine and glass. The result was a design similar to the Triumph 2000 and Triumph Stag. An aftermarket stereo and wood-rimmed Momo steering wheel have been fitted. Where the Austin A30 used monocoque construction, the Herald used body-on-frame a chassis Triumph was able to downsize, saving the cost of developing a completely new chassis-body unit. Due to the placement of the engine, there was ample room in the cockpit for the passengers. Then take a look at thesepotential future classics Not every car manufacturer will survive the Chinese revolution, BYD overtaking VW in China signals a tectonic shift in the global car industry. However, none of these cars are really fast and none will ever provide the lan of an Elan, but then youre not paying Lotus prices either. Good luck! The Triumph Spitfire has been a card-carrying classic for decades, and values are finally out of banger territory across the range. A lack of originality isnt generally an issue (although it may be to you), but poor restorations are a problem because many home restorers cut their teeth on cars like the Spitfire. Restored-Original. 1959 Triumph TR3 1973 Triumph TR-6 1974 Triumph TR6 1975 Triumph TR6 1979 Triumph Spitfire: Free Links: Classified Ads: Find Value: Ask Question: Questions: Answers: Session ID: Used Values: Start: A to Z: Blue Book: . It remained unchanged until 1979 when it gained large, rubber bumpers before bowing out entirely in 1980. ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019, celebrating the team's skills as exemplary customer support specialists. Sills: start by looking at the integrity of the sills; the area where they meet the rear wings is where corrosion is the most likely, and once rot takes a hold, long-lasting repairs will require skill. The hardtop was redesigned and improved. All Rights Reserved. This Sold Price: $19,800 Sold Date: Unknown 1973 Triumph GT6 Mk. [12] The separate "Triumph" letters on the front of the bonnet were removed and "Triumph" and "Spitfire" rectangular badges were used in the front, rear sides and rear. III's final production year (1970) included an integrated rear reverse and license plate lamp, side lamps at the front and rear and new badging.