Vehicle Description
This 1980 Triumph Spitfire represents the last (and arguably the
best) from a celebrated history. After all, it has the classic
lightweight sports car feeling, and this one has the largest motor
of the series. It also has a two-owner story, impressive
originality, an extraordinary paperwork file, and nice extras -
like a hardtop. Even with all this, it still retains its attractive
affordable price.
This Triumph was sold new only about 30 minutes from our
dealership. The doctor who purchased it had it for about 30 years
under garage-kept care. It has only had one more owner since, and
everyone involved has treated it with care. That's why the under
39k on the odometer is believed to represent the full actual
mileage done in the last 40+ years. It's the kind of car that wants
to tell its story, and so many of the main pieces keep their
original and matured style. The Russet Brown paint shows all the
right signs of being the original application, and it has some use
and patina, but it remains quite complete and attractive. After
all, many of these Spitfires lost their originality early on
because of how much they were driven hard by over-enthusiastic
owners. But this is a doctor's car that received premium treatment,
including an accessory hardtop. So the way the panels fit together,
the clean look of the glass, and the completeness of the bumpers
tell the larger story of proper care on a survivor Spitfire.
Just like the exterior, the interior has a true stock style that's
clean, complete, and matured enough so everyone can tell it's
original. The Spitfire delivers features you don't get on every
classic British machine, like proper roll-up windows and a useful
heater. And it's great to have the choice of a hardtop or soft top,
the real fun is with no top at all. The wind-in-your-hair
experience is part of the true fun of driving. Plus, this really
knows how to get your enthusiast's heart pumping. The position of
the grippy three-spoke steering wheel and stick shift make this car
feel like it was built around you. And not only do you get a large
Smiths speedo and tach, but also the rest of the dash is dominated
by auxiliary readouts to give you the full info at all times.
The full forward-tilting front end gives you excellent access to
the motor. You can spot good maintenance items like the newer
distributor, wires, and alternator. But the most exciting part may
just be the motor itself. The last of the Spitfires means the
largest motor of the series evolution. The 1.5-liter isn't a muscle
car rival, but that was never this car's nature. The peppy
sprightly powerhouse works with a lightweight body, strong backbone
chassis, and fully independent suspension to be a nimble and fun
sports car. Plus, front disc brakes and four-speed manual
transmission give you the right all-around control.
The terrific paperwork file includes the dealer invoice, original
bill of sale, original window sticker, owner's manual, title info,
maintenance records, and service manuals. This is a special
survivor drop-top looking for its third owner in over 40 years. So
if you're a true collector, call today!