For Sale: 1980 Triumph Spitfire in Lithia Springs, Georgia

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!