Vehicle Description
Part of the 70's flood of affordable 2-seater sports cars from
England, the Triumph Spitfire was low-cost fun that had plenty of
style. This 1976 Spitfire is a late 1500 model, arguably the most
desirable of the bunch, and thanks to a fairly comprehensive
freshening, this is the most drop-top fun you can have per dollar.
Let's get started!
High visibility Sunset Orange paint makes this two-seater look
faster and more expensive than it really is, and we promise that
wherever you go, people are going to admire this car. The shape
dates to the early 1960s but low-slung two-seaters just don't seem
to go out of style. The proportions seem to hide the car's
diminutive size and despite the very reasonable price tag, the
workmanship is pretty darned good. It seems that the work was done
a few years ago, so it's no longer perfect, but on the other hand,
it shines up well, the panel fit is good, and aside from some minor
chips from being driven, it looks great. Details like the black
gaskets between the fenders and bodywork, the hood latches, and the
chrome luggage rack add a lot of character to the little sports
car. The taillights appear to be original and they're a little
faded and crazed, but replacements are probably inexpensive, too.
Chrome bumpers with big rubber overriders are a fact of life on any
'70s import, but they're in good condition and they've aged
gracefully.
The British were still doing interiors focused on driving, even in
the 1970s, and this Spitfire has comfortable buckets faced in
cloth, so they hold you in place during spirited driving. The
dashboard is real wood, not some kind of plastic facsimile, and
it's full of traditional Smiths gauges with big white markings that
are easy to read at a glance. Door panels look to be reproductions,
while the carpets look newer and fit well. The stereo is upgraded
to an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit and it sounds decent in the small
cockpit, even with the top down. The controls feel natural and
you'll feel at home the moment you slide behind the wheel, and
you'll probably wonder how we've gotten so disconnected from our
driving in recent years, because this car talks to you loud and
clear. For emergencies, there's a nice black convertible top and
the trunk is surprisingly roomy, perfect for a weekend getaway.
The 1500 in the model name refers to the 1500 cc four-cylinder
engine under the hood, which had the most torque ever in a
Spitfire. That made it feel punchier around town and gave it
performance to match its look. The hood tilts forward for awesome
service access and it's pretty tidy in there. The engine shows
signs of regular maintenance and uses the familiar side-draft Weber
carburetor you find on many English cars of the era. There's a bit
of scale on the firewall, but otherwise it's quite clean and you
can't argue with this this little sports car runs. There are
undoubtedly many modifications for these little engines, but this
one remains pretty stock, which bodes well for reliability and
long-term durability. The 4-speed manual transmission is a joy to
run through the gears and the tough little four-cylinder engine
makes a wonderful baritone wail at speed. The suspension is
surprisingly sophisticated, being independent all around, and the
brakes are strong enough for something so light. Nicely finished
black wheels with trim rings and center caps look great and carry
175/70/13 radials.
For affordable fun, it's hard to beat a vintage British sports car.
This Spitfire is a little less common than an MGB and everyone will
be interested to know more about it. Call today!