Introduced in 1962, the Triumph Spitfire is now considered a classic of British automobile engineering. The model was designed with the same effort that Triumph put into most of its vehicles post-war. Utilizing a pre-produced chassis–in this case, a shortened variant of the Triumph Herald – with a reimaged body. The Triumph Spitfire started its life as a two-door coupe, but eventually a manual convertible was added to the model options. Named after a World War II fighter plane, the Triumph Spitfire managed to stay in production for five generations over eighteen years before discontinuing in 1980.
The Triumph Spitfire was a popular sports car
Relatively small and inexpensive for its time, the Triumph Spitfire became a popular choice for street and rally racing. Although the vehicle managed better sales overseas than in the U.S., North American's enjoyed the comfortable, manageable and modest coupe. In competition, the Triumph Spitfire won numerous championships. Most notably, this fast car won its class in the 1964 Tour de France rally, coming in second overall. Today, the Triumph Spitfire is a show car. The last unit ever assembled was never sold to the public and has since remained on display at the British Motor Museum.
The surviving Triumph Spitfire
There were over 300,000 Triumph Spitfires produced, with the majority landing in North America. The four-cylinder engine and swing-axle rear suspension were as reliable as they came. The most common concern with aging Triumph Spitfires is rust, especially on hardtops. Soft-top convertibles are prone to rain and snow, making the roof one of the first things to go. Some Triumph Spitfires require a complete rebuild. Thankfully, parts are relatively simple to find.
Spend some time exploring the extensive catalogue on Kijiji Autos for used Triumph Spitfire for sale in your area.
