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. 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. Bushes: the nylon bushes in the brass trunnions can wear, so feel for play with a crowbar. Average fuel consumption was 31 mpg. Attempting to connect. The easy access to the engine with ample room to make repairs was something no other small car manufacturer was offering at the time. An aftermarket stereo and wood-rimmed Momo steering wheel have been fitted. built 226,526 Mpg 30-42 0-60mph 12.3 secs Top speed 101mph Price new 928 (1971) Price now 3-5000+. Please Visit Our Sponsors : Home Values Triumph was caught flat-footed by rival BMCs introduction of the Austin-Healey Sprite and the MG Midget. MkIV Spitfires are especially prone to these problems; listen for rumbling from the bottom end as the engine ticks over. [1] Top speed was now at the 100mph (160km/h) mark, and 0 to 60mph (97km/h) was reached in 13.2 seconds. 1973 Triumph Spitfire: Prices, Reviews & Pictures - CarGurus While British cars of the '60s (and other periods) have a reputation for failing to hold up, the Spitfire's success went unhampered by such issues. Current value for 1975 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE collector cars. For not a lot of cash, you can buy a Spitfire thatll keep going; if youre handy with a socket set you could even pick up a project for just 1000. Private. Propshaft: if the propshaft needs balancing, therell be a vibration at a certain road speed, which disappears once you accelerate. Even if you do find a first or second-generation car, the chances are the engine will have been swapped for a later unit by now. A sloppy gear-change is easily cured with new bushes. This was a different approach than that taken with the Triumph GT6 Mk II (GT6+) and Triumph Vitesse Mark 2, both of which received new lower wishbones and Rotoflex half-shaft couplings. The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized The rubber steering rack mounts can also perish, usually after theyve been marinaded in leaked engine oil. 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. More rot: so too can the A-posts, wheelarches (inner and outer) plus the headlamp surrounds and front valance. Most relevant reviews. Images are general in nature and may not reflect the specific vehicle selected. Full wheel covers of two styles were used including the 1969 introduced model with "SPITFIRE" circumscribing the hub and a unique derivative without the branding. If the car has been in a major shunt, the damage will be obvious; any prang big enough to distort the main chassis will have wrecked the cars delicate panels. 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. Water will get in, wreaking havoc throughout the sill. The Austin-Healey Sprite had proven there was a demand for small cars with sporty intentions. It was possible to buy a Spitfire as a Hardtop, with bolt-on roof and no soft-top. [13] The notable exception to this was the 1976 model year, where the compression ratio was raised to 9.1:1. 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. Spitfire & GT 6 Models and Options - Triumph Spitfire 1493cc/57hp 2x1bbl Add to watchlist Sorry. Triumph Spitfire years | Hagerty Valuation Tools It claimed a top speed of 96 mph and a reduced 0 - 60 time of 14.8 seconds. It was nonetheless considered fairly comfortable at the time, as it had wind-down windows and exterior door locks, as well as relatively full instrumentation. Product worked and fit as expected. [1], On 8 February 1968, Standard-Triumph general manager George Turnbull drove the 100,000th Triumph Spitfire off the Canley production line. built 124,660 Mpg 33-43 0-60mph 15.6 secs Top speed 96mph Price new c1070 (1971) Price now 6-8500+. Longer-ratio diffs are desirable for non-overdrive cars. The Mark III was the fastest Spitfire yet, achieving 60mph (97km/h) in 13.4 seconds,[1] and reaching a top speed of 95mph (153km/h). In 1973, new emission controls saw the Spitfires performance reduced with a top speed of 90 mph. Power is supplied by a non-original 1500cc engine that had the standard Zenith Stromberg carburetors replaced with a single Weber DGV downdraft unit. 1973 Triumph Spitfire Base Price : $3,000. Named after the famed Battle of Britain fighter plane, the early Spitfires beauty was, however, largely skin deep. 1973 Triumph Spitfire Race Car - CLASSIC.COM values them at just under $12,400 for a concours condition car. Unfortunately, the Spitfire fell victim to Triumph's existing financial troubles. The Triumph Spitfire is a British sports car and manufactured over five production iterations between 1962-1980. Good quality. I would purchase again but expect this one to last a long time. 1973 Triumph Spitfire Market - CLASSIC.COM The rear end was redesigned, resulting in improved cargo space. All except bespoke car builders had moved to monocoques, yet Standard-Triumph made a virtue out of the separate chassis, basing numerous variants on the same design and trumpeting benefits such as strength, safety and turning circle. TRIUMPH TOLEDO 2-door: 1,080 4-door: 1,115 The BaT Service Fee is 5% of the bid, with a minimum of $250 up to a maximum of $5,000. Check the steering for knocks - rack wear is common but usually just a nylon button at one end. 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 73k mi 73,287 mi Redwood City, CA, USA. Triumph Spitfire (1962 to 1981) The Triumph Spitfire is a small British two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. Australian Spitfire Colours, http://www.triumphspitfire.nl/salesliterature/IMG_0051.jpg, Triumph Spitfire Mk3 Overdrive (1967) Exterior and Interior in Full HD 3D, 2000 / 2300 / 2400 / 3500 / V8-S / Vitesse (SD1), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Triumph_Spitfire&oldid=1149444813, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2007, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 1,568lb (711kg) to 1,750lb (790kg) (unladen U.K.spec), 4-speed manual with optional overdrive on top and third, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 08:29. Even in subsequent versions of the car, the engine always remained an inline-four. Theoriginal soft top and frame require restoration and are not currently fitted, though they are included in the sale. Buyer's guide: Triumph Spitfire - Classic & Sports Car . Your CA Privacy Rights (Shine the Light) 1973 Triumph Spitfire | Project Cars | Classic Motorsports Rot is the main problem with these cars, but the body is largely single-skin and the chassis is easy to inspect on a ramp. Overdrive is a highly desirable extra; if not fitted, budget to convert. Chassis damage: its the small knocks that are likely to cause you the most problems, as they may be harder to spot. The car was a popular option for drivers seeking an affordable but fun roadster, and the model stayed on the market for the better part of two decades. 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 two small bumpers found on the previous Spitfires were replaced with a single-piece unit. 1973: Triumph: Spitfire: Base: 1.5L 1493CC 91Cu. Absolutely zero rust. 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. The result on all these cars was improved handling. Awards & Ratings; Reviews; Cars for Sale; Sell My Car; Business; Used 1973 Triumph Spitfire Values. Please try again later or you may try to reload page. The mere mention of the early days of the European supercar conjures thoughts of, . Ive had the diff and driveshafts rebuilt, but otherwise its only needed normal service items. In 1962, the British company Triumph introduced a two-seater sports car named the Spitfire. 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. My friend went for a Midget, but Im so glad that I bought the Spitfire its that little bit better for general use and wins hands down on comfort. I hope you enjoy these videos of me working on and playing with or driving my Triumph Spitfire . 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. 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. These have been temporarily saved. Appears t. ClassicCars.com has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, successfully making the Inc. 5000 list in both 2015, If so please use the bidding box above. Sign up for alerts and we'll notify you about value changes for the cars you love. 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. [1] The coil-spring design clutch of the Mark I was replaced with a Borg & Beck diaphragm spring clutch; North American models retained the coil-spring housing and were also equipped with ACDelco distributors. The final variant arrived in 1973 with the insertion of the 1500cc unit from the MG Midget appropriately named the Spitfire 1500. Distributor and camshaft wear take the edge off performance. 4 cyl., 79.10 CID., 58.00hp $2,650 - $2,650 Front valance rots fast on MkIV/1500. Get 1973 Triumph Spitfire trim level values and reviews. 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. Select a 1973 Triumph Spitfire Trim. The American market Spitfire 1500 is identified by large plastic over-riders and wing mounted reflectors on the front and back wings/fenders. The four-cylinder engine originates from the Standard Eight of the early 1950s, but is lively enough and can be tuned for more performance. According to Classic & Sports Car, a concours condition example, today will fetch about $16,500, as will the similar Mk Is and IIIs. 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. Triumph Spitfire price guide MkI-III Concours: 12,000 Average: 2850,000 Restoration: 1000 IV-1500 Concours: 9000 Average: 2350 Restoration: 750 , the Spitfire's success went unhampered by such issues. 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 - Bring a Trailer How much does a Triumph Spitfire cost? However, youre better off buying one of these or a really good car - rather than something in the middle. Values Reference Profiles Exotics Order MENU 1975 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 4cyl 1493cc (57hp SAE) 4M #4 #3 #2 #1: 1500 Roadster : 3200: 6700: 11700: 17800: Profile Condition Truck Table. The most desirable Spitfires are those with odd numbers; the delicate and pretty Mk1, the powerful Mk3, and the usable 1500. Buying Guide: Triumph Spitfire (1962-1980) | Hagerty UK Better coverage built for classics at a price you can afford. Michelottis clever MkIV restyle for the 70s helped the car last to late 1980 with the long-stroke 1493cc unit, kept in production like the Midget due to BLs inability to replace it. In 1970, the rear suspension was decambered, by incorporating what Triumph called a "swing spring". The wider, lower stance gave an impressive skid pad result of 0.87g average. During the 2007 restoration, the suspension received a complete overhaul with a new steering rack, new shocks, springs, control arms, and pivot parts. As did many manufacturers who used a swing axle arrangement (e.g., Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen), Triumph would later modify the rear suspension. Triumph Spitfire - Wikipedia WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK. Thrust washers: a problem that affects the 1296cc engine all too often is worn thrust washers, given away by excessive fore-aft movement of the crankshaft. 1973 Triumph Spitfire This is a cosmetically freshened 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that has been a rust-free California and Arizona car since new. All rights reserved.Auto Express is a registered trade mark. The remaining leaves were mounted to pivot freely eliminating the worst characteristics of the original swing-axle. All Spitfires should have adequate braking for modern traffic; if not, allow for a rebuild. IV engine displaced 1,296cc (79.1cuin) throughout the production run, and in 1973 received larger big-end bearings to rationalise production with the TR6 2.5-litre engines. Crash damage: accident damage is also a strong possibility, as these cars often appeal to inexperienced drivers after some cheap fun. 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. Never sold to the public, it remains on display at the British Motor Museum. Hardtops rust, so check around the front lip and side/rear windows. Good value. 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 car was largely based upon the chassis of the Triumph Herald saloon, but shortened and . The cabin presents well with somewear present on the dash pad, wood fascia, and door panels. The Hagerty Group, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty, Inc. It produced 63 horsepower and 67 ft-lb. Pioneer after market CD player with USB. Hoods are simple and cheap (181 for a PVC 1500), but getting them to fit properly and not let in too much water is a skill and requires a good-quality top. Terms of Use, Your Privacy Choices 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. NEXT:Here's How Much A Classic Jaguar SS100 Is Worth Today, , certain images come to mind; certain associations that are too strong to be avoided. Additional exterior changes introduced included a zip up rear window, black radiator grille and a black (vs body coloured) windscreen surround. The gearbox gained syncromesh on its bottom gear. Classic Cars Triumph spitfire For Sale | Car and Classic The car was a popular option for drivers seeking an affordable but fun roadster, and the model stayed on the market for the better part of two decades. #1 Concours condition #2 Excellent condition #3 Good condition #4 Fair condition Let us watch the market for you Water in the sills: also take a look at the leading edge of each sill; theres a good chance of holes here. The steering and front suspension from the Herald remained unchanged on the new sportscar. Check for weak synchros and dip the clutch in neutral to listen for layshaft noise. Basic items such as rubber mats and a large plastic steering wheel helped keep the Spitfire inexpensive. If you don't win, the pre-authorization will be released. We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience, personalize content and ads, and analyze how our sites are used. Clutch: clutches dont give any particular problems, so just check for slipping as you accelerate, or juddering as you let the clutch out. In SU twin-carburettor form, the engine put out a claimed 75bhp (56kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 75lbft (102Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm, and made the Mark III a comparatively quick car by the standards of the day. Always slightly dearer than the MG, the Spitfire offered more space and refinement, even a wood-veneer dash on some models. Single Zenith Stromberg 150CDSE, (1973-1974) Single Zenith Stromberg 150CDSEV: Carburetor Main Jet : Carburetor Main Jet Needle . The images shown are representations of the 1973 Triumph Spitfire and not necessarily vehicles that have been bought or sold at auction. GRP is a good remedy but it is hard to fit the top lip seals that help to support bonnet; theyre often omitted, as here. /valuation-tools/Triumph/Spitfire/1973/1973-Triumph-Spitfire-Mk_IV Protect your 1973 Triumph Spitfire from the unexpected. Boosted to 903cc for 70, the rear-engined, Bertone-styled soft-top was only built in LHD. Average fuel consumption was 33mpg. 4 Speed Manual Tra . Fuel injected. This filter features a non-return valve to stop the oil draining back into the sump when the car is left; if theres much rattling when the car is started up, its because the crankshafts big-end bearings have had it, probably because the correct type of filter hasnt been fitted. 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. Average cars sell for 3000-5000, with projects starting from around 1000. Triumph Spitfire Market - CLASSIC.COM Triumph Spitfire Classic Cars for Sale - Classics on Autotrader The 1500 Spitfire now produced 71hp (DIN) at 5,500 rpm, and produced 82lbft (111Nm) of torque at 3,000 rpm. 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. The first Spitfires sported a small 1,147 cc inline four-cylinder engine. 1973 Triumph Spitfire - conceptcarz.com In. Here is a great example of a 1970 Triumph Spitfire convertible. Entering production in 1962, the Triumph Spitfire featured a few improvements mechanically when compared to the Herald on which it was based. The easiest way to check this is to push and pull on the front pulley; any detectable movement means possible disaster as the crankshaft and block could ultimately be wrecked. 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. Handling remains a strong point for the revised Mazda MX-5, but the interior is cramped, With a wave of Chinese cars on the way to the UK, editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks the survival of some well-known manufacturers could be under thr, Dr Andy Palmer sees the dramatic rise of BYD as just the start of huge, China-driven change on the car manufacturing scene. Steering: the rack-and-pinion steering is unlikely to have any problems, as it isnt under much strain, despite the Spitfires fabulously tight turning circle. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PAIR HEADLAMP WIRING LOOMS TRIUMPH SPITFIRE & GT6 1962 - 1973 at the best online prices at eBay! However, the two-seater Spitfire convertible was one of Triumph's crowning achievements. If it needs replacing, consider upgrading to a higher ratio. Thinking of buying a future classic? 1976 Spitfire 1500 with hardtop & soft top plus tonneau cove. The final variant arrived in 1973 with the insertion of the 1500cc unit from the MG Midget appropriately named the Spitfire 1500. 4 Speed Manual Tra, 1977 Triumph Spitfire Convertible Why This Car Is Special The 1977 Triumph Spitfire Convertible is a, Gateway Classic Cars of Indianapolis is proud to offer this 1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500. Flower Mound, TX, USA. 1979 VW Beetle convertible. Are you looking to buy your dream classic car? Sold1965-73 No. With the overall weight also increasing to 1,717lb (779kg) performance dropped, with 0 to 60mph (0 to 97km/h) now in 15.8 seconds and top speed reduced to 90mph (140km/h). [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. Sold 1961-79 No. Bearings: the wheelbearings can wear, as can the track rods end, steering rack and upper ball joints that locate the top wishbone. The Mk IV and 1500, due mainly to the steps backward in performance from earlier Spitfires, sell for slightly less.