Steve's Triumph Spitfire 1600
The ongoing saaaaaaga
Why the Spitfire?
History, Style, and Character abound!
The Spitfire drew my attention the first time I saw it; fabulous styling, small, lightweight, inexpensive, and FUN.
MG owners please look away at this point.....
Although it may be true that the MGB had a bigger engine and I think sold about twice the cars, it didn't handle as well and really is nothing more than a rolling shoe-box. I think the MGB, and especially the MGBGT styling are an embarrassment to Morris Garages..... especially following the MGA, which is truly a gorgeous car.
MG owners may look again....
Decent Example of an unrestored / unmolested 1978 Triumph Spitfire
The one I started with was purchased on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, back in Autumn 1997. Not pristine, but solid.
Later followed by a 1967 Mk 3 with a 1500 engine and overdrive, plus an extra overdrive.
Then yet another parts car.
Some of that crap is still in boxes, some has been trashed, some has been given away or sold.
I'd call this a "Rolling Restoration / Modification"
Reasonable example of an LBC owner
Although not a mechanic, due to financial status, or lack there-of, and thrill of wrench-turning I've been working on cars for some time; my brother Frank had me do my first brake job at 12 years old.....silly man. My other brother, Klaus had me changing a carburetor at about 15 years old.... smarter man, it was on my sister's car! My Brother-In-Law, George let me shift gears in his Pinto at a much younger age and of course brothers took me driving in parking lots soon after that.
21 years in Canada's Air Force followed by my current job with Air Canada is an adequate way to finance fun car stuff.
Evolution of this LBC
After meeting a great guy at 414 Squadron, Kirk Traviss with his TR250, and taking his advice about joining the Campbell River British Car Club, he helped my pick this car up for $2700. It was up and running right away with only one urgent expense.... tires.
Before the internet was full-up and offering great info it was slightly more challenging to fix and modify these cars; it was however, even more rewarding.
Sadly, I can never see the Spitfire being worth much money or being a collector's car in my lifetime anyway so there is very little guilt in modifying it to my liking.
I've always felt that the Round Tail Spitfires are classic and should reflect that. The Square Tails lend themselves well to modernization.
When faced with an engine that was not rebuildable, a swap was the natural choice.
ZOOM ZOOM!