Triumph Spitfire (1962 to 1980)

Why people buy one

• More than 314,000 were built, so there is a wide choice of cars and a large owner base.
• Bolt-on body panels on a separate chassis make repairs simpler than on many monocoque sports cars, and almost all parts are available.
• The Mk IV and 1500 have an all-synchromesh gearbox and revised rear suspension that reduces the early cars' tendency to tuck a rear wheel under.
• The 1500 has the largest engine, extra torque and a stronger gearbox than earlier cars.
• The Triumph Sports Six Club was founded in 1977 for the Herald-based cars, including the Spitfire, and now covers every Triumph model.

What to weigh up

• Rust is the main enemy: the sills add much of the body's strength and most cars will have had welding, so judge the quality of that work.
• Mk1 to Mk3 cars use a swing-axle rear end that can tuck the outside wheel under in hard cornering and cause sudden oversteer.
• Mk1 to Mk3 gearboxes have no synchromesh on first gear.
• Overdrive was an option and many cars have it; Classic & Sports Car describes cars without it as undergeared.
• US-market cars differ in detail, with emissions equipment and less power, so check the specification of any imported car.
• The GT6 and the Herald are separate cars and are covered in their own guides.

Where they rust

• Sills, especially the leading edges and where they meet the rear wings; they carry much of the body's strength.
• Floors, footwells and the boot floor.
• Chassis outriggers under the bulkhead, the main rails and the front of the chassis ahead of the suspension, which can also show accident damage.
• The large one-piece bonnet, especially around the headlamps.
• The front valance, which rots quickly on Mk IV and 1500 cars; many have been replaced in glassfibre.
• Rear quarters, rear wheelarches and the area under the rear bumper.
• Windscreen frame and A-posts, and the battery box, a known rot spot.
• Uneven door gaps or poor panel fit, which can point to a twisted shell or a poor restoration.

Mechanical weak spots

• Worn crankshaft thrust washers can wreck the block; watch the front pulley for fore-and-aft movement while someone presses the clutch. Mk IV cars are said to be especially prone.
• A rattle on start-up can mean worn big ends, often linked to an oil filter without a non-return valve; the 1500 can also suffer crankshaft, piston and ring wear, shown by blue smoke.
• Gearboxes suffer weak synchromesh and bearing wear: rumbling suggests bearings and whining suggests worn gears. Overdrive faults are usually electrical or a low oil level.
• The front trunnions need regular EP90 oil; neglect leads to wear or seizure and can snap the kingpin. Also check the anti-roll bar links, wheel bearings and steering rack.
• Rear wheel bearings need a press to replace and worn ones can damage the halfshaft; a rear wheel tucked up inside the arch means a tired rear spring.
• Vibration or clonks point to worn universal joints in the propshaft or driveshafts, and the differential can whine or leak.

At a Mathewsons viewing

• Check the commission (chassis) number and engine number against the V5C, and ask whether there is a British Motor Museum Heritage Certificate, which records the car's factory build details.
• Look underneath with a torch at the outriggers, chassis rails and front of the chassis, and judge the quality of any welding on the sills and floors.
• Lift the carpets and press the floors, footwells and boot floor for soft metal, damp or fresh underseal, which can hide rot.
• Tilt the bonnet forward and look at its edges, the headlamp surrounds, the valance and the battery box, and for oil or coolant leaks.
• Check the hood fits and seals and look for damp trim; if staff start the car, listen for a start-up rattle or knocks and watch for smoke; do not assume it will be started.

Parts, specialists and clubs

Seen on Bangers & Cash

• 1966 Triumph Spitfire (Bangers & Cash series 3, episode 2, First shown October 2020)

Sources

• Buyer's guide: Triumph Spitfire (Classic & Sports Car), 10 May 2019
• Buying Guide: Triumph Spitfire, 1962 to 1980 (Hagerty UK), 3 February 2021
• Triumph Spitfire buyer's guide (Classics World), 8 September 2022
• Triumph Spitfire Buyers Guide (Classic Car Hub), 18 April 2026
• Triumph Spitfire buying guide and review, 1962 to 1980 (Auto Express), 5 November 2018
• First Triumph Spitfire Up For Sale (Just British), 31 October 2013
• Join the club: Triumph Sports Six Club (Hagerty UK), 19 April 2021