Highlights
- Recent body restoration and respray
- Major mechanical overhaul in last 1000 miles
- Long history in one family
The Appeal
Giovanni Michelotti made the prototype Triumph Spitfire in 1960; two years later, the somewhat beleaguered company found the money to produce it. The car was an instant hit, outselling its BMC rivals and remaining in the Triumph range, in various guises, until the last Spitfire 1500 rolled off the production line in August 1980. Always more expensive than an MG Midget or an Austin-Healey Sprite, the Spitfire offered more refinement and more space.
In March 1966 the MkII Spitfire was introduced, with a retuned engine offering more power. Other improvements included carpets rather than rubber floor mats, better seats and new exterior trim.
Long a fixture of the British classic-car scene, the Spitfire still has a huge following, and great parts and specialist support. JLN 731 D has had a mechanical overhaul and a recent body and interior restoration and respray; the car looks striking and runs well.
The History and Paperwork
- British Motor Heritage Certificate
- MoT- and tax-exempt
- Current V5
- Reassuring folder of invoices and MoTs.
Built in October 1965 and first registered in January 1966, the vendor understands that the car was owned by the same family from new for some forty years, passing from father to son during this time. There’s a magazine article amongst the paperwork that has details of the first owner. The vendor is, according to the V5, only the fourth owner, two of the previous ones being the father and son.
The car has a British Motor Heritage certificate, verifying its factory records. The car was sold new by a dealer in Berkeley Square, London. Among the file of paperwork are invoices recording a major mechanical and brake overhaul in 2016, with costs in excess of £2000, and another for the £7500 respray and interior refurbishment in 2021.
As an historic vehicle, the car is MoT- and tax-exempt.
The vendor has a collection of classic cars and has decided to sell the car to concentrate on other projects.
The Interior
- Seats newly retrimmed
- Smart and clean dashboard
- Recent new carpets
The Spitfire never boasted a plush or luxurious interior, but that was not part of its appeal. The somewhat spartan surroundings are nonetheless functional, with comfortable seats, good visibility and controls that fall readily to hand. This one sports recently re-covered seats, which look great, plus new carpets and a dashboard that shows few signs of its age. The glove compartment on the passenger side needs a bit of fettling, as it doesn’t quite sit right in its aperture.
The car has also had new door cards and seals, new rubbers, and new windscreen and rear-screen seals.
In the boot, it’s clear that the recent respray didn’t extend beyond the outwardly visible bodywork of the car, but there’s no sign of rust or decay. The boot stay is not currently attached but this should be easily rectified. There’s a sound spare wheel in its cover, and the car comes with a jack and a starting handle.
The Exterior
- Timeless Michelotti design
- Recent bodywork restoration and respray
- Hardtop in great condition
The recent respray has clearly been done to a high standard. There’s very little to find fault with on the bodywork. Rust has long been a weakness of the Spitfire, but the recent bodywork restoration (see pictures) should provide reassurance on that front for the new owner.
The door gaps are slightly different on either side, presumably a consequence of the original Triumph shutting gaps and fittings, which being handmade, were notorious for not being perfect, but the doors open and close with no issues.
The door gaps are slightly different on either side, presumably a consequence of the original Triumph shutting gaps and fittings, which being handmade, were notorious for not being perfect, but the doors open and close with no issues.
Elsewhere, the chrome on the wing mirrors is showing signs of deterioration and the Triumph badge on the front has been reattached with screws, but the rest of the brightwork is good.
The hardtop is in excellent condition, but needs care to fit and remove. Again these are notorious for rust, but there’s no sign of any such issues here. There’s currently no soft-top, but the car has a frame for this and replacements are widely available at reasonable cost. All four wheels are in very good condition, although a couple of the chromed hub caps are showing signs of corrosion.
The Mechanics
- Starts readily and sounds good
- Major mechanical overhaul 1000 miles ago
- Recent stainless-steel exhaust
From an invoice in the paperwork, it’s clear that the car was subject to a major mechanical overhaul in 2016, and the car has covered less than 1000 in the years since. The invoice lists a strip-down and overhaul of the carburettors, a new stainless-steel exhaust, a complete overhaul of the braking system, plus renewal of the Waxoyl underneath the car. A new battery was fitted at the time of the recent bodywork restoration. All of which should mean that there are years of trouble-free motoring on offer here.
The car starts on first turn of the key, the engine note is healthy and there is no evidence of smoke from the exhaust. The vendor assures us that the car drives beautifully, with no issues.
Under the bonnet, the engine looks its age but everything appears to be in good order. Underneath the car, that recent stainless-steel exhaust still sports its Rimmer Bros label, which would seem to verify the car’s very limited mileage since 2016.
Summary
With a nineteen-year lifespan in the Triumph range, the Spitfire clearly had lasting appeal. That appeal continues to this day – it’s a sought-after car with values on the increase and good ones increasingly hard to find. There’s great club and specialist support for the model, with reasonably priced parts and accessories readily available. Looking fantastic in its new Signal Red paint, and with the newly re-covered seats and new carpets plus that reassuring file of invoices, JLN 731 D is waiting to be enjoyed in the summer sunshine.
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