Introduced in 1962 the Triumph Spitfire is a British front engined, rear wheel drive, two seater convertible sports car.

Designed by the renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti the Spitfire was manufactured in England for almost two decades with five production iterations.

Approximately 315,000 left the Canley plant over its 18 year span. This 1971 registered Spitfire is the fourth generation of model and features a 1296cc inline four, twin carburetor, petrol engine producing 63hp.

Not much is known of the car's life prior to it being purchased in 2019 by the current keeper, other than that this Spitfire had been off the road for approximately 5 years. While it was a runner at this point, its reliability and the quality of mechanics wasn’t known.

The car currently resides under cover and garaged in deep Cornwall, used for only a few hundred miles since be acquired and only driven on dry days, the car has had a substantial ground up restoration where every nut and bolt has been inspectected and renewed if required.

The scale of work included mechanics and running gear but also a bare metal, chassis off restoration.

Included paperwork ranges from old MOT certificates and tax discs to thousands and thousands of pounds worth of part invoices.

Everything purchased for the restoration has been filed alongside some previous invoices and work carried out by the previous owner.

On top, you’ll also receive Haynes and Rimmer Bro manuals and part books.

    

Without question, this has to be one of the finest Spitfires we have come across, it’s simply gorgeous, especially in the morning sun with the roof down. The extent of the restoration is obvious, absolutely every inch of this car is sublime.

Considerable work went into the body alone and while it was in fair condition to begin with, the chassis and body were separated and both blasted back to metal before being treated and resprayed.

The chassis and body are finished in the same original Signal Red paint, exactly how they were done in production. A brand new black pvc roof has been fitted, plus a new tonneau cover allowing for the car to be driven with the rest of the cab covered.

In addition, the bumpers have been rechromed, a new windscreen fitted and refurbed wheels with new rubber.

Superb continues inside, the car still has its original black leather seats which have been refoamed and tidied up plus new carpet has been fitted, covering fresh sound deadening and a hidden carbon fibre centre gear surround.

The Original wood dash is still fitted, accompanied by chrome and black faced dials all of which are operational. We’re a big fan of the black and red pairing, it’s subtle but classy styling, a more than fine interior for a stunning car.

On request the inline four petrol engine fired up with no issue and ticked over with ease. We followed the car to a nearby location for some of the photos and it performed with ease.

No surprises really considering the man hours that have been put into the mechanical restoration alone, thoroughly and exhaustively inspected and renewed from top to bottom the original engine has been rebuilt, the gearbox too with all new parts, suspension, brakes and clutch have also been replaced plus a new battery.

There’s not much on the car that hasn’t been touched quite frankly, plus the owner has had a new stainless steel exhaust fitted which gives this spectacular motor a noise that matches its beauty.

This picturesque, low mileage, British sports car has been comprehensively restored from the ground up and the finish is just magnificent. 

It’s ready for those impromptu drives to the coast, those evening trips through country lanes chasing sunsets and definitely ready to give you a smile that will last a lifetime.