Beschreibung
Beautiful classic signal red 1968 Mk3 Triumph Spitfire.
She was built on 28th October 1968 and has a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate (number 2013/ 30906) confirming her car/ chassis number (FD/ 35786), engine number (FD32519-HE) and body number (33252-FD).
She has extensive DVLA documentation going back to 1978 (prior to this, local registration offices held details of vehicles. When the system was computerised and centralised at DVLC in Swansea, the old document originals were destroyed).
She has a large folder of service history details and other related information. Her owner from 1986 to 1990 carried out a full "nuts and bolts" restoration in King's Lynn, Norfolk and a description of this work is on file in an e-mail from the owner then.
In 2013 she found her way to Carnell Classic Cars in Harrogate, Yorkshire, where she was worked on extensively again by the team who love 1960's classic cars, to keep her in tip-top condition. This is where I come into her story.
She moved down to Tunbridge Wells and entertained my Father for a couple of years with trips around the local area. My Father passed away and she sat in his nice cosy dry garage for months... then years! My Daughter moved in to the house and over time "stuff" got put into the garage, as often happens, in front of her, to the point where she couldn't even be seen!
Eventually some maintenance work on the garage in February this year forced the issue of moving her out. She came to my house and then onto Whites Bodyworks in Albourne, West Sussex where she has undergone yet more extensive work to bring her back to life (old classic cars really don't take too kindly to being asleep in a garage for over 8 years)! She now looks magnificent again and is proud to show off her gleaming new MOT certificate which is valid until 19th April next year (2024).
The mileage on a car of this heritage is fairly irrelevant, it's more about how she's been treated over those miles. Her new MOT certificate states 58, 334 miles, but I suspect, looking at the historic documentation that since October 1968 she's actually covered 158, 334 miles, which is about 2, 700 miles a year on average; not bad at all!
She passed her MOT with flying colours and no 'advisories' (even though at her age she doesn't actually require one by law). During March and April she has had (... deep breath) -
New Electronic Ignition, Carburettor rebuild, Clutch Master and Slave Cylinders, Brake Master Cylinder, Rear Wheel Cylinders, Coolant Hoses, Front Brake Callipers, set of Flex Brake Hoses, New Brake Lines, Rear Brake Cylinder retaining clips and plates, Copper Brake Pipes, Brake pipe Clips and Unions, New Fuel Tank with Sender Unit and Fixings, Fuel Filter, Fuel Pipe, Oil Filter, Fan Belt, New Engine Oil, Wiper Blades and a new Battery!
She has a Radio / CD Player, Spare Wire Wheel, Jack and an 'old school' Steering Lock. She has been kept in as near original condition as possible (OK... maybe CD players weren't around in the 1960's) including seats and original 'Banjo' steering wheel (made with bakelite I think)? These steering wheels are fairly rare now as a lot of other examples of the Mk3 seem to have narrow 'boy racer' steering wheels, which sort of misses the point of the Spitfire now as a classic no frills, seat of the pants English sports car.
So, "JEN" as we call her, is now raring to go for summer top down fun. The times I've driven her, she never ceases to put a smile on my face and on others she passes. Will she take the family and kids to Cornwall on holiday? ... No! Will she take you for a 1, 000 mile cruise across the Alps? ... Probably not! But she's great fun to drive on a warm Sunday afternoon around the local countryside!!
