I wonder if motoring enthusiasts of that era ever realised how privileged to live in an era when these wonderful sports cars of the 60’s were produced…
Yes, so right about that three-bearing crank, I was forever pulling these engines to sort that issue back in the day when I worked on these cars with three bearing-crank shafts. 😁😁👍👍
Lovely little car owned 3 in the 70s then bought another this year, tried hard to relove it but having owned a TR6 it had to go, once you’ve driven a 6 cylinder there’s no going back
I must thank the producer of this short video for not just turning out a smooth professional free flowing entertaining film extremely well narrated but for capturing the romance and glamour and the spirit of the car which still burns with me 50 years on. Like the car this video is a triumph.
Just finished a total resto on a MK2 in white with red interior (as came out of the factory). Not driven yet as weather so bad here in the U.K. Roll on spring!
One thing that is often overlooked in this video and others is that the Spitfire mk 3, apart from having a 1300 cc engine, had a revised cylinder head 8 port instead of the earlier 6 port.This head became universal across the range.
I think it was the first car I ever fell in love with at first sight. British racing green with brown leather interior. Oregon state fair, circa 1965. Rode the Mad Mouse too. Those were the days!
Born in time to enjoy these cars when they were new. Yes I did then and do now appreciate having been there to enjoy them. I had two in a row and different as can be. First was a bra d new 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible with a 400 ci engine. With a brake of two years while I was serving over seas, when I returned I bought brand new, a 1970 Triumph Spitfire. It has always been my favorite car. So much so that I have own three 1970 Spitfires over the years. This car with my Harleys taught me a lot about mechanics. And I have very good memories of all of them.
I had a saffron '71 1V Nice little easy car but chronic under steer at quicker speeds made the Midget a better choice, however a late model GT6 is the one to get if you want the looks and better handling...
A lot of the guys I knew were going broke driving Z 28s and Trans Ams. In the meantime, I was having a blast diving my 66 Spitfire into sharp turns with the top down and a hot girl riding with me....damn, that was fun! And yes, I know about the rear axles, but never had it get away from me.
I remember as a little lad in the 1970s in Liverpool standing awestruck by a Triumph Spitfire Mk IV parked in our road. A young woman came out of a nearby house to get into it, saw me looking open mouthed at it, and asked my if I'd like a ride (I was a little cutie back then), after carefully taking into consideration what mum & dad had warned me about "getting into cars with strangers", I decided to completely ignore the advice and was in the passenger seat before you could say "0-60 in 13 seconds". She blasted round the nearby roads for a few minutes and dropped me back off at our front door. Needless to say I was spotted getting out of the strange car by mum and as a consequence was unable to sit down properly for 2 days afterwards. Happy memories.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder. but i disagree with the mkIII being prettier than the mkI or mkII. when the bone-in-dog-mouth look of the mkIII is not at all prettier imo. ironically i grew up in a generation where i think the mkIV looks prettiest.
Their craftsmanship inside and out was very shoddy, and many owners need to fully rebuild the engines after 100K miles. They are a lot of fun. The MK3 weighed under 1700 pounds!
I wonder if motoring enthusiasts of that era ever realised how privileged to live in an era when these wonderful sports cars of the 60’s were produced…
Yes, so right about that three-bearing crank, I was forever pulling these engines to sort that issue back in the day when I worked on these cars with three bearing-crank shafts. 😁😁👍👍
Lovely little car owned 3 in the 70s then bought another this year, tried hard to relove it but having owned a TR6 it had to go, once you’ve driven a 6 cylinder there’s no going back
I must thank the producer of this short video for not just turning out a smooth professional free flowing entertaining film extremely well narrated but for capturing the romance and glamour and the spirit of the car which still burns with me 50 years on. Like the car this video is a triumph.
Just finished a total resto on a MK2 in white with red interior (as came out of the factory). Not driven yet as weather so bad here in the U.K.
Roll on spring!
Enjoy it!
One thing that is often overlooked in this video and others is that the Spitfire mk 3, apart from having a 1300 cc engine, had a revised cylinder head 8 port instead of the earlier 6 port.This head became universal across the range.
I've owned a Spitfire MK1 in Japan for 18 years and have put over 150k miles on it since I bought it. It's a very fun car.
My favourite brit sports car, probably because it was designed by an Italian lol. Will hopefully get to restore one some day...
Styled by Michelotti, not designed.
learn to drive a 4speed in a 1973 , 1977 drove it to high school had top down most of the time
I think it was the first car I ever fell in love with at first sight. British racing green with brown leather interior. Oregon state fair, circa 1965. Rode the Mad Mouse too. Those were the days!
Great video mate hopefully we can get out 1978 looking great like these ones 🤞
Born in time to enjoy these cars when they were new. Yes I did then and do now appreciate having been there to enjoy them. I had two in a row and different as can be. First was a bra d new 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible with a 400 ci engine. With a brake of two years while I was serving over seas, when I returned I bought brand new, a 1970 Triumph Spitfire. It has always been my favorite car. So much so that I have own three 1970 Spitfires over the years. This car with my Harleys taught me a lot about mechanics. And I have very good memories of all of them.
I had a saffron '71 1V Nice little easy car but chronic under steer at quicker speeds made the Midget a better choice, however a late model GT6 is the one to get if you want the looks and better handling...
I love my restored 1976 red Spitfire.
A lot of the guys I knew were going broke driving Z 28s and Trans Ams. In the meantime, I was having a blast diving my 66 Spitfire into sharp turns with the top down and a hot girl riding with me....damn, that was fun! And yes, I know about the rear axles, but never had it get away from me.
I remember as a little lad in the 1970s in Liverpool standing awestruck by a Triumph Spitfire Mk IV parked in our road. A young woman came out of a nearby house to get into it, saw me looking open mouthed at it, and asked my if I'd like a ride (I was a little cutie back then), after carefully taking into consideration what mum & dad had warned me about "getting into cars with strangers", I decided to completely ignore the advice and was in the passenger seat before you could say "0-60 in 13 seconds". She blasted round the nearby roads for a few minutes and dropped me back off at our front door. Needless to say I was spotted getting out of the strange car by mum and as a consequence was unable to sit down properly for 2 days afterwards. Happy memories.
Ouch! 2/3 of a pun at the end..P..U..😂
beauty is in the eye of the beholder. but i disagree with the mkIII being prettier than the mkI or mkII. when the bone-in-dog-mouth look of the mkIII is not at all prettier imo. ironically i grew up in a generation where i think the mkIV looks prettiest.
Their craftsmanship inside and out was very shoddy, and many owners need to fully rebuild the engines after 100K miles. They are a lot of fun. The MK3 weighed under 1700 pounds!