Triumph Spitfire restoration project.

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You are looking at my son’s 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500. My son has finally accepted that it is not viable to post it to him in Austalia, so has asked me to sell it for him. The photograph was taken sometime in the last century. The car is INCA yellow.

Please regard this car as a project. It has been sitting in my garage for many years. The car is registered in my name, and currently on SORN.

The wheel arches are a bit moth-eaten, the hood is in tatters, and there is a big dent in the passenger door (The Volvo had £800 of damage)…. but a solid, if not perfect, door is included in the deal.

All brake cylinders have seized, and should be replaced, though you may get away with just replacing the seals. I had to pull the rear drums of with a puller, and jemmy the pistons back into the callipers, so I could roll the car. I intend to disconnect the rear hydraulics, which will at least give front brakes for manouvering. The clutch slave cylinder leaks, and system was empty. I’m guessing that refilling it will get clutch working. Clutch pedal was very heavy (incompatible cylinder sizes?)

Front tyres have plenty of tread, rears are very close to the wear markers. All four road wheels are alloy (Wolfrace?) but the spare is steel.

Battery cranks engine for several minutes. Big battery, I probably took it off my boat when I last started the car, maybe two years ago. I was born before WW2, and my memory isn’t what it was.

I have recently removed the fuel tank and drained out all the old petrol. I put a gallon of fresh petrol in this morning, and tried to start the engine. The pre-engage starter motor clicked. Adroit use of a screwdriver, wedged between terminals, eventually got the engine running. Sounded good, but a bit cob-webby.

Oh yes, I fitted a Triumph Dolomite 1500 engine about 15 years ago. The car was VERY brisk. No, it hasn’t got overdrive.

If I was younger, I reckon I could get the car ready for an MOT in about a week …. It might even pass. Buy a hardtop off Ebay. But it would need more work to make it look as pretty as it used to. I am not aware of any welding required on the chassis. The car was up and running, with MOT, when my son went off to the Sydney Olympics. I think it has been driven only once since then.

I will try to get the brakes working, but only the front brakes will be connected, so you are going to need a transporter to collect it. I could hire a trailer, at your expense, and tow it with my Land Rover, but frankly, I’d rather not. Maybe if push comes to shove…...and its not too far.

I will also be advertising the car on a well known auction site, but will withdraw it if anybody responds to this advert, before there have been any bids.

Email me with any questions. I am unable to insert any picture (cos I’m a Techno-wimp) but I can email those too.

HTH

John Williams