Guides by Model: Triumph Spitfire
From Classic Car Life
The sheet metal of the Triumph Spitfire is well built and designed but you should be aware that any steel bodies car is prone to rusting. This article will teach you some of the problem areas to look out for when you are buying a Triumph Spitfire at classic car sales or from a private seller.
Bodywork Areas to Look at:
- The bonnet of the Triumph Spitfire is in one piece, it can be replaced easily but at a price of approximately £900. This price does include the wings but it is still a very expensive additional cost so it is important you check for rust.
- Other areas to check for rust are the wheel arches, bottom of the wings and inner wings. The areas behind the lights on the Triumph Spitfire are also prone to rotting as they collect dirt. These can be replaces with fibreglass but it can be tricky.
- The sills on the Triumph Spitfire are structural so you must make sure that these are in good condition. When checking the sills you should look along the bottom to make sure that the flange is sound.
- Check underneath the doors of the Triumph Spitfire, if there is a blocked drain hole then the door can fill with water and rust out (this is a common issue with classic cars).
- Look carefully at the boot lid because it is prone to corroding. If cracks start to appear then a boot lid can be expensive to replace but there are usually lots of second hand boots available.
- When considering buying a Triumph Spitfire you should look at the bumpers. Each bumper can cost £300 so make sure that they are not pitted or bashed to avoid this additional cost.
Transmission of the Triumph Spitfire
- On all Triumph Spitfire transmissions, noises and grinding are caused by worn down bearings, thrust washers or gear teeth.
- If you notice that the gearbox has problems you will need to replace it will a reconditioned unit or good condition second hand gearbox.
- Overdrives were not standard on all Triumph Spitfires and faulty overdrives might suffer from clogged filters or low oil level in the gearbox.
- When you test drive a Triumph Spitfire if you experience vibration over 50mph then it might be caused by worn joints at either end of the prop shaft; or the prop shaft might be out of balance. These joints are cheap and quick to replace so they are not worth worrying about.
