Photography courtesy RM Sotheby's
Styling by Michelotti but costing a bit less than the famed Ferraris, Maseratis and Alfas that came from his pen. How much less? On today’s market, figure about $8000 for a Spitfire in No. 3 condition. (By comparison, have you priced a ’50s Ferrari lately? Bring a truckload of cash.)
In addition to a connection with several Ferrari 250 specials, you get a great first classic: crisp handling along with simple, easy-to-fix mechanicals. Flip that nose forward, and you now have nearly infinite under-hood access. Another benefit: a cockpit that’s friendly for taller folks.
Like many other faves from this era, you’re also going to get classic round gauges, a manual transmission and a wood dash. Don’t tell your friends what you paid, and they’re never suspect.
The Spitfire made its debut in 1962 and, also like the MGB, ran all the way through 1980. The biggest outward change came for 1970 with the car receiving a squared-off tail. Engine displacement grew through the years, with an all-new 1500 coming standard for 1973.
[Triumph Spitfire: Buy one now? | Buyer's Guide]
Remember how we said that the interiors are roomy? Outside, though, these are tiny, tiny cars. Make sure you’re comfortable with that. Also, not the fastest little British car ever built. Quick for its day, but downright slow compared to any modern SUV. Just plan those trips to the ice cream shop accordingly.
The Spitfire enjoyed tremendous on-track success yet, oddly, never seemed to get the respect of other ’60s sports cars. It got plenty of buyers, though, with more than 300,000 units sold. Our favorite would have to be 1973: the bigger engine but not the later, heavier bumpers.
View all comments on the CMS forums
You'll need to log in to post.
