1972 Triumph Spitfire

My mechanic is selling his 1972 Spitfire. Located in Cleveland, TN

Spitfire ad

That's not an add it a Face thing link.

Seller said: 1972 spitfire. Needs engine repair. Currently not running. Been in storage 30 years. NO rust! Car is complete. Some of the interior has been disassembled. All parts are there. NO title.

You can't see FB pics unless you have a FB account, but this is what it said.

Facebook has numerous classifieds and trading groups. It's starting to take the place of Craigslist.

the ad text said: 1972 Spitfire Needs engine repair. Currently not running. Been in storage for 30 years. NO rust. Car is complete. Some interior has been disassembled. All parts are there. NO title. Possible trade for Miata.

He wants $850. Which for a non-rusty Spitfire, isn't bad. I wish I had room for another project. Looks pretty straightforward. Granted, the lack of a title could be annoying. At least maybe for me in PA.

No title sucks for me too. I was thinking a 72 would be a MkIV.

A mechanic is selling a reasonably rust free car in non running condition......

let that sink in.

Think you can get it running for a reasonable cost?

In reply to itsarebuild:

It depends on the mechanic. I know quite a few that couldn't be bothered with a car like a Spitfire.

Considering the car has been sitting for 30 years, no - getting it into safe condition won't be cheap, but mainly just due to the quantity of what needs to be done, rather than any single cost. Parts for Spitfires are still pretty cheap. However, the engine is only the start...

I'd assume replacing:

1. every single suspension bushing.
2. Brake hoses, master cylinder, and likely all hard lines as well as calipers and rear wheel cylinders. Chances are, the rotors and drums are probably still good. Maybe even the pads and shoes as well, although they're really cheap, so may as well...
3. Front wheel bearings. Probably the rears as well, but those are a bit of PITA to change.
4. trans and diff fluids.
5. all 4 u-joints, since the grease around the needle bearings has certainly turned to stone by now.
6. all coolant hoses and have the radiator and heater core cleaned and tested.
7. I'm sure the seat foam and covers are shot.
8. and who knows what the electrics need. Since I'd have most of the car torn apart anyway, I'd probably just replace the entire wiring harness...
9. It probably needs a new top.

But... that's all stuff I've done on a Spitfire at least once (except the top). And some I'll be doing soon on my current Spit. So for me, it's really just a lack of room as I have no place to store another car right now.

I'd definitely expect all of that stuff to be suspect. It's a 30 year old plus car so it probably needed On a car that is running too. I'd just be wary if on top of that it isn't at least able to start and run. I would expect that to be something a mechanic would throw few hours at ..... unless he thinks the engine problem is an expensive one. Thus my concern.

itsarebuild wrote: It's a *45* year old plus car...

spitfirebill wrote: No title sucks for me too. I was thinking a 72 would be a MkIV.

'72s would have a 1296cc engine and a black dash (rather than wood), if original.