THE MOST FUN CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN!!!
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- Опубліковано 30 січ 2017
- My first ever youtube video reviewing a 1972 Triumph Spitfire Mark 4.
Justification of the title can be found in the video!
Thanks to Hi Gloss Motor Bodies LTD for the exterior restoration of this car!
Please like, share, subscribe and leave some comments for how I can improve my future videos!
Thanks!!! - Авто та транспорт
Great vid, glad to see the younger guys getting into and appreciating the classics. You guys are the ones who will keep the hobby going!
Pretty happy that some of these cars are still affordable for "younger guys" :)
Oh yeah! I know this comment section’s life is through but if you see this, my dad and I bought a 77 Spit 1500 and it is brilliant! We are repainting it ourselves, and it isn’t going all according to plan, but as of 8-22-20 we prime the beauty, and who knows what comes next! We also own a Midget of the same year, and they are a blast!
@@EustacheEubagge Like 61!
My then Scottish girlfriend and now wife for 35 years picked me up in a white one back in 1981 when I first visited her at home.
She drove it like a bat out of hell, withour her high heeled shoes, on the left side of the road, which made me, Dutch boy, actually scared. The sound of the engine and the exhaust was mixed with ''Rumours'' by Fleetwood Mac on the cassete deck.
''I had ra suspension moddyfay'd ann fitted dabble Weberr carrburratorrs.'''
Making me fall in love with her all over again.
Walter Taljaard such a lovely story to read! You should maybe consider purchasing one now for old times sake?
I drive a Jaguar S type 2006 and the wife has a Saab 95 cabriolet now adays
Guess which one of us is still gathering the most fines for speeding?
We would like a nice classic, but do not have the room to store it.
A ragtop needs a garage, especially during the VERY wet Dutch winters and that's allready taken by the Saab.
best love story on a car video ever
Amazing story. Thanks for sharing
Walter Taljaard this is precious. Thank you for sharing.
Nice to see the young guys interested in classics. Anyone buying one of these (as with any classic), please do your homework first. Theres's lots of things to go wong, but parts are cheap and Spitties are dead easy to work on. Well done.
They are indeed like a road-legal go-kart, and I totally agree on the 'less is more' as far as driver and car interaction go. Like you said, no power-steering, no traction control, RWD and a lot of fun.
Had a Spit in the 70s and loved loved loved it for all the reasons you list!
Yeah, I had no idea these cars were RWD until about 4 days ago. Nice - that's actually more of a positive than a negative, huh?
I bought a a 1967 Spitfire in 1974. What a great looking car! The mini-Jag! Loved those wire wheels with real knock offs!
I rebuilt the engine after a rod cap loosened up (while driving back from my college classes one day - tick, tick, TICK, bang, bang, BANG! But I drove it home! Block and crank were ok!) . I also had the head cleaned up (mild porting) and installed a higher lift cam.
Went on to repair the transmission with new synchros, and clutch. Replaced/repaired brakes to include hydraulics, fixed all the rust and dents, and re-painted red (Actually replaced clutch three times due to a bent engine back plate - trans comes out from inside the cabin via the fiberglass cover removal. Got it it down to about a couple hours to replace the clutch.). A total labor of love!
Best feeling ever was late at night, after completing some repairs or just tuning it up (twin SUs!), top down (of course!), driving the back roads of Ohio just listening to the engine and practicing shifts. Yes, it coulda' used another 50 HP! But, the feedback from the road was amazing!
Pretty good heater that worked very well during the US mid-western winters, often with the top down, and snow in the street!
And yes they could break, but there wasn't much to break. Very simple machine. Open up the front hood/bonnet and sit on the wheel! What a great feeling with the entire engine there in front of you! A mechanics dream! (And today, with the internet, man, life is easy! Tech advice and parts at your fingertips -literally!).
My Spitfire made trips to New Orleans, Florida, Cape Cod, and finally ended up in San Diego, CA where I sold it. I saw a similar one a few years back, on display in the front lobby of a hotel, on the Amalfi coast in Italy. Might have been same year! Perfect location and roads for that car (well, except for that HP issue - 67HP...or maybe I had closer to 75 with the cam - going up hills was tough!).
After having a Camaro, Mustang GT, MB E500, and now an E39 M5, I still miss the Spitfire!
Good choice Ahmed! Keep it! Enjoy it!
Love it, great video. I had a Spitfire 1500 many years ago, owned it for 2 and half years, loved it, every time I got in it and revved the engine it put a massive smile on my face. It was never that fast but so low to the floor you felt like you were going faster than you really was. Always got noticed in it, and it was always people putting thumbs up. May have to get another one one day lol
Steve Denton get another one!!!
Actually having said that I might be selling mine soon!
Haha, I'd love to, but no where to keep one at the moment
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Mine is a 72 too, in burgundy red. Been in restoration for almost 2 years now and I can't wait to drive it again. I've enjoyed so many rides in the countryside with my dad and I can say the times spent in that little triumph were some of the best in my life. Cheers to you and your beautiful car
Hi, Great post /video, Iv'e owned 2 of these beauties in the past, first one in 1985 The second one in 1989. I was in my mid then late 20's. Im 60 now but have never forgot the feeling & freedom these classics give you. Also had a couple of TR7's,,, but it was the spits that I loved..... great the young guys are still interested. all the best Ade
My first car was a '71 Mark IV that I bought for $600. Still remember the feeling of blasting down back roads. Taught me auto mechanics too.
Congrats. I've had one for approximately 4 years now and they are a blast to have.
Love it! The Gremlins are part of the charm, as long as they aren’t electric and there isn’t too much rust
I Had a ‘79 1500 back in 1988.Thanks for the video,brings back memories.Mine went to the great rust heap in the sky alas.
Great to see young people enjoying classics. You totally get classic ownership.
Easy to maintain, nice exhaust note, trouble free cheap motoring, Italian style with elegant lines that always were a head turner. People rap on about the Mazda MX5 and how much better it is than the Spitfire. but its just not so. The mk4 is a loveley car which yearns to be driven and is capable of high mileages if correctly looked after. Mine was a fetching yellow with both hard and soft tops.Glad to see there are still people like you around who appreciate basic non computerised products
Just got one myself, hideously hand painted blue but drove it for the first time today and what a laugh. loved it!! My first car, some 30 years ago was an MG midget 1275, not sure I'd get in it now!! Have lusted after an open top roadster since then and loving this one although it needs a bit of work. It sounds fab and with 1.5 carbs goes much better than I expected. Glad to see you 'young 'uns' appreciating these old cars, for a genuine, visceral driving experience!
Great review! I had a '72 Spitfire IV in '77 - It was up there with the most fun on four wheels...
Love the car and the video. So brilliant you bought this.
I enjoyed watching your video.
Fun car and fun times.
With my 76 spit 1500, it always seems to be going 20mph faster than it is, which is a good thing, because they’re not very fast, but fun as hell in the twisties.
My first car was a mk5 spitfire.
I was fifteen and it was a rotten old mutt but I loved it. When you showed the interior I could smell it.
Damp.
Nice motor man. Enjoy
Thank you 😊
I had a 1976 spitfire I use to drive under tractor trailers people couldn't help but look super fun car. I haven't seen one on the road for years
I had a purple 72 in 1977. I’m in Chicago and it was brutal in the winter. 😂. The windows didn’t even seal closed and the heater didn’t work in below freezing temperatures. I had it about a year when the engine blew. It is a fun car.
Cool vid mate, got one the same colour and year. Love it to bits.
Nice presentation. You're right about the sound.
Great vid. It was about 48 years ago that I got to drive one. The one I drove had the optional electric overdrive that was effective in 3rd and 4th gears. It was a really fun car to drive.
It cracks me up when I go to a high-end restaurant or club and have my car valet parked. My humble Beetle ragtop is always parked with the Ferraris, Porches, Lambos, etc.
I had a '77 1500. I bought it super cheap when I was 17. Spent many sleepless nights in the garage, and, left many pounds of knuckle skin behind putting it in working order, but, it was so worth it. The first thing I did after getting it running, was shitcan the SU carb, and, Lucas electrical parts. It eventually got a full upgraded suspension, and, a header & full custom exhaust. With a cam, and, a few other goodies, it was making around 100HP. That car never failed to make me smile.
I've got a 1500 and I absolutely love it. I've got it where I want it now. Plenty of upgrades. Just got to get it resprayed and it will be close to perfect
in 85 my first car was a 74 MK4 same color as yours, it was a US model with the big black rubber bumpers, found it near home in St Malo (FR) and the story I got was that it was left behind by some US embassy employee, i bought it around 1000E then, it was complete and was running good but it had the single SU carb for USA market which derated the power down quite a bit. A year later with the help of my mates the car had a new paint job, (I kept the original Hermine color, originally wanted red like you did to look like the alfas but the body shop guy said "no f.. way"). Found the double carbs in a scrap yard on RN7 south of paris, got a new soft top creme color. I felt like a hero... hahaha, looking back it was lots of fun driving year round, rain, snow just bring it on I was having fun driving that car. 2 years had past and on a very cold winter night I drove over a patch of ice, lost control, car went rear first into the muddy road side then bounced back on the road up side down and slide for a long time. the doors were blocked, the windshield was flattened so the girlfriend and I were stuck inside, then (notice on the video the position of the fuel cap) I realized the fuel cap opened with the chock and now the tank was emptying creating a pool of gas in the split soft top. We both went unconscious at that moment. Lucky for us some friends who were following lifted the car and got us out. we came back to life quickly we were told. the car was completely wrecked, our bodies were sour for the next few days. That was my first car, still love it now. My moto was I"I don't care when I will get there I am having a lot of fun on the way". I had many cars since and powerful ones as well but I don't think I had the same feeling of driving this half go-kart thing, not to mention it brought lot's of attention. that's all I have to say about that...
I've got a blue 76 spit. Loads of fun. I put my bullmastiff behind the seats, sitting sideways . I get smiles all day with a car that small, and a dog that big.
Super cool car! Nice restoration
My first sports car was a 69 Spitfire in English racing green. The first car I fell in love with!
Nice car. My Dad has a 1974 Spitfire.
I wish I had hung onto my Spit from the 70s
What a beauty 😍😍😍 I'd love it if you could make a video highlighting the problems and what to look out for when buying one of these
Love the enthusiasm! :) Found your video after seeing a ‘72 Spitfire on Autotrader for £1500... 🤔
You just earned another subscriber. Bring on more classics pls
I had the exact same model in the early 80's. Really fun to drive.
Great video -- appropriate title. Having owned one myself, I can say it truly is a total blast to drive. Some recommendations: add a piece of 1/4" self-adhesive weather stripping along the top edge of the windscreen -- no leaks after that. Try grounding the temperature sender against the engine block to test... if it doesn't peak on the gauge, replace the sender. The sender is on the water pump between the radiator and engine. It has a single wire coming out of it.
Nice jacket, BTW.
Ian Bruce haha the jacket is superdry if you were wondering. And thanks for the recommendations. I will definitely look into it. Make sure you subscribe to see how I get on 👍🏼
a most excellent review sir
omg,,, spitfires are fantastic,,, came across this video,,, ive had 2 spitfires in my life & 2 TR7's,,, but I must agree with you, Spitfires are so much fun to drive,,, looks its been 5 years since this post,,, hope youve still got the spit ,,,,,? love your enthusiasm
I think you have bought a good hobby and possibilities to learn a lot about cars as you systematically repair each item. Convertible driving is the best.
I love my Spitfire 1500. There are a lot of quirks to it. With a good exhaust, properly tuned carbs, electronic ignition and some upgraded suspension with lower springs in the front it is by far the best car I've ever driven.
Not the most comfortable or fastest however it gives you more thrills driving one of these than you'll ever get from a modern performance car.
Hope you're still enjoying it two year on! I've just bought a 1964 MGB but I haven't picked it up yet. Can't wait to drive it home!
Great year for the "B"!
I loved mine in the 80s but I blew the engine up and replaced it with a 2.0 ford Capri engine and gearbox. It was a lot of work but a great upgrade 👍👍👍
Great video mate. I'm a mgb owner but have always had a thing for spitfires.
best thing about these cars over modern cars is the connection you feel to the driving experience. Maintenance costs is much less than the depreciation on a audi s6 or whatever.
Gorgeous car. Bare bones driving, and all mechanical.
Mk4 was my first car in 1982, reg was TFX530L , mine also had a crunch going into second.
Cost me £250. Got stopped by the police for having five people in it. Three across the front and two in the back with their heads out through the zipped out window. Fun times
Had the exact same car in 1972 when I was 18. And, yes, it is THE MOST FUN CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN!!!
Hi, I had the same model bought it in 1981. Originally in triumph white, a year later full restoration, body and engine. Restored the engine bit by bit in my bedroom!!! The SU carbs and top end of the engine reconditioned.The car was collected after 4 weeks from the bodyshop, gleaming burgundy red. Ahmed I found your video, it tells the story of the car as it was then, but we didn't know any better as most cars were no mod cons. Enjoy your ride.. Iqbal Iggy Moss.
Enjoyed the ride Ahmed.
My first British Sportscar was a 1967 Spitfire Mklll. Bought in 1975. It was so much fun when it run, which was infrequent.
Great description of the car. Here is a dial, don't know what it is for and it doesn't work, and this is the speedo, and there is a dial here and it is all over the place. Got it. I grew up in the era of these cars, so fun to drive, so nimble and turns on half-a-dime. I had the Datsun 2000 roadster in 1969. What a blast these roadsters are, especially when driving through curvy mountain roads in Northern California.
Love mine!
My first car, purchased when I was 21, second hand, red, P reg, £600, burr wood dashboard, that lasted me 6 years and I sold for £800! I took 7 wrens from HMS Dryad to Joanna’s in Southsea one evening (only 3 wanted a lift back). Douglas was it’s name (after Douglas Bader, whom I thought designed the Spitfire aeroplane, Pete Mitchell did - no interest in the RAF) and she (!) was brilliant fun. We demolished Boulter Lane Sentry Box once reversing, not a scratch on the car! Trunnions often failed but Mech eng boyfriends fixed them for me. If I could have Douglas again on my drive I would. A rare privilege indeed. Loved her and moved her on due to marriage and babies arriving. Good enough for 8 wrens but not 2 adults & toddlers! Happy Daze 😄
It was my dream car as a kid. I first saw one because my buddy's older sister had one. My brother recommended against getting one when I was off to college because it would breakdown too often and instead suggested I get a Pinto, lol. So wrong lol. When I was able I got a new Miata 1993, but I've never forgotten the little navy blue Spitfire I came across.
First car I ever bought was a 1967 Triumph Spitfire Mark II. I still think about it. Top down. Wind in your face. Driving on a twisty road. Having to repair it every month. Those are the dreams.
I had same model and colour for 15 years, agree fabulous fun. Now own a TR4A.
i bought and am restoring a 1979 spitfire. I totally agree with the whole why buy a flashy new sports car. to me the appeal is not having power steering or any of the electrical computers to help you drive. I wanted to feel the road in the gearbox and steering! I absolutely love my spitfire so far!
Just turned 18 and going to get my licence soon hopefully. Would totally love to have this as a first car, can find some for rather cheap prices. Hopefully insurance isn't too bad either.
"You've got the temperature there for something...don't know what it is...doesn't even work...speedo apparently showing zero...rev counter all over the place" Haha that pretty much sums up classic car ownership! That's the beauty of it though, no other car I can think of for £5k is this fun to drive in my opinion!
What it shows is that 20 years of idiot lights has made drivers idiots. Hopefully he educates himself thru this and becomes a better driver.
With older cars you don't want a stack of stuff that needs fixing , you must get it seen to as it happens otherwise the mountain just gets bigger . If you can't do it yourself then find someone who can .
great video mint little car
WOW you don`t need more car greet`s from germany nice tank you
It's a hgh revving engine so it's great fun coming out of corners gives a real sporty feel😊
I LOVE IT...
Awesome ❤️🔥
well done
Great video. Only thing that grated with me was you starting it on choke with a lot of throttle, this is not a good idea if you want the engine to last a long time since you are revving it without waiting for the oil to get to all the bearings. While the main & big end bearings are in good nick (like yours appear to be) it's true that the oil tends to stay in the bearings but any wear and the oil drains out of the bearings when the engine is shut down. The `choke' on SU carbs is misnamed since the air supply is not strangled by a butterfly valve like on a Weber carburetor but instead the jet is pulled down to give more fuel on the tapered needle valve with the same amount of air. When the jet is pulled down there is a cam that gives you a fast idle on choke so you shouldn't touch the accelerator when starting the engine cold (the fast idle is adjustable if choke doesn't give you enough engine speed, you want about 1250 - 1500 rpm). Never leave the choke out so much that the engine `hunts', always push it in to about 50% as soon as possible.
Even with a good engine it's a good idea to at least wait for the oil pressure to rise to a steady value before driving off (I've had to `nurse' many old engines and if you hold the engine speed with your foot at about 1250 RPM for a few minutes you'll get many more miles out of a knackered engine - you have to wait until the tapping of the worn bearings disappears as the oil floods them!!).
Interesting stuff! I've been working on a '79 Spitty for the past few months and learning a lot more than I used to know (which was very little). I've been a bit unsure about the fast idle aspect - I think I found the correct screws but they were not in quite the same position as in any diagram or photo I saw. Adjusting them seemed to make a difference and now it often springs to life (with the choke fully out) - almost too aggressively, and as you say, I have to put the choke back in half way pretty quickly. Then it gradually calms down to about 800/900 rpm. Adjusting the screws the other way and it tended to cut out after 30 seconds or so, so it's tricky getting a balance. I reckon it's running a bit rich. I suspect there's other stuff I need to do in terms of carbs being balanced. Some days it's great and other days pretty bad, but when warmed up it's got a great sound and as others have said here it feels fast and then I look at the speedo it's not even at 30, ha! I do sit with it idling for minutes before driving off so I'm glad you say that's a good thing!
Good lad !
Choke start is old school. But it puts you in control; you decide how much to choke it, and when to let it out.
Thinking of getting one just wondering what the legroom is like in one of these? I’m 6 foot 3 and I’m hoping it can fit me
Actually not bad at all. I’m 6’ 2” and I fit just fine
nice!
Great video fella had my 1500 for two years and I love it - How much did the re-spray cost if you don't mind me asking? Did you find any rust on the sills? If so did they need replacing?
Billy B
Hi mate. Thanks a lot 👍🏼
The respray was just under £2000.
There was some rust on the sills but the body shop took care of that without having to replace them.
Keep enjoying your spitfire experience 👍🏼
Every time I drive it, it brings a smile to my face. Love sticking the clutch in, reving the engine and hearing the sports exhaust :) - plus helps synchronise the gears for a smooth change.
I think my heart skipped a beat because of that gear crunch
In the early 80s I had an L reg (‘71 or ‘72 I think) in the yellow colour. The original engine had been replaced with a Triumph Herald unit. I absolutely loved it, especially with the hood down (I was 21, and I’ve never had quite the same buzz from a car since then.) Never been so proud as when I rolled up to meet my friends, top down, shades on, GF beside me! I remember it had the most amazing full lock, it could turn on a sixpence in the car park. Sadly it was written off when an underage idiot who had “borrowed” his mother’s Renault 18 rear-ended me and pushed me into a pillar box (crunched from both ends.) Would love to have another one day.
The advantage of a spitfire is you can maintain it yourself. There is no Computor involved, I had one fifty years ago and it’s still my favourite.
'Primitive' = FUN!
Beautiful car. Get a Haynes manual, that will tell you how to fix everything & what the temperature gauge is for lol 👍🚗
EVERYTHING you've said is TRUE..... I've owned All kinds of cars.. 2 years ago I traded my Mustang BULLITT GT for a new Fiat 124 Spider , and also have a 1968 Austin Healey Sprite.... Now I want to get a Spitfire too.... The Sprite is like a street legal go-kart... and yes.. It gets TONS of attention when I drive it..... Some complain about safety.. Really? Do words hurt your feelings?, need a Safe Room, and Mommy to hold your hand too?? ... I just give them my "Look".. and bite my tongue... . Todays cars are SO over-engineered and numb to be safe, they're BORING.... I'd rather LIVE and risk getting CRUSHED into a pancake... than spend my life in a Safety Zone... and drive a boring newer car or landbarge SUV..
Hear, hear! I nearly get apoplectic when I think that my 'government' says I can't buy a Caterham because it doesn't have a bunch of shite on it that THEY say I have to have...none of your F*****g BUSINESS.
I had a ‘73 and used as my everyday car until my second child arrived - you could wedge a britax baby seat just behind the front two (you’d likely be thrown in jail for that nowadays).
I put up about 20,000 miles a year for three years and there was hardly a week when something didn’t fall off or break. It wasn’t really up to the job.
All the same, I loved it.
PS. A mark one MX-5 is far more fun - and doesn’t break so easily.
Are you selling it? 😆
Really want to get one.
Great video man!
I use to own one and when the weather was nice funniest car I ever drove just like a big go cart
Had one Loved it
Later I got a TR7
You drove it in the rain... the sills will be rusting through in 5...4...3...2...
Seriously loved mine even though it was a rubbish example, could barely get past 60mph and ended up at the scrapyard after the failing it's first MOT (due to rusted sills). I'd love to buy one now.
it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Great vid and good choice on a Spit.... now get rid of the bullet mirrors before something frightening happens! They look cool but are useless!
Tim Stainton-James
Hahah that was another point I did mention in the raw footage actually!
Every Spitfire
Did you drive slk, alfa spider, Miata?
What would you have, this or a Miata?
Very nice job on the exterior restoration! I have a '79 Spitfire and it is a very fun car to drive. The difference is I converted mine to all electric drive so I don't have the awesome engine sound you do.
Road legal go-cart!
Easy to push too, but super fun to drive.
I've owned a Spitfire-4, Mk3, 1500, and a Herald :)
Welcome to the spitfire life. Stuff keeps breaking. Half the things don't work. fix one piece then something else goes wrong. But I tell you I love the car. Don't ever plan on selling it.
you need to turn the wiper switch harder to get to higher speed.
My fellow Americans, if you get one of these in the US it’s also sick. You can still benefit from the great parts availability here, but there’s a lot less of them here so you’ll definitely be catching some looks.
Got one of those on the road.
And nice beard
HamzahGaming 😂😂😂 thanks 👍🏼
No one ever mentions the turning circle or does a handbrake turn.
i CAME BACK,,,,,,,,, HOW AREW YOU MAN,,,,, HOPE YOU STILL HAVE HER 🙂
Old video so you probably figured out you can reset the wipers by unbolting them from their motor shafts and rotating them down to park, then refasten them.