Odometers just rollover so at 100K it will roll over to 00000. Brake fluid can bubble and eat paint especially old versions. That's how the rust probably got started. Nice old car. Take care of it.
@@user-ho4nw5sf3w I don't know the particulars of hose and seals compatibilities between older cars and newer brake fluids but hopefully it works for you.
Lardmarc no it’s real wood I have a dash from a 1970s Triumph Dolimite Sprint I think it’s s sprint... and it’s solid wood..... and it all works... just needs a clean a bit dusty..
Yup, it's real wood. It also means its relatively easy to fix if you feel like taking all the panels out. Sauers & Co makes thin veneer sheets that you can glue down. Glue any serious cracks you might find and sand down the face to clean wood. Then using plain old wood glue, apply a thin coat to the veneer and a thing coat to the original panel, a foam brush works well for this. Work out any bubbles or ripples so it lays flat. Then lay a piece of wax paper on top and set some weight on it. You need to make sure the whole panel is pressed evenly. 50lbs or so should be fine. Give it 24 hours to dry and cure and pull the weight and wax paper. You can give it a light sanding if you like with some high grit paper and finish as you please. A little clear gloss polyurethane for exterior use works great.
I had a 1974 Spitfire 1500 (Carmine (or deep maroon) with tan interior). I bought it in Montrose, Scotland when I was in the US Navy stationed at RAF Edzell. I paid $2,800. Drove it all over Scotland and down to London a few times. Wonderful! Wish I still had it. Next duty station was Skaggs Island, Calif. (north of San Francisco). Traded it in for a 1976 Ford Capri II S. They gave me $3,500! Only car I ever made money on. My wife married me because I had such a cool car! HAHA
Great video, always glad to see a Spitfire on the road. Yours looks beautiful. One tip for you, don't lift the bonnet by the latch handles. They will break (if you are lucky) or bend their mounting ears. Instead, lift at the top of the wheel arch for many years of trouble free maintenance.
Thank you so much for an AWESOME upload. I am from North Yorkshire, England and I used to see these Spitfires all the time. I just loved the design, utterly beautiful and not bettered today. A friend of the family had a yellow 1500 and it was a stunner. This video brings back so many memories. Thanks again.
Thanks for putting this up as it brought back lots of happy memories. I had a 1500 spitfire back in the early 80s which never let me down and had nothing but fun in it.
Nice! I have a 66 Spitfire, which I have owned since 1980. I just had the engine rebuilt, the 1147 runs great. They are really fun cars, and remember...in 1965 Spitfire won the 1100 cc class at Le Mans.
One thing I noticed. Your rust is right under the break/ clutch master cylinders. Break fluid is corrosive. It could be a leak in the system that caused the rust issues. I hope this helps.
Amazing seeing a fellow college student driving and loving his spitfire. Mine is a '72 mk4 that I have had with my dad for about 5 years now, but I haven't driven it for the past two since we had the car fully restored. Now I'm only working out the last few mechanical problems. I can't wait to put it again on the road as it is quite an amazing and fun car!
Thanks for taking the time to give us a good looksee at your Spitfire. I've loved Spitfires since I was a kid in the '60s. They may not be particularly powerful or fast, but they're still fun and about the coolest looking cars there are. They're about as close to riding a nice old thumping British motorcycle as you can get on four wheels. For right now, you'd do well to give that rusty area under the brake main cylinder a good thorough scub ASAP with a few nice tough oily rags to slow down the rust until you can attend to it properly, or it will very quickly get much worse. My hunch is brake fluid was spilled there, which is a corrosive paint remover.
That being said - many times I now see - I love older British cars. My stepfather ran a USA BL dealership in the mid 70’s, and before then we owned a series of Jags, Triumphs and MGs. My first car was a MkIII Sprite. Take good care of that lovely little Spitfire.
Thank Chad. Nice to see my current obsession in working order. I'm looking to buy a 1975 Spitfire that's not currently running. Anyway, enjoyed seeing it on the road. Thanks!
I remember when those first came out, great looking little sports car. Yours seems to be in really good condition for its age, take care of it, and if there is any way, keep it, as you get older you will be glad you did.
I currently own a 1978 Spitfire with 128,00 miles on it and it runs great! It is my third Spitfire. As far as your dash goes, it IS real wood veneer(walnut) sandwiched together. The out layer(s) often crack with age. The stains around the master cylinders are due to brake/clutch fluid leakage which is a common problem on Spitfires. As far as the odometer goes, it WILL turn over to 00,000 when it hits 100,00 miles; I know, mine did. These cars developed 57 horsepower from their 91 cu engines.
Apart from if you are going on long journeys, who needs a radio in a fantastic little sports car like that... You are lucky, keep up the good work with keeping it on the road
Great job with a great Spitfire! I a long history with Spitfires, still have two. I can tell you are understating your knowledge of them, but let me help on a few items. First, don't lift the bonnet by the latch, hold it by the wheel well arch. You will see the point at once. Next, the dash is actually wood, I think a walnut species, but do know it can't be matched now, and I have unusually good wood sources. It's finish is cracking a bit, depending on how deep, it may be repairable. Ask an accomplished wood worker or furniture repair expert for advice, I mean an excellent one, high end stuff. It is not worth pulling the dash apart over yet. It can be refinished, use nice laquer, Overdrive is likely wiring or wrong fluid. There are good web pages on the overdrive. If it is the switch, make your own and epoxy it into the old cap. The new ones are junk. Joe curto on long island for su carbs is the only carb choice if you need anything there, he does zeniths also. The european cast header with double pipes is great, use 2 inch pipe to a nice turbo muffler if you need an exhaust. Sorry everyone, Monza is trash. Have a craftsman exhaust guy fix it up nice, it's worth it. When you get the alignment worked out, you won't believe how good that car is. Teglerizer.com! Then, whatever else you do, keep it the rest of your life! Sorry for the long windednes
I enjoyed your video; thank you! I have a Yellow 1500, produced in 1980 and still having the chrome bumpers. It's been tuned to 92 bhp at 4,500 revs and is such fun to drive. You have to be careful in the wet, because the back end is very frisky!! Reckon you should fit a twin stainless steel exhaust: sounds amazing, particularly on over run!
Sweet spitfire. I enjoy mine every chance I get too. There are a few magazines you can get any part you'll ever need. Keep up with the spitfire vids. 👍👍
Well done video. I'm a mgb owner about your age and understand the passion. Wish there were more British classic car owners out there. They dont know the fun they are missing.
Beauty! A '72 Spit mkIV was my first "proper" car w-a-a-y back in '77 when I was 19...great for impressing the girls! When the 1500 came out I was green with envy...also you are right about the 5 digit odometer as cars were expected to blow up by 80,000 miles in those days. I remember seeing my first car with a 6 digit one (a VW Golf I think - would be those efficient German - huh!) and it was a source of wonder. Here in England that fear lives on - any car with anywhere near 100K on the clock has it's value plummet even though modern cars easily handle 150, 200, 250k miles...My current MINI has 179k and runs like new!
Glad to see young people enjoying and restoring Spitfires and this one looks great. Keep up the good work there! I've had my Spitfire since I was 16, my first car, and I still have it 37 years later thru time in the Navy, college, and other life issues. Two years ago I bought an '80 that runs but needs work and last year I bought another '80 in better shape that was parked for 25 years and only has 11k miles. Yes the odometer rolls over back to zero and continues. The dash is wood with a wood veneer on top that cracks with age and wear (replacements available). The brake and clutch master cylinders must have leaked (common issue) and the fluid ruins the paint, so w/o paint the rust comes. Their control levers come with rubber covers that fit into those slots, see parts companies. Lots of British car shows and clubs in your state and nearby, so when you finish college, you'll be able to get out and have fun. See North American Spitfire Squadron and Spitfire Enthusiast group on Facebook. Cheers!
My girlfriend bought a 66 spitfire and it was the first engine I ever rebuilt, never missed a beat after the rebuild. I then found a 64 for 150bucks and rebuilt that one. A friend of mine had a 68 gt6 he sold me for $500 in about 1973, and I used if for a daily driver for awhile before embarking on a restoration. went thru the engine, Trans and Rear end, did paint, and bogged down on the seats and interior. So I've owned it going on 50 years. They are fun cars, I don't get in and out of them as well as I used to.
Awesome car. Glad to see it in appreciative hands. I had to chuckle on the 2 keys, one for the trunk explanation. Sometimes I forget about the time that has passed and newer generations would not have had experience with that. Keep up that enthusiasm, the Spitfire's longevity depends on you. Cheers
Really fun to drive up & down California coast. Had a '77 1500 Spitfire Inca yellow with black racing stripes and walnut steering wheel. Very maneuverable - turning radius only ~33 ft. During gas crunch, appreciated 29 mpg. Car was so low, you could fit under the bed of tractor trailers. Bad electrical system experiences. Started up one day and fried electrical wiring. While parked, battery overheated and spilled acid. Top of ignition switch exploded one day when a lightly staked retaining cover let go which held a large compression spring in place. Throttle spring failed while driving down a residential street and throttle went wide open. Getting into reverse was tricky. I installed an LED indicator light to show when it was in gear before engaging clutch. Sadly, a steel hauling truck ran into it while parked at a stop light and totaled car. Triumph had great ads for the car in magazines like Playboy and beautiful sales brochures. I have framed copies of the adverts. Car appeared in some episodes of the Avengers. I have some nice scale models of this car and these do not require maintenance! Still wish I had this car.
I appreciate your video as l too have a 77. I've been planning on selling it but getting to take a ride in yours has my wheels turning. Might decide to keep it.
Great survivor Spitfire. Unrestored is best when the paint still looks that good. They are only original once. The odometer will roll over to zero after hitting 99,999 miles. Cars form 1970's and older typically only had a five digit odometer, because cars were thought to be worn out at that point. Thanks for showing the car, it reminds me of a Spitfire my friend had back in the early 80's when we were in high school.
GearheadTed Thank you sir, the car sure does mean a lot to me! Also, thank you for sharing that information! Like I said, I doubt it'll ever hit 99,999 miles!
Chad Miller have you thought about swapping it and giving it a new life? I saw one on the local CL with a Buick 3.8. I would go for an all aluminum 4 cyl maybe k series.
GearheadTed just bought 2 '73 '75. family member past great deal everyone says I'm the one to do it all right or close to it. I'd like more look at engine compartment side shelds
@@chadmiller7033 You might be surprised! I had a 65 Spit which I owned twice (with refurbishment in between), and it got to 75,000 before the speedometer cable broke and I couldn't keep track of mileage anymore. I feel sure it got to 100k before the tin worm killed it.
Amazing those US cars always had those emission control systems already back in those days. The engine also only had 1 carb, that teally astonishes me! In Europe they are twin-carb. However, good review and nice car!
I rebuilt a '78 1500 in the Uk. No emission mods and no rubber bumper insets, so probably more lively than the US models. Great fun to drive. When you started it up sounded just like mine. Good VLOG 👍
Great car and video. The Triumph and MG Midget 1500 have the same engine and normally the engine cover would be silver as standard. The Speedometer will roll over and start again. The front suspension from this model was used and adapted in Lotus Elan and Europa for the precise steering and handling. Its a nicely maintained and original car and a good video.
A Spitfire Mk. 4 was my first car. So much fun and so simple to work on. Pure enjoyment in driving without masses of electronic driver aids. In the past, the car most likely had a leak(s) from the clutch and brake master cylinders, this caused the Blue paint in that area to be eaten away. If it was not completely de-contaminated and quickly repainted, the sheet metal would start to rust. The seals in both of these master cylinders from a quality/durability standpoint left a lot to be desired. These leaks happened to me and were a constant source of angst ! Never the less, a wonderful car to have some fun with on a winding road. I hope you keep it for may more years. The parts supply is quite good so you should be able to get most of what you need to keep it on the road for a reasonable amount of money.
Thanks for reminding me of my youth! Back before there were Miatas (great car, BTW), MR2s, Datsun Zs, and RX7s...the Brits ruled the sports car world. Look up a youtube video Clarkson's Car Years - Who Killed The British Motor Industry? to find out what happened. Sad story of the death of lot of great cars. My brother had a MG Midget and my father had 2 TR4s so I know those old Brit sports cars were era defining. Great video!
I used to have a Spitfire 1500 which was the 30th to last one off the production line here in the UK. I drove it in all weathers and worked on it myself including welding and panel beating. I loved that car but they eat parts and I had to get rid of it before it bankrupted me. Nice video and some great memories.
I had a 75 with factory hard top and overdrive, I loved that car, it was so much fun to drive. Also had a 64 and a 78. I'd love to have another. On the highway using overdrive I was getting 40 Mpg.
Nice video lovely car used to work for a BL dealer many years ago here in Britain always liked the Spitfire. My friend owned the Triumph Dolomite Sprint when we were kids.You mentioned the odometer when it gets to 99999 well i belie it goes to 00000 and starts over. Take care Darren.
Glad you are enjoying you Triumph Spitfire, do get that bulkhead brake fluid damage sorted soon, otherwise it is looking good in Original paint. Here in the Uk, I had a 1976 Spitfire 1500 in Tahiti blue, which I think yours may be, back in the early 80's, loved it.
Great job! Glad to hear you worked on it with your dad. Very cool car, good thing you know how to work on it however, Late 70’s weren’t exactly BL glory days...
Your video reminded me of my 1500 spitfire, it was a real lemon car and although I bought it brand new, I sold it after less than a year in my possession. The color was mimosa yellow and also had a hardtop for the Northern European climate. After that I bought a TR6 and was more happy with that car.
I have a 1979 Spitfire. Same rust under the master cylinder (which I also had to replace). I open the hood the same way. Same tap on the tach to make it work. I even have the same shudders in the vehicle as it gets up to speed.
My first car was a 1971 Spitfire bought in 1977 for £500. Drove it year round with the roof down as long as it wasn't raining. Enormous fun. You just needed to watch out for that back wheel tucking under suddenly. The front trunnion stripped about half a mile from home. Managed to clamp it up with an enormous G clamp from my dad's. Good job the road home was fairly straight. You certainly get to know their weaknesses. I loved how you could step over either of the front wheels and sit on the tire while working on it. Stylish, Italianate looking sports car which was very affordable.
I had a 76 Spitfire 1500. Had a Borla exhaust and Webber side draft carbs on it. Loved the car, it was a real head turner, ran real nice. Had to sell it when I got married in 1982.
Brian Toncray Wow, I bet that did turn heads with that Borla exhaust on it! What a car, thank you for sharing that with me! It's too bad you had to sell it, it's a great car to drive around with your partner!
Why'd you have to sell it? Raise a responsible kid and you don't have to buy their first car! Pull it out of the garage, clean it, put a new fuel pump, coil, HEI distributor/converter, water pump, and carburetor in it, and you have an overly reliable, not too powerful but not too pussyfooted first car.
The firewall rust is from brake fluid leaks. I too have a '77 Spitfire, though mine has a '69 1296cc dual-carb engine in it. Small, but more power. We are both lucky to have overdrive - VERY rare option in the US. The overdrive unit is the same as that used in Volvos. The O/D issue is probably just the wiring, they are very robust when bolted to only ~70hp. I've owned mine for 27 years- still just as fun as day one!
Nice video of a nice car! I never owned a Triumph but I've owned three MGs (an MGB and two Midgets), two Fiats (an X1/9 and a Spider 2000), and I've owned my second Datsun 240Z now for more than 20 years). It's a bit of an addiction... I can tell you, your dashboard is genuine wood veneer. They do tend to crack with age.
Nice vid chad and a smashing spit, I have had my spit for four years a 74 in light yellow no rust either I’m pleased to say tax exempt and now as from this year MOT exempt £91.00 for fully comp and fun to drive, my only gripe is parking in tight spaces as there’s no power steering so I feel I’m putting pressure on her, have fun and make more vids, ya could get a club going and have some meet ups.
Cool car. I have a rust free one myself, that is going back on the road this summer. They run great, easy to get parts for,, and you don't see many of them on the road any longer.
This car was a street legal go-cart. It was the most fun I've ever had driving a car. And its Michelotti lines were as sexy as anything on the road, then or even now. A total classic. The best part of driving this car: you could actually feel the grain of the road under your ass, while also feeling the car around you. Twisty, windy roads that change elevation is where these little gems shine. '77 Triumph Spitfire on back roads is as pure a driving experience as one can have. I LOVED my '77 Spit. Bucket list item: drive a mint-condition restoration Spit in retirement. I'd better get busy.
had an aunt in ireland in the 70's who drove a purple spitfire. i was very young but fun (and somewhat scary) memories as a passenger with her back when it was new. lots of MG's and alpha and fiat spiders back then. also knew someone with a stag, which was like a bigger spitfire. they used to be in almost every tv show and movie back then, also. great to see some of them still on the roads.
coelho sports I can relate to your childhood memories, I experienced the same things as well! I loved riding passenger in whatever cool car my grandfather had at the time. He is a gear head just like I am! We actually have a very intense MGA project we are currently working on. Thank you for sharing!
Stag also had a V-8 engine and quad headlights. Factory roll bar. Tons of fun. Also, based on the spitfire, was a fastback hardtop, called the GT6. Had an inline six cylinder! I had both offerings, as well as several Spits. The Spit handled best of the trio. The GT6, the poorest, I am surmising due to the heavier weight/location of the bigger engine. The Stag was just a blast.
Hi Chad, Here in the UK, the Spit (I think) is under rated. They are such fun to drive and are the best looking of the british budget sports cars. I love my 1500 which was very much a hobby car of the previous owner. I dealt with the cosmetics and now looks like a new car. I'd advise you to get the overdrive fixed, it makes the ride even more pleasurable. Enjoyed your video. Keep driving your Spit and have fun!
Unlikely to be a serious problem with the overdrive , probably there is an electrical solution . Fix the problems when they occur otherwise the mountain just gets bigger .
I just picked up a 79 spitfire, and have taken the dash apart. I chipped off that plastic top layer, and will place a walnut burl veneer on top. I compared that to buying a new hard wood dash kit, and think that's the best way to get the exact grain and wood finish.
The quality of anything rubber in those days was far less than we have now. I would replace all rubber hoses hoses, and brake & clutch rubbers seals in the master and wheel cylinders. And as mention use DOT 5 brake & clutch fluids. Also find out the best fully synthetic oils to use in the engine and gearbox. Penrite do synthetic oil for older cars. Use latex radiator hoses as they will outlast the car. Also find out the best combination of tyres/dampers, fitting quality performance dampers. The road holding will improve.
It's nice to see the younger generation appreciate the car for what it is ( a roadster) not a hot rod. I've had 4 roadsters a 65 datsun fairlady in 68 to 70 a 72 Tr6 in 78 79 a 79 mgb 94 to 2007 and now at 75 i have a 91 Miata for the last7 years. I also had a 69 Fiat 124 coupe i bought new and a 72 Mgbgt 08 12. Once get bit by the roadster bug you are hooked!
Let's see, I had two. Your first impression is always being amazed at just how much room there is in it compared to how it looks on the outside.The stock vehicle had the side draft Stromberg carb that you have to put oil in. I remember stalling out once too many times and having to adjust the floats which are in the bottom of the thing. All spitfires have electrical problems and almost all of my fuses were made out of blown ones wrapped in aluminum foil. I had fun replacing the rear leaf spring... there's only one for both wheels. The thing I loved the most is that when you're driving it, it feels like its a part of your body, or you're a part of it. I remember getting stuck in snow one winter and it's so light being able to get out, lift the back of the car up and move it over. I remember getting it into 4/6th and not wanting to ever shift back out of it - GET YOUR OVERDRIVE fixed-you won't regret it. I gradually went up to TR7s & 8s, sold them after restoring them, but will always remember my first spitfire. The dash is real wood, but thin over particle or plywood.
Beautiful and rare classic, take care of that rust it quickly spreads and will become serious before you realize, even if you just spread some rust converter over it but do something to contain it👍👌👍
Chad that is a nice Survivor 1977 Triumph Spitfire built during the Golden Age of less regulations for cars. These cars can be easily rebuilt and restored. I also own a vintage 1978 Cessna 152 aircraft built June 1977, 40 years also. I like this occasional detour from our 3rd gen. Tacomas Mine with 1900 miles after 4 months, not the daily driver, hopefully a future survivor Tacoma
Ross Hernaez I also enjoy taking detours from the Toyota/truck world. This car is a very pure experience for me because it tells a story, and it's heard loud and clear. I wonder if I'll have the Tacoma in 30 or so years to be able to talk about it!
They were a very pretty little car for the year, and she is a credit to you, there is no need for masses of power to have fun in these cars and you will spoil the character if you upgrade the Engine too far, they were designed to be affordable with gas and purchase Tax, Look after her, Regards from the UK
Robert Kirk Thank you, Robert! I completely agree with you. I would very much like to keep the 'ol Spit as original as possible. I've been back and forth about putting a Miata motor/gearbox in, but I always come back to wanting to keep it original. I think I'd rather it be that way for as long as I have the car. Cheers from the USA.
NO! NO! NO! Mazda engine, you have to understand that if/when you're done with this little car, the only people wanting it will be collectors, and with them, it's "Originality" all the way, besides your will ruin the Character of the car and soon get bored with NOT having to "Bumps start" it in the winter, Keep working on it a little at a time getting it as good as you can for the money and avoid the temptation to modernize it. well done and look after the old girl, Regards
A message to Triumph... Build the Spitfire again! Same body style...up graded 4 cyl. EFI engine & interior gauges, of course... It is a shame that production ended... This is a classic design. Bring it back!
I owned a 1971 Spitfire. if the electrical was better I would have kept it longer, after that Triumph I stuck with the larger TR4, 250 and TR6... all are fun to drive. Enjoy the Drive
Really cool sport car I like the the windows up with no frame around them. It looks like way back your master cylinder leaked that cause the rust under the brake & clutch cylinders. That type of fluid really rust everything out. Bad ass nice car. Thanks
Nick Freyermuth Yes, I believe that's what happens to it, unfortunately. One day I'll get that cleaned up and looking good again! She's not fast, but she is bad ass!
Chad, you are really gonna want to clean up the rust around the brake master. Need not look great, but you wanna stop the rust. I have owned two Spitfires, a 1965 and a 1979. The missing belt is for the air pump and is not needed as your car likely not requires emissions testing. The overdrive is electric and likely has an issue in the switch or wiring. Very common problem. You are also missing some trim rings for your wheels :)
Todd Quigley Yes, that rust is the next thing on the list to take care of. You are correct, I misspoke. Either way it's not necessary because this car won't be getting emissions tested! I have already checked all of the electrical connections, including the switch, and they are solid, so I'm thinking a sticking solenoid or low oil level in the unit. More investigation will solve this! I wasn't aware I was missing any trim for the wheels, as I haven't had another car to compare it to! Thanks for your comment!
My first car in 1977 was a 1970 Triumph GT6. Took corners like it was on rails. Had to trade it because it would just die going down the road. Then restart five minutes later. Nobody could (or was able to) fix it. Needed something reliable to get me to and from work and night school. Now, with the internet and triumph forums, I'm pretty sure I know what was doing it. Dang, I still miss that car.
A lucky lad to have that car sitting in your garage. Like several commentators in the comments section, I too regret letting go of my Mk 4 Spitfire I picked up for £150 way back, when I was about 20 years old. That would have been about 1984. The Spitfire front coil over springs have grease points. They're called King Pins. Look for the grease nipples on yours and give them a squirt of grease. At 40 years old, 7 years in your ownership, they've probably never had a squirt of grease, and they'll wear. Expensive to replace. The overdrive issue is probably just electrical at the gearbox end. The radio I'd reough wire direct to the battery to prove it works before getting involved in why it doesn't in the dash,. Fix that rust under the brake and clutch cylinders before it 'fixes' your wallet with a big bill for a rusted out panel that now needs welding. The reason for the later models having that big ugly black bumper instead of the chrome is again American safety legislation to improve the 'crumple' protection for the occupants. Much like the Emissions legislation robbed you of the power from the engine, the black bumper and safety legislation was another nail in the coffin detracting from the looks of the car, that resulted from it being withdrawn from the market. The Fiat X1/9, a miniature mid engined sports car also suffered with this bumper issue. Actually so did the MG's as well. That's why they lost their chrome bumpers. Thanks for the great video.
Love the car, I had 2 back in the day. Mine was in worse shape than yours - with the miles you eventually see a small stress crack develop in the front - each of two valleys between the headlamp bump and the central flat area, just behind the alloy headlamp molding. I suppose its the cumulative effect of lots of flexing, some kind of stress effect. On mine the rear spring had settled leading to a slightly lower rear ride height. I fitted adjustable armstrong shocks and the handling/roadholding improved considerably. These days people fit ford zetec engines but I prefer the original.
Hi there. Enjoyed the video. I had a '77 Spitfire in the UK. It was yellow and wonderful. And amazingly rusty. A couple of comments on the video. My guess is the rust around the master cylinder was caused by someone spilling brake fluid when topping it up. It's a very effective paint stripper. Next comment - if you are beginning to see signs of rust, watch the inner sills - the metal panels on the inside below the doors - like a hawk. All the stresses of the not very stiff chassis are transmitted through those sills and you go over bumps and around corners. That's whats taking the load with all that scuttle shake. That kind of load promotes corrosion, but British Leyland kindly glued carpets over the sills, so the first you know of the rust down there is when you see it bubbling through the outer sills below the doors and behind the front wheelarches on the outside. By that time your inner sills are shot to bits and you have yourself a welding job. I speak from experience. If you want to get a little more "poke" out of your engine you'd do worse that fit a Kenlowe or similar cooling fan. It's electric and there's plenty of room in front of the radiator. It works on a thermostat and you'll only hear it "on" for half the time or less. It's worth 1 or 2 HP not having the engine turned fan. FInally, get that overdrive sorted. It's absolutely brilliant. Especially for overtaking. Cruising along in 4 + O/D. Come up behind a truck or slow car. Down to 3 + O/D which is fairly much like 4th.Then your opportunity comes and flick the switch and it's just the same as having a paddle gear change in a supercar. (without the power of course) But you do have the instant extra torque from the extra revs with no clutch to think of. It's lovely. Have fun! I'm jealous.
Finally, the obvious. If a brake or clutch master cylinder leaked that much you would have problems with the brake or clutch. This is caused by over filling.. or some amateur genius worked on the brakes and did not drain/siphon out the fluid before working on it. Biggest problem with Brit cars are the wrong owners and blow hard independent "British Car Specialists".
Odometers just rollover so at 100K it will roll over to 00000. Brake fluid can bubble and eat paint especially old versions. That's how the rust probably got started. Nice old car. Take care of it.
Which means it could have 150,000 miles on it. :-)
@@Dave-sw2dm Yeah, but it would have to have been extremely well cared for,if that is indeed the original paint, etc.
Use Dot 5 brake fluid and solve that problem
@@user-ho4nw5sf3w I don't know the particulars of hose and seals compatibilities between older cars and newer brake fluids but hopefully it works for you.
Rust is definitely from the brake fluid and clutch fluid. I would take care of that as soon as I could.
Dash board is real wood, granted it's a nice veneer glued onto plywood but it's still 'real wood'.
Lardmarc no it’s real wood I have a dash from a 1970s Triumph Dolimite Sprint I think it’s s sprint... and it’s solid wood..... and it all works... just needs a clean a bit dusty..
Yup, it's real wood. It also means its relatively easy to fix if you feel like taking all the panels out. Sauers & Co makes thin veneer sheets that you can glue down. Glue any serious cracks you might find and sand down the face to clean wood. Then using plain old wood glue, apply a thin coat to the veneer and a thing coat to the original panel, a foam brush works well for this. Work out any bubbles or ripples so it lays flat.
Then lay a piece of wax paper on top and set some weight on it. You need to make sure the whole panel is pressed evenly. 50lbs or so should be fine. Give it 24 hours to dry and cure and pull the weight and wax paper. You can give it a light sanding if you like with some high grit paper and finish as you please. A little clear gloss polyurethane for exterior use works great.
I had a 1974 Spitfire 1500 (Carmine (or deep maroon) with tan interior). I bought it in Montrose, Scotland when I was in the US Navy stationed at RAF Edzell. I paid $2,800. Drove it all over Scotland and down to London a few times. Wonderful! Wish I still had it. Next duty station was Skaggs Island, Calif. (north of San Francisco). Traded it in for a 1976 Ford Capri II S. They gave me $3,500! Only car I ever made money on. My wife married me because I had such a cool car! HAHA
You’re not the only one who gained a wife as a result of Spitfire ownership then...
Great video, always glad to see a Spitfire on the road. Yours looks beautiful. One tip for you, don't lift the bonnet by the latch handles. They will break (if you are lucky) or bend their mounting ears. Instead, lift at the top of the wheel arch for many years of trouble free maintenance.
Or from the middle of the cowl if your arm is long enough. I’m lucky that way.
Thank you so much for an AWESOME upload. I am from North Yorkshire, England and I used to see these Spitfires all the time. I just loved the design, utterly beautiful and not bettered today. A friend of the family had a yellow 1500 and it was a stunner. This video brings back so many memories. Thanks again.
Lovely country, Yorkshire. Visited the Dales back in 2013, bought some walking/hiking shoes and an oilcloth cap whilst shopping in Hawes.
Thanks for putting this up as it brought back lots of happy memories. I had a 1500 spitfire back in the early 80s which never let me down and had nothing but fun in it.
Nice! I have a 66 Spitfire, which I have owned since 1980. I just had the engine rebuilt, the 1147 runs great. They are really fun cars, and remember...in 1965 Spitfire won the 1100 cc class at Le Mans.
7:00 It starts over again from zero. That's why people used to say *_"It's rolled over."_*
thanks for posting always loved those cars ... I was around when they were new
Thanks for this video. When I was 18, I bought my first brand new car. A ‘77 Spitfire, in Carmine red. Loved the ride-along. Brings back memories.
One thing I noticed. Your rust is right under the break/ clutch master cylinders. Break fluid is corrosive. It could be a leak in the system that caused the rust issues. I hope this helps.
Great overview, nice car!! Thanks for taking the time to do it. Brings back memories
Amazing seeing a fellow college student driving and loving his spitfire. Mine is a '72 mk4 that I have had with my dad for about 5 years now, but I haven't driven it for the past two since we had the car fully restored. Now I'm only working out the last few mechanical problems. I can't wait to put it again on the road as it is quite an amazing and fun car!
Thanks for taking the time to give us a good looksee at your Spitfire. I've loved Spitfires since I was a kid in the '60s. They may not be particularly powerful or fast, but they're still fun and about the coolest looking cars there are. They're about as close to riding a nice old thumping British motorcycle as you can get on four wheels. For right now, you'd do well to give that rusty area under the brake main cylinder a good thorough scub ASAP with a few nice tough oily rags to slow down the rust until you can attend to it properly, or it will very quickly get much worse. My hunch is brake fluid was spilled there, which is a corrosive paint remover.
That being said - many times I now see - I love older British cars. My stepfather ran a USA BL dealership in the mid 70’s, and before then we owned a series of Jags, Triumphs and MGs. My first car was a MkIII Sprite. Take good care of that lovely little Spitfire.
Thank Chad. Nice to see my current obsession in working order. I'm looking to buy a 1975 Spitfire that's not currently running. Anyway, enjoyed seeing it on the road. Thanks!
That shade of blue for a Spitfire is so pretty, it takes my breath away.
I remember when those first came out, great looking little sports car. Yours seems to be in really good condition for its age, take care of it, and if there is any way, keep it, as you get older you will be glad you did.
Amazing that the paint has survived, I have a 1964 Triumph Spitfire mk1 really love it!
I currently own a 1978 Spitfire with 128,00 miles on it and it runs great! It is my third Spitfire. As far as your dash goes, it IS real wood veneer(walnut) sandwiched together. The out layer(s) often crack with age. The stains around the master cylinders are due to brake/clutch fluid leakage which is a common problem on Spitfires. As far as the odometer goes, it WILL turn over to 00,000 when it hits 100,00 miles; I know, mine did. These cars developed 57 horsepower from their 91 cu engines.
Apart from if you are going on long journeys, who needs a radio in a fantastic little sports car like that... You are lucky, keep up the good work with keeping it on the road
First car in 85 was a 75 spitfire....$500. No car since has handled so beautifully. Cornered like a slot car. Good times!
pretty good vid, came here researching my future first vintage car, left satisfied. keep it on!
joehladik I'm glad you got what you wanted out of the video! If you have any questions about them, let me know!
Great job with a great Spitfire! I a long history with Spitfires, still have two. I can tell you are understating your knowledge of them, but let me help on a few items. First, don't lift the bonnet by the latch, hold it by the wheel well arch. You will see the point at once. Next, the dash is actually wood, I think a walnut species, but do know it can't be matched now, and I have unusually good wood sources. It's finish is cracking a bit, depending on how deep, it may be repairable. Ask an accomplished wood worker or furniture repair expert for advice, I mean an excellent one, high end stuff. It is not worth pulling the dash apart over yet. It can be refinished, use nice laquer,
Overdrive is likely wiring or wrong fluid. There are good web pages on the overdrive. If it is the switch, make your own and epoxy it into the old cap. The new ones are junk.
Joe curto on long island for su carbs is the only carb choice if you need anything there, he does zeniths also. The european cast header with double pipes is great, use 2 inch pipe to a nice turbo muffler if you need an exhaust. Sorry everyone, Monza is trash. Have a craftsman exhaust guy fix it up nice, it's worth it.
When you get the alignment worked out, you won't believe how good that car is.
Teglerizer.com!
Then, whatever else you do, keep it the rest of your life!
Sorry for the long windednes
Great advice.
A proper reality check.. Install SU carbs and no Monza
I had a ‘78- essentially the same car but it didn’t have the overdrive. I still miss that car. So much fun.
Had Spit years ago. Loved it to bits.
I enjoyed your video; thank you! I have a Yellow 1500, produced in 1980 and still having the chrome bumpers. It's been tuned to 92 bhp at 4,500 revs and is such fun to drive. You have to be careful in the wet, because the back end is very frisky!! Reckon you should fit a twin stainless steel exhaust: sounds amazing, particularly on over run!
Sweet spitfire. I enjoy mine every chance I get too. There are a few magazines you can get any part you'll ever need. Keep up with the spitfire vids. 👍👍
Well done video. I'm a mgb owner about your age and understand the passion. Wish there were more British classic car owners out there. They dont know the fun they are missing.
Beauty! A '72 Spit mkIV was my first "proper" car w-a-a-y back in '77 when I was 19...great for impressing the girls! When the 1500 came out I was green with envy...also you are right about the 5 digit odometer as cars were expected to blow up by 80,000 miles in those days. I remember seeing my first car with a 6 digit one (a VW Golf I think - would be those efficient German - huh!) and it was a source of wonder.
Here in England that fear lives on - any car with anywhere near 100K on the clock has it's value plummet even though modern cars easily handle 150, 200, 250k miles...My current MINI has 179k and runs like new!
Glad to see young people enjoying and restoring Spitfires and this one looks great. Keep up the good work there! I've had my Spitfire since I was 16, my first car, and I still have it 37 years later thru time in the Navy, college, and other life issues. Two years ago I bought an '80 that runs but needs work and last year I bought another '80 in better shape that was parked for 25 years and only has 11k miles. Yes the odometer rolls over back to zero and continues. The dash is wood with a wood veneer on top that cracks with age and wear (replacements available). The brake and clutch master cylinders must have leaked (common issue) and the fluid ruins the paint, so w/o paint the rust comes. Their control levers come with rubber covers that fit into those slots, see parts companies. Lots of British car shows and clubs in your state and nearby, so when you finish college, you'll be able to get out and have fun. See North American Spitfire Squadron and Spitfire Enthusiast group on Facebook. Cheers!
My girlfriend bought a 66 spitfire and it was the first engine I ever rebuilt, never missed a beat after the rebuild. I then found a 64 for 150bucks and rebuilt that one. A friend of mine had a 68 gt6 he sold me for $500 in about 1973, and I used if for a daily driver for awhile before embarking on a restoration. went thru the engine, Trans and Rear end, did paint, and bogged down on the seats and interior. So I've owned it going on 50 years. They are fun cars, I don't get in and out of them as well as I used to.
Awesome car. Glad to see it in appreciative hands. I had to chuckle on the 2 keys, one for the trunk explanation. Sometimes I forget about the time that has passed and newer generations would not have had experience with that. Keep up that enthusiasm, the Spitfire's longevity depends on you. Cheers
Two keys. Almost all cars had two keys back then. My 1974 Jag XJ6 has four keys, door key, trunk, gas caps and ignition key.
Forgot to mention, my ‘69 GT6+ has only one key for doors, ignition and tailgate.
Really fun to drive up & down California coast. Had a '77 1500 Spitfire Inca yellow with black racing stripes and walnut steering wheel. Very maneuverable - turning radius only ~33 ft. During gas crunch, appreciated 29 mpg. Car was so low, you could fit under the bed of tractor trailers. Bad electrical system experiences. Started up one day and fried electrical wiring. While parked, battery overheated and spilled acid. Top of ignition switch exploded one day when a lightly staked retaining cover let go which held a large compression spring in place. Throttle spring failed while driving down a residential street and throttle went wide open. Getting into reverse was tricky. I installed an LED indicator light to show when it was in gear before engaging clutch. Sadly, a steel hauling truck ran into it while parked at a stop light and totaled car.
Triumph had great ads for the car in magazines like Playboy and beautiful sales brochures. I have framed copies of the adverts. Car appeared in some episodes of the Avengers. I have some nice scale models of this car and these do not require maintenance! Still wish I had this car.
Spitfire turning circle is same as Herald, around 23 or 25 feet. The steering is one of its finest features
It's actually 24'
I appreciate your video as l too have a 77. I've been planning on selling it but getting to take a ride in yours has my wheels turning. Might decide to keep it.
Great survivor Spitfire. Unrestored is best when the paint still looks that good. They are only original once. The odometer will roll over to zero after hitting 99,999 miles. Cars form 1970's and older typically only had a five digit odometer, because cars were thought to be worn out at that point. Thanks for showing the car, it reminds me of a Spitfire my friend had back in the early 80's when we were in high school.
GearheadTed Thank you sir, the car sure does mean a lot to me! Also, thank you for sharing that information! Like I said, I doubt it'll ever hit 99,999 miles!
Chad Miller have you thought about swapping it and giving it a new life? I saw one on the local CL with a Buick 3.8. I would go for an all aluminum 4 cyl maybe k series.
Cool car man I also have 79 triumph spitfire 1500
GearheadTed just bought 2 '73 '75. family member past great deal everyone says I'm the one to do it all right or close to it. I'd like more look at engine compartment side shelds
@@chadmiller7033 You might be surprised! I had a 65 Spit which I owned twice (with refurbishment in between), and it got to 75,000 before the speedometer cable broke and I couldn't keep track of mileage anymore. I feel sure it got to 100k before the tin worm killed it.
Amazing those US cars always had those emission control systems already back in those days. The engine also only had 1 carb, that teally astonishes me! In Europe they are twin-carb.
However, good review and nice car!
Wow. This is a great Spitfite. Just as fun as an italian sports exotic or whatever to drive those twisted roads. Great little car as the Triumphs were
I had a 74 1500 I bought in Scotland when I was in the US Navy. Loved it.
I had a1970 Brown Spitfire back in 1972, great car especially during the spring thru early fall. Use to drive it upstate NY, to the Hamptons and NYC.
My first 2 cars were Spits... I have never gotten the love for them out of my blood, even after 46 years!! Nice car, young man!! Enjoy!!
I rebuilt a '78 1500 in the Uk. No emission mods and no rubber bumper insets, so probably more lively than the US models. Great fun to drive. When you started it up sounded just like mine. Good VLOG 👍
My brother had a 78 and I loved driving it.
Love these cars, had a 78 and still regret selling it when kids came along. enjoy it!
Thanks
Takes be back to my 69 blue mgb
And a co-worker had a lime green spitfire
Great car and video. The Triumph and MG Midget 1500 have the same engine and normally the engine cover would be silver as standard. The Speedometer will roll over and start again. The front suspension from this model was used and adapted in Lotus Elan and Europa for the precise steering and handling. Its a nicely maintained and original car and a good video.
A Spitfire Mk. 4 was my first car. So much fun and so simple to work on. Pure enjoyment in driving without masses of electronic driver aids. In the past, the car most likely had a leak(s) from the clutch and brake master cylinders, this caused the Blue paint in that area to be eaten away. If it was not completely de-contaminated and quickly repainted, the sheet metal would start to rust. The seals in both of these master cylinders from a quality/durability standpoint left a lot to be desired. These leaks happened to me and were a constant source of angst ! Never the less, a wonderful car to have some fun with on a winding road. I hope you keep it for may more years. The parts supply is quite good so you should be able to get most of what you need to keep it on the road for a reasonable amount of money.
Thanks for reminding me of my youth! Back before there were Miatas (great car, BTW), MR2s, Datsun Zs, and RX7s...the Brits ruled the sports car world. Look up a youtube video Clarkson's Car Years - Who Killed The British Motor Industry? to find out what happened. Sad story of the death of lot of great cars. My brother had a MG Midget and my father had 2 TR4s so I know those old Brit sports cars were era defining. Great video!
I used to have a Spitfire 1500 which was the 30th to last one off the production line here in the UK. I drove it in all weathers and worked on it myself including welding and panel beating. I loved that car but they eat parts and I had to get rid of it before it bankrupted me. Nice video and some great memories.
Mine was a month before production ended I named it the last.
I had a 75 with factory hard top and overdrive, I loved that car, it was so much fun to drive. Also had a 64 and a 78. I'd love to have another. On the highway using overdrive I was getting 40 Mpg.
Rolls over to Zero for the miles.. What a car.. Looking to buy one. Great Video guy
Of course!!!&I don't need 11minutes to know😂thanx for the video👍it rolls over and starts at zero again
Today I bought a 1976 spitfire:)). I can’t wait to work on it. My father bought my first one after high school. I just couldn’t let the memories go.
Nice car TB. I'm looking for one of those too.
Nice video lovely car used to work for a BL dealer many years ago here in Britain always liked the Spitfire. My friend owned the Triumph Dolomite Sprint when we were kids.You mentioned the odometer when it gets to 99999 well i belie it goes to 00000 and starts over. Take care Darren.
Glad you are enjoying you Triumph Spitfire, do get that bulkhead brake fluid damage sorted soon, otherwise it is looking good in Original paint. Here in the Uk, I had a 1976 Spitfire 1500 in Tahiti blue, which I think yours may be, back in the early 80's, loved it.
I was a passenger in a UK spec 1500 Spitfire in the early eighties. Definitely a fun car to drive around in.
I had three spitfires in my youth, absolutely fun cars, we always flashed fellow spit drivers
Great job! Glad to hear you worked on it with your dad. Very cool car, good thing you know how to work on it however, Late 70’s weren’t exactly BL glory days...
Your video reminded me of my 1500 spitfire, it was a real lemon car and although I bought it brand new, I sold it after less than a year in my possession. The color was mimosa yellow and also had a hardtop for the Northern European climate. After that I bought a TR6 and was more happy with that car.
I have a 1979 Spitfire. Same rust under the master cylinder (which I also had to replace). I open the hood the same way. Same tap on the tach to make it work. I even have the same shudders in the vehicle as it gets up to speed.
My first car was a 1971 Spitfire bought in 1977 for £500. Drove it year round with the roof down as long as it wasn't raining. Enormous fun. You just needed to watch out for that back wheel tucking under suddenly. The front trunnion stripped about half a mile from home. Managed to clamp it up with an enormous G clamp from my dad's. Good job the road home was fairly straight. You certainly get to know their weaknesses.
I loved how you could step over either of the front wheels and sit on the tire while working on it. Stylish, Italianate looking sports car which was very affordable.
Had a IV & TR7
Loved 'em
I had a 76 Spitfire 1500. Had a Borla exhaust and Webber side draft carbs on it. Loved the car, it was a real head turner, ran real nice. Had to sell it when I got married in 1982.
Brian Toncray Wow, I bet that did turn heads with that Borla exhaust on it! What a car, thank you for sharing that with me! It's too bad you had to sell it, it's a great car to drive around with your partner!
Why'd you have to sell it? Raise a responsible kid and you don't have to buy their first car! Pull it out of the garage, clean it, put a new fuel pump, coil, HEI distributor/converter, water pump, and carburetor in it, and you have an overly reliable, not too powerful but not too pussyfooted first car.
@paul austin You obviously never drove one. It was a chick magnet.
The firewall rust is from brake fluid leaks. I too have a '77 Spitfire, though mine has a '69 1296cc dual-carb engine in it. Small, but more power. We are both lucky to have overdrive - VERY rare option in the US. The overdrive unit is the same as that used in Volvos. The O/D issue is probably just the wiring, they are very robust when bolted to only ~70hp.
I've owned mine for 27 years- still just as fun as day one!
Still have my 75 maroon....only now it's got a 22R and 5 speed.
Nice video of a nice car! I never owned a Triumph but I've owned three MGs (an MGB and two Midgets), two Fiats (an X1/9 and a Spider 2000), and I've owned my second Datsun 240Z now for more than 20 years). It's a bit of an addiction...
I can tell you, your dashboard is genuine wood veneer. They do tend to crack with age.
Hiya I have the whealer dealer spitfire it's having an engine rebuild at the moment, great video
Nice vid chad and a smashing spit, I have had my spit for four years a 74 in light yellow no rust either I’m pleased to say tax exempt and now as from this year MOT exempt £91.00 for fully comp and fun to drive, my only gripe is parking in tight spaces as there’s no power steering so I feel I’m putting pressure on her, have fun and make more vids, ya could get a club going and have some meet ups.
Fine British car. Truly GOBBING bumpers though!
I have a 1500 too in UK. Great fun car. Real driving. Open top too.
Cool car. I have a rust free one myself, that is going back on the road this summer. They run great, easy to get parts for,, and you don't see many of them on the road any longer.
Get some kind of rust inhibitor under that master cylinder! Gorgeous car!
I had a 1980 when I was in my 20s. Not to split hairs with you, but I think the black plastic bumpers were only used in 79 and 80. Yours is nice.
I have a '78 and the last year of chrome bumpers. And she drives beautifully and looks the same.
This car was a street legal go-cart. It was the most fun I've ever had driving a car.
And its Michelotti lines were as sexy as anything on the road, then or even now.
A total classic.
The best part of driving this car: you could actually feel the grain of the road under your ass, while also feeling the car around you.
Twisty, windy roads that change elevation is where these little gems shine.
'77 Triumph Spitfire on back roads is as pure a driving experience as one can have.
I LOVED my '77 Spit.
Bucket list item: drive a mint-condition restoration Spit in retirement.
I'd better get busy.
Yes love cars like yours....its not the money.....its about have fun...so many can get a nice funny car 😁👍
had an aunt in ireland in the 70's who drove a purple spitfire. i was very young but fun (and somewhat scary) memories as a passenger with her back when it was new. lots of MG's and alpha and fiat spiders back then. also knew someone with a stag, which was like a bigger spitfire. they used to be in almost every tv show and movie back then, also. great to see some of them still on the roads.
Sounds like some fond memories! I really miss all of those old roadsters!
coelho sports I can relate to your childhood memories, I experienced the same things as well! I loved riding passenger in whatever cool car my grandfather had at the time. He is a gear head just like I am! We actually have a very intense MGA project we are currently working on. Thank you for sharing!
Stag also had a V-8 engine and quad headlights. Factory roll bar. Tons of fun. Also, based on the spitfire, was a fastback hardtop, called the GT6. Had an inline six cylinder! I had both offerings, as well as several Spits. The Spit handled best of the trio. The GT6, the poorest, I am surmising due to the heavier weight/location of the bigger engine. The Stag was just a blast.
Don't care for trucks but this video was good. I will hopefully be in the market, soon, to start looking for my own Spit. Thanks for the great video!
Best of luck!
Hi Chad,
Here in the UK, the Spit (I think) is under rated. They are such fun to drive and are the best looking of the british budget sports cars. I love my 1500 which was very much a hobby car of the previous owner. I dealt with the cosmetics and now looks like a new car. I'd advise you to get the overdrive fixed, it makes the ride even more pleasurable. Enjoyed your video. Keep driving your Spit and have fun!
Unlikely to be a serious problem with the overdrive , probably there is an electrical solution . Fix the problems when they occur otherwise the mountain just gets bigger .
I consider them to be underrated in the US as well, in comparison to other (similar) cars sold in the same era
I had a 1977 Brooklands Green that vibe from 2nd to 3rd is the best.
Loved this!
I just picked up a 79 spitfire, and have taken the dash apart. I chipped off that plastic top layer, and will place a walnut burl veneer on top. I compared that to buying a new hard wood dash kit, and think that's the best way to get the exact grain and wood finish.
Great video👍🏽
Beautiful color and car.
The quality of anything rubber in those days was far less than we have now. I would replace all rubber hoses hoses, and brake & clutch rubbers seals in the master and wheel cylinders. And as mention use DOT 5 brake & clutch fluids. Also find out the best fully synthetic oils to use in the engine and gearbox. Penrite do synthetic oil for older cars. Use latex radiator hoses as they will outlast the car.
Also find out the best combination of tyres/dampers, fitting quality performance dampers. The road holding will improve.
It's nice to see the younger generation appreciate the car for what it is ( a roadster) not a hot rod.
I've had 4 roadsters a 65 datsun fairlady in 68 to 70 a 72 Tr6 in 78 79 a 79 mgb 94 to 2007 and now at 75 i have a 91 Miata for the last7 years.
I also had a 69 Fiat 124 coupe i bought new and a 72 Mgbgt 08 12.
Once get bit by the roadster bug you are hooked!
I like that blue.
Owned a red 1.
Barn find that I traded a '76 F150 4X4 for it.
Let's see, I had two. Your first impression is always being amazed at just how much room there is in it compared to how it looks on the outside.The stock vehicle had the side draft Stromberg carb that you have to put oil in. I remember stalling out once too many times and having to adjust the floats which are in the bottom of the thing. All spitfires have electrical problems and almost all of my fuses were made out of blown ones wrapped in aluminum foil. I had fun replacing the rear leaf spring... there's only one for both wheels. The thing I loved the most is that when you're driving it, it feels like its a part of your body, or you're a part of it. I remember getting stuck in snow one winter and it's so light being able to get out, lift the back of the car up and move it over. I remember getting it into 4/6th and not wanting to ever shift back out of it - GET YOUR OVERDRIVE fixed-you won't regret it. I gradually went up to TR7s & 8s, sold them after restoring them, but will always remember my first spitfire. The dash is real wood, but thin over particle or plywood.
You appear to have been the wrong owner for the Spitfire.
@@jeffhildreth9244 We knew each other from Barberton Ohio?
Very cool car and great review. Taco or not.
Back in the day I have one of these 1500 in the same shade of blue. It was my first car and I loved it such a shsme when I smashed it into a tree!
Beautiful and rare classic, take care of that rust it quickly spreads and will become serious before you realize, even if you just spread some rust converter over it but do something to contain it👍👌👍
Chad that is a nice Survivor 1977 Triumph Spitfire built during the Golden Age of less regulations for cars. These cars can be easily rebuilt and restored. I also own a vintage 1978 Cessna 152 aircraft built June 1977, 40 years also. I like this occasional detour from our 3rd gen. Tacomas
Mine with 1900 miles after 4 months, not the daily driver, hopefully a future survivor Tacoma
Ross Hernaez I also enjoy taking detours from the Toyota/truck world. This car is a very pure experience for me because it tells a story, and it's heard loud and clear. I wonder if I'll have the Tacoma in 30 or so years to be able to talk about it!
They were a very pretty little car for the year, and she is a credit to you, there is no need for masses of power to have fun in these cars and you will spoil the character if you upgrade the Engine too far, they were designed to be affordable with gas and purchase Tax, Look after her, Regards from the UK
Robert Kirk Thank you, Robert! I completely agree with you. I would very much like to keep the 'ol Spit as original as possible. I've been back and forth about putting a Miata motor/gearbox in, but I always come back to wanting to keep it original. I think I'd rather it be that way for as long as I have the car. Cheers from the USA.
NO! NO! NO! Mazda engine, you have to understand that if/when you're done with this little car, the only people wanting it will be collectors, and with them, it's "Originality" all the way, besides your will ruin the Character of the car and soon get bored with NOT having to "Bumps start" it in the winter,
Keep working on it a little at a time getting it as good as you can for the money and avoid the temptation to modernize it.
well done and look after the old girl, Regards
A message to Triumph...
Build the Spitfire again!
Same body style...up graded 4 cyl. EFI engine & interior gauges, of course...
It is a shame that production ended...
This is a classic design.
Bring it back!
I owned a 1971 Spitfire. if the electrical was better I would have kept it longer, after that Triumph I stuck with the larger TR4, 250 and TR6... all are fun to drive. Enjoy the Drive
Really cool sport car I like the the windows up with no frame around them. It looks like way back your master cylinder leaked that cause the rust under the brake & clutch cylinders. That type of fluid really rust everything out. Bad ass nice car. Thanks
Nick Freyermuth Yes, I believe that's what happens to it, unfortunately. One day I'll get that cleaned up and looking good again! She's not fast, but she is bad ass!
Chad, you are really gonna want to clean up the rust around the brake master. Need not look great, but you wanna stop the rust.
I have owned two Spitfires, a 1965 and a 1979.
The missing belt is for the air pump and is not needed as your car likely not requires emissions testing.
The overdrive is electric and likely has an issue in the switch or wiring. Very common problem.
You are also missing some trim rings for your wheels :)
Todd Quigley Yes, that rust is the next thing on the list to take care of. You are correct, I misspoke. Either way it's not necessary because this car won't be getting emissions tested! I have already checked all of the electrical connections, including the switch, and they are solid, so I'm thinking a sticking solenoid or low oil level in the unit. More investigation will solve this! I wasn't aware I was missing any trim for the wheels, as I haven't had another car to compare it to! Thanks for your comment!
Glad to hear back Chad! The sticking solenoid is where I would look first as well, my '79 had the same issue. I look forward to more vids!
yeah, brake fluid makes a good paint stripper and not something you want to leave leaking
My first car in 1977 was a 1970 Triumph GT6. Took corners like it was on rails. Had to trade it because it would just die going down the road. Then restart five minutes later. Nobody could (or was able to) fix it. Needed something reliable to get me to and from work and night school. Now, with the internet and triumph forums, I'm pretty sure I know what was doing it. Dang, I still miss that car.
A lucky lad to have that car sitting in your garage. Like several commentators in the comments section, I too regret letting go of my Mk 4 Spitfire I picked up for £150 way back, when I was about 20 years old. That would have been about 1984. The Spitfire front coil over springs have grease points. They're called King Pins. Look for the grease nipples on yours and give them a squirt of grease. At 40 years old, 7 years in your ownership, they've probably never had a squirt of grease, and they'll wear. Expensive to replace. The overdrive issue is probably just electrical at the gearbox end. The radio I'd reough wire direct to the battery to prove it works before getting involved in why it doesn't in the dash,. Fix that rust under the brake and clutch cylinders before it 'fixes' your wallet with a big bill for a rusted out panel that now needs welding.
The reason for the later models having that big ugly black bumper instead of the chrome is again American safety legislation to improve the 'crumple' protection for the occupants. Much like the Emissions legislation robbed you of the power from the engine, the black bumper and safety legislation was another nail in the coffin detracting from the looks of the car, that resulted from it being withdrawn from the market.
The Fiat X1/9, a miniature mid engined sports car also suffered with this bumper issue. Actually so did the MG's as well. That's why they lost their chrome bumpers.
Thanks for the great video.
Love the car, I had 2 back in the day. Mine was in worse shape than yours - with the miles you eventually see a small stress crack develop in the front - each of two valleys between the headlamp bump and the central flat area, just behind the alloy headlamp molding. I suppose its the cumulative effect of lots of flexing, some kind of stress effect. On mine the rear spring had settled leading to a slightly lower rear ride height. I fitted adjustable armstrong shocks and the handling/roadholding improved considerably. These days people fit ford zetec engines but I prefer the original.
Hi there. Enjoyed the video. I had a '77 Spitfire in the UK. It was yellow and wonderful. And amazingly rusty.
A couple of comments on the video. My guess is the rust around the master cylinder was caused by someone spilling brake fluid when topping it up. It's a very effective paint stripper.
Next comment - if you are beginning to see signs of rust, watch the inner sills - the metal panels on the inside below the doors - like a hawk. All the stresses of the not very stiff chassis are transmitted through those sills and you go over bumps and around corners. That's whats taking the load with all that scuttle shake. That kind of load promotes corrosion, but British Leyland kindly glued carpets over the sills, so the first you know of the rust down there is when you see it bubbling through the outer sills below the doors and behind the front wheelarches on the outside. By that time your inner sills are shot to bits and you have yourself a welding job. I speak from experience.
If you want to get a little more "poke" out of your engine you'd do worse that fit a Kenlowe or similar cooling fan. It's electric and there's plenty of room in front of the radiator. It works on a thermostat and you'll only hear it "on" for half the time or less. It's worth 1 or 2 HP not having the engine turned fan.
FInally, get that overdrive sorted. It's absolutely brilliant. Especially for overtaking. Cruising along in 4 + O/D. Come up behind a truck or slow car. Down to 3 + O/D which is fairly much like 4th.Then your opportunity comes and flick the switch and it's just the same as having a paddle gear change in a supercar. (without the power of course) But you do have the instant extra torque from the extra revs with no clutch to think of. It's lovely.
Have fun! I'm jealous.
Finally, the obvious. If a brake or clutch master cylinder leaked that much you would have problems with the brake or clutch. This is caused by over filling.. or some amateur genius worked on the brakes and did not drain/siphon out the fluid before working on it. Biggest problem with Brit cars are the wrong owners and blow hard independent "British Car Specialists".
Miss my 76 Spitfire..restored it then had to sell it to buy a house..now many years later I'm restoring a 1200 convertible Herald 👍
Weird seeing a left hand drive model 😵
Excellent car.. Heralds are superb and fun.