A Spit is way better in the winter with the bolt on steel top. Of course the window seals will always still leak at the top. You forgot to say the great thing about them is Cheep Parts. Clutch master and slave are about $130 delivered.
Karl Porath real winter driving is pretty much out for me in New England, as I would rather not have it rust out in two years 😂 I have definitely looked into a hardtop, and I do love how affordable the parts are. Really helps the college student budget. That and doing it all myself really keeps the cost down.
I’ve got a 72 with the hardtop. Would recommend. Having gone through two engines at this point... I’m about to toss a rotary in there instead. Great story and keep motoring!
Drove a Spitfire everyday going to college. 30 minute commute every day. Sophomore year, felt clutch going soft about 5 minutes into commute. Barely made it home. Pulled the transmission, borrowed parents car and bought new clutch kit from local dealer. had it all back together and running great before Monday. Still have the car today nearly 30 years later.
Had one as a daily for a year, back in the eighties (when parts from the wreckers were dirt cheap and everywhere readily available, even off the Island) and should have done just that exactly.
Great story Peyton and congrats on landing the Genius Garage internship. Everyone needs to spend some real time with a miserably unreliable car at some point. Glad you are getting it out of the way early!
Hey Ed, running out of gas isn't the car, neither is not being able to find reverse. And after 40 years I'd say a clutch cylinder seal is surely allowable as a service item. So why the video title? This guy had a lot of fun and got a lot of attention for his money in a nice car and could probably get his money back if he sold the car. Sounds like a shrewd deal to me.
@@0KiwiStyles0 Non specific generalisation. Spoken like the driver of a boring new Honda on finance. My point was there is no evidence in the video for misery or unreliability in this case. Quite the contrary on both counts.
@@AndyWWW I'll forgive your nonsensical assumption of what I speak like/drive. There does not need to be evidence in the video to back up the fact there is no such thing as a British sports car that is reliable. I'd even stretch that to this day. The British are not known for their sports car reliability, they have made some beautiful awesome and very capable vehicles yes but have they been reliable? no. Especially a triumph spitfire, to ever even insinuate that car is reliable is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.
@@0KiwiStyles0 If you title a video to suggest that a specific car is unreliable and miserable you DO need evidence in the video or it is just clickbait. All old/classic cars need work sometime. No evidence that this one was a tragedy or miserable or even unreliable given its age. Ed should man up and apologise to Peyton's Spitfire before it sues him.
This could not ring more true. I once took a bus to California to buy a TR7 for $350. It took so long to get back home, I had to get a part time job in the town I broke down in just to earn enough extra money for parts.
Nothing to write home about, that's young lads in old Brit wrecks 101. 😂 (Does work equally with Italian or German classics. Only cars that never let me down once were french.)
@@manfredschmalbach9023 There's a rare thing to see in the Internet. Someone saying they had old French car that doesn't let you down.. I agree, I have one myself..
@@jgoncalodm I had several Citroën DS, GS and CX, 404 and 504 Peugeots as well as J11 and J63 Matras, most of those cheaply bought, heavily used workhorses well into six figures km. All excellent cars, I would take each of 'em again every day. Spities, MGs and other BLMC cars not so much ... besides the 1000 Mini; the latter loves You back when You love it.
@@MitYsLiM how reliable is it? What kind of mileage gets per gallon (or liter)? I wanted one for a long time and now they are getting expensive here, i feel like is a now or nevwe kind of situation
@@markchip1 never heard anyone mention it just keep the clutch pedal pressed down and it will just keep standing there. Also don't think it will harm the car since I've never heard anyone mention it's a thing you must do. Think it's just depended on the region you live in. And to be honest if the clutch is breaking you need to replace it anyway.
When I rolled my Subaru back in ‘00 I was looking to get into a muscle car. I called a dealer and he was like “come on down I have a spitfire”. I didn’t know what one was at the time. I can’t describe how disappointed I was expecting a “muscle car”, but it was a really fun drive...AFTER I figured out how to get it into reverse
1.5x playback everything - thank me later I have my own channel for them already. That story is coming soon. And yes, I was on a 3 masted clipper ship in the North Sea. :)
Peyton British cars are the only vehicles that can out VW a VW when it comes to being "tinker toys". Just be careful with that push button electronic over drive. I've had several experiences with MGB's & that monster gremlin over the years, including my friends maroon 78 MGB bursting into flames because of that evil button.
You know, these cars get a bad rap. Five years ago I restored a 1959 Triumph TR3. I did the alternator conversion, put in a new wiring harness, a high torque starter, and a few other upgrades that are highly suggested. It is as reliable as a Toyota Camry. No kidding. I drive it all the time.
My first car was a 1979 MGB. Drove it to and from high school every single day that it would start. it had a bad radiator, a bad starter, wiring problems that would make even the most skilled lucas electronics technician cry, and rust all along the rear fender beads. But that car meant the world to me and whenever it broke it gave me and my dad an opportunity to bond and fix it, and driving it was a blast.
My father had a 78' that he drove for about 10 years and it never broke down on him. He claims you had to be under the hood every day oiling the carb actuators, and other things, but he loved the crap out of it. Drove it with the top down in the winter all the time, as long as he had the tonneau cover on it.
My dad raced British sports cars and motorcycles for years. Upon buying my first vintage Triumph bike I called him thinking he would be proud of me for carrying on a tradition. His exact words were: "Anytime you buy a piece of British engineering you do it for the love of the drive...and the walk...and the push. Remember that every hour you spend riding it will turn into 2 hours turning wrenches to get it back right." As is often the case, he was right. I love it anyway.
Why trailer the car everywhere and then expect to drive it once you get there?. If I spent all my money on a car I'd be driving it home for sure even if it was 18 hours.
asphalt_ cowboy77 spitfires have a pretty hard time doing much more than 60 mph for any length of time. They are fantastic fun for a backroads commute, but interstates are pretty much out.
Peyton McAllister agreed. All I can think of is in college I had a 1986 vanagon and it pretty much matches your comment to a T. Luckily I didn’t have to drive it super far.
Drew i trailered from nh to my home, a route that is about 3 times longer if one is to take the back roads/state routes. and then to Rhode island, which is about a 6 hour drive doing 80 on the interstate, also had to bring everything I needed to move into a house for college. My family owns a truck so towing isn’t really a major problem an makes otherwise long and potentially dangerous journeys quite a bit easier ☺️
Haha my first car was and I still have it, an MG midget. Right there with you. Both the best and worst decision ever. It was the most impractical daily ever but I drove it daily to highschool in Wisconsin my entire senior year. That car made me into who I am. Ive hade two radiators explode, hoses blow off, brakes fail 100 percent, and drove it 10 miles using first and the kinda working parking brake to stop as much as I could. Made me persistent, and also taught me how to improvise some crazy stuff to get home. In the winter when it got below 16 Fahrenheit the car wouldn't get up to temperature, because it has no thermostat. I had the carbs tuned so rich it wouldn't drive unless the engine was up to temperature. One day at school the temperature dropped to zero and I couldn't get it to even idle, so I went into the art room and got as many tools as I could find and managed to find a few screw drives and a small socket set some cardboard and tape. Cut out a piece of cardboard to cover the radiator. Still freezing cold took off the whole front grille off and taped the cardboard in and put it back together and it stayed like that till spring. Such a wild but wonderful experience
I actually love the Triumph Spitfire. I grew up with them in my family and have been looking for one to rebuild as a daily driver car so my Vette doesn't get beat up. They're actually very fun little cars.
I love it when you bring stories of younger people and their first experiences with cars. I think that I enjoy them so much because I can relate. I think that most of us can. Videos like these along with my own experiences of meeting young people like those that you've highlighted make me confident of one thing. Car people are the best. Thank you......again
Mine was a '67 MGB, several friends had MG's and all of us had to learn how to do roadside repairs. That said, it was pretty reliable. Love the old British Leyland cars!
I have a fairly similar story regarding a British car I used to own. I was looking for a Triumph TR6 but in the pre-internet year of 1986 I was basically relegated to local newspaper and printed auto buyers guide ads. No TR6’s locally for sale. In my daily travels I just happen to notice this small red British looking roadster in a residential driveway with a for sale sign on it. I stopped and was introduced to the 1979 MGB. The stories then continued for the next 2 years and to this day I miss that car.
Happy Monday Ed! Great Monday video. I have always loved the Spitfire, TR6 and Austin Healey 3000. Never had the guts to own one myself due to worry about maintenance costs. My "British car from the 60's" is a 2000 Miata. Have a great week everyone!
David Roddick spitfires certainly require a lot of tlc but parts are relatively inexpensive compared to any modern car. And the car is so easy to work on it is a great place to practice one’s mechanical skills
I own a 73 spitfire and I’m 17, I couldn’t have a more reliable car for the money and insurance. Its TAX exempt, MOT exempt. I’m 6"4 and I fit in it perfectly. Although it isn’t the most reliable car and 1 in every 30 journeys end up with the bonnet up somewhere, it is the easiest car to work on and triumph made it knowing things were going to go wrong so they made nearly everything accessible It I were to pick a title it would be ‘My first car I love and Hate equally.
I have a spitfire MKIV as a toy, because these cars are meant for that. Now, I have a brand new daily driver. Nonetheless, I wouldn't chance my Spitfire for recreational purposes and auto shows. I love it.
My first car was a 1976 Spitfire with the steel hard top. Honestly, I loved that car, and used to drive every weekend from Maryland to Massachusetts to visit my parents. It never once let me down, and mine didn't come stock with the fancy over drive like this guys. My parents were also not in favor of my choice of transportation, but it set the trend for me for life. I have never been bored with cars due to that first "mistake" and choosing to go out on a limb. Except for that time I bought a two year old plymoth horizon for $600.00......
I loved daily driving my 77 Spitfire to school after passing my test. Everyone else with the usual tiny engined hatchbacks. Of course in the uk learning to drive in a manual helped. Biggest problem I had was a rear tire blow out kicking the rear end out on a rural road and clipping a rock. It was too low to fit the trolly jack under so ended up lifting and then using the spare wheel as a spacer to rest the chassis on while repositioning the jack! Only car I ever regret selling.
My father daily drove his TR6s (69, then 73) from when he bought them until he retired in 2011. I still have the 73. As long as you drive them regularly they are surprisingly reliable, and are easy to work on. Let them sit for more than say 6 months and you are asking for problems.
I just took the plunge on my first British roadster; a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite that needs one of everything. Managed to snag a free '69 Sprite to harvest the 1275 motor, transmission, and disc brakes from so I can increase my chances for survival. I lucked out on the '62 though; it has only one small spot of rust down the hell hole and requires minimal body work.
Great to hear another New Englander talking. I’ve been to Newport, great place. If you have the chance, visit Audrain Auto Museum and Newport Car Museum. Both amazing establishments with a great selection of cars to look at and take pictures of.
Should be titled, “why you should make sure you know what your doing before you buy an old car.” I’m not saying that the spitfire is reliable, I’m just saying the problems he had were no fault of the car but instead driver error.
I feel Peyton's pain. We've all been "there". A fool and his money are soon parted. Buying a Triumph Spitfire is akin to buying a Citroen 2CV or a Renault LeCar.I wonder if the push button overdrive in his Spitfire fried the electrics like it did in MGBs???
Most likely the cable going down the gear lever fried, it was a design fault, I have overdrive on my Triumph, but the overdrive switch is located elsewhere
I had a ‘74 which I drove daily for about 4 years. My father said “ son, you’re buying a hobby! But it will teach you more about mechanics than school will” he was right! I learned a lot from that car but it was easy to work on. The electrical system was a different story. Your clutch story made me laugh, I could fix the master or slave in about an hour from shut down to start up, even replaced the clutch on the side of the highway in about three hours. Never had a car that was as fun to drive after that, maybe when I retire?
Thanks for the story. I used to own a '79 Spitfire, it ended up costing me over double in what I paid for it in repairs, it was the worst car I ever owned and it was the best car I've ever owned. I still miss her.
Aw man sounds like my e46 M3 I had back in 2011 only I got dupped badly by a private party... Had only 90k miles was an '02 Before I knew how to thoroughly inspect M3s. Blew a "brand new tire" less than 30miles from purchasing it. After a bunch of maintenance issues, got it stolen. Stole it back. Raced a couple cop cars, Got kidnapped in it, Got shot at in it, Got my 1st public nudity ticket in it, Accidentally ran someone over in it(ex gf), Got maced for the 1st time in it, etc etc. Loved that car man thru thick and thin till I sold it @ 112k miles for 3k....... Worst decision I've ever made in my life.... It would turn out the lady I sold it to had a son and some other buddies that came to my house 2weeks later and cleaned out over 67 pairs of shoes, 13 hats, and my entire watch collection while I was home.... I mean they even took the crusty converses I mowed my lawn in. Left me with just the loafers I was wearing while I was in the garage... In less than 5mins flat and didn't even know it, I mean they caught them but gave a slap on the wrist.... So I later grabbed a rag, a lighter, and some gas... And made headlines in the local newspaper 😊😈
Jeez. You had essentially no problems. Master and slave cylinder replacement is dead easy. So is the starter motor. I had one of these and had to rebuild a lot of it including the engine because the thrust bearing wore out and the crank shaft gored into the block. It was my second car. My first was worse, a 1972 Fiat sport coupe. Would not start in cold weather without having to spray ether down the throat of the carburetor. Worse, it had mag wheels and because the car had lug bolts instead of nuts, the rear passenger side wheel just came off a couple times. Once when I was going 40 mph and the car came down on the brake disc and wore a flat side on it. Meanwhile the wheel goes flying across a thankfully empty shopping center parking lot.
B V yeah I mean, all in all so far it has been pretty good on that front. I have a whole laundry list of things to either fix or replace or upgrade but as it sits it works pretty well. Now that fiat sounds like a royal pain, must have been a lot of fun to drive though if it was worth the work
My father in law has 3 triumph show cars. They’ve been in magazines, cover of triumph mags,, won awards etc. I don’t know much about them compared to other cars. I’ve got to go handle and sell them this year as he’s beyond driving again. They’re beautiful. Looking forward to taking them out a little and checking them out before listing.
Awesome, glad you took a chance. My first car was a 1974 Triumph TR6, which I bought in 1981. Wish I still had it...but a couple of years ago, purchased a 2018 Mazda MX-5 and now I have a roadster that won't break down!
I drove a red '74 MGB when I was his age and in college. His stories are nearly identical to my experience 35 years ago! I knew nothing going into it but learned a lot about cars and had many great times along the way. His giddy laugh at the end is priceless.
My buddy's dad has a red Triumph TR6 and a baby blue TR3. His first car was a 70's Spitfire 1500, which was comparable to my 91 Mercury Capri (small, 1.5/1.6l engine, Fun Roadster/Concertible) and he still has it, although he DDs a Subie.
Can concur, had a 72 MG Midget as my first car - think I spent 1/3d of the time I owned it actually being able to drive it. Did teach me a lot about handling, as in "you're trying to kill me again, how do I handle *this*". I am actually British though, so at least I could raid scrapyards all the time for broken Marinas/Minis/etc. Will always put a manual car in neutral unless I'm literally about to move, doesn't take much to pop it back in gear. Except if it's a MG Midget with no synchromesh for 1st gear...
My friend spent years tinkering with his. Took it down the the Nurbergring with a few mates (Imprezas and Elises etc.). Sent me a picture when he got there... His spitfire was on a tow truck. Totally expected.
At age 16, bought a 1961 AH Sprite Mk I on July 1st 1975. No idea what my parents were thinking. I still have that car and will pass it down to my children one day. So many happy memories.
Hahah, sounds SO familiar, except mine was exactly the opposite: everything was rusted and 3 different colors, the interior was all mildewed/rotted, the dash split everywhere, the entire under-hood area was re-wired with one color of lamp cord (oddly, one of the only systems of the car that didn't require work) slipping clutch AND leaking master cylinder, and a loud rod knock. Just add 1 quart of gear oil and 3 quarts of motor oil to the engine. No problem. My $50 absolutely worn out '68 Spit. I absolutely loved it, despite its copious faults (cough... swing axle rear suspension... cough.). I learned to work on it, fixed the major needs, and kept it running for 4 years. I also had mine during my college years. And, yep, on more than one occasion, drunk chicks outside of college bars would just *get in* at stop lights and want to go around the block, literally, not figuratively. Ironically, my Spit ran ever. single. day. Pissed my Dad right off -- he'd just bought a brand new first-gen Escort that was a totally unreliable POS that simply wouldn't start in below-freezing weather.
Daily drove a ‘77 1500 for a few months. In Texas heat. Brakes went to the floor one day. Stalled at a major intersection one time due to heat. The 4 speed means it’s impossible to do anything over 50 and not destroy the engine. Oh…and it of course leaked oil all over my garage. Sold it and now I miss it and want another. The thing is if you can sort the car out and understand them. They are incredibly fun cars
I have owned and driven Triumphs since 1981, I have a saying, "Triumph didn't make cars, they made lifetime projects", but seriously if you get one, you first need to bring it back to good condition throughout, then you need to drive it, improve it, maintain it. Yes high maintenance, but low cost, and very easy to work on, although I highly recommend getting a workshop manual. You will get more smiles per mile than almost anything else. Oh, another saying, not mine, but very accurate, "A British car will make a mechanic out of an ordinary man". 😅
There's the shell of an old Triumph TR-7 on the roof of an auto shop in my town. My love for that strange little car is what got me inti Triumph. I'll never fit in one, but I can love them all the same.
Good way to start your car life!! Make sure your brakes are up to scratch. From experience with an old British sports car (Escort). You will end up in tears if you don't *sniff*
Worked on an old Spitfire and some old Mini's: The stuff ist real weird! Mechanical it's not as bad, but electrical they are a nightmare. There is a reason why Lucas is known as the prince of darkness.
A Mk II Spitfire, TR6, and a MK 3 GT6 were some of my first car lusts, I fell in love with each as soon as I saw them. I have never owned any of them, and I'm probably better off not having done so.
First car was a 1975 MGB. Constant maintence headache, finally got it sorted after a good year of effort. Driving on the interstate one day, crank seal blew and here went the engine. I can attest, British sports cars make terrible first cars. I learned my mistake and bought a Mini as my second car. 🤣
Great to hear you story. Think your spitty wasn't bad for the money, you just made some rookie stick shift mistakes (plus not checking the fuel level - many of us did that when new to driving!). . If you'd been brought up with manual gear change or learnt to drive in the UK you would have been taught that riding the clutch clutch is bad practice and damaging. Enjoy your Spitfire and learning new skills.
My first car was a 72 spitfire, I built with my Dad. East coast, ya needed an umbrella to run car on the norm. Sister learned to drive stick on it, and sold when we moved :(
As a teen in the 90s, I used to get the Old Car Trader at our local store whenever the latest debuted. I found a Jag XJ12 for $400. I’m gung ho for this thing until my dad pointed out how unreliable Jags are and how pricey parts are.
I got more tail in my Fiat x19 than probably all the other guys in my school combined. Also learned alot about working on cars because something was always wrong with it. Still loved that car. My dad ended up throwing it in with a set of new appliances at his small dealership, broke my heart.
I feel like buying an old British sports car as a first car is a bad idea, but in this case the car seemed very solid. If anything the takeaway from this story is ‘don’t buy a manual car if you don’t know how to drive manual’
I've owned a 76 Spitfire for a couple years now and it's been nothing but great to me. Trust me I don't go easy on it. I autocross it and daily it in the summertime. Yes I've had to do some work, but it's an old car, that's to be expected. Hell it's more reliable than my 76 Mercury Montego which is hilarious to me.
I had a ‘68 GT6 in my sophomore year of college. It was in perfect condition when I bought it. Two months later things started going wrong. I always tell people it was the only car I knew that fell apart around me while I was driving. And though I got rid of it decades ago I still love that beautiful piece of under-engineered shit.
I remember when I was a kid there was this neighbor of my family. He had a Spitfire and he was tinkering with it every other minute (probably had to). But boy that was a beautiful car. And I guess that's what hooked me up for small english Two-seaters.
Haha we've all had that "how bad could it be" moment. Mine was buying my first car as well...an 87 Mustang 5.0 5 spd that had been painted a lovely shade of Kraft macaroni and cheese orange. Ignored all the warning signs and the car was awful, but I shoved 150 horsepower worth of nitrous down it's throat constantly and it never did blow up.
Rhode Islander here. LOL at having to drive it in these horrendous, non-maintained roads while you were here at school.. That's why I stick with my Taurus, I wouldn't want to drive anything nice around here.
Seems like he cares more about “affluent” areas and how he looks in the car instead of just enjoying driving it around. As long as your happy who cares if your car fits in or how nice it is..
Bryce Ocain it does come off that way in the video but I promise you nothing could be further from the truth, I love driving the car for all of its faults, and believe me there are many 😂
Very grateful for the opportunity to share my story and join the amazing list of people who have been a part of this channel!
A Spit is way better in the winter with the bolt on steel top. Of course the window seals will always still leak at the top. You forgot to say the great thing about them is Cheep Parts. Clutch master and slave are about $130 delivered.
Karl Porath real winter driving is pretty much out for me in New England, as I would rather not have it rust out in two years 😂 I have definitely looked into a hardtop, and I do love how affordable the parts are. Really helps the college student budget. That and doing it all myself really keeps the cost down.
You are in great company Peyton! Loved you story! Keep working hard and learn everything you can! You will go far! Beautiful car!
I’ve got a 72 with the hardtop. Would recommend. Having gone through two engines at this point... I’m about to toss a rotary in there instead. Great story and keep motoring!
MGB time.
Drove a Spitfire everyday going to college. 30 minute commute every day. Sophomore year, felt clutch going soft about 5 minutes into commute. Barely made it home. Pulled the transmission, borrowed parents car and bought new clutch kit from local dealer. had it all back together and running great before Monday. Still have the car today nearly 30 years later.
replaced a spit clutch on the side of a state hi way during a snow storm
@@csi1392 Respect
I daily drove my spitfire for a week, I bought a Toyota that Friday....
Had one as a daily for a year, back in the eighties (when parts from the wreckers were dirt cheap and everywhere readily available, even off the Island) and should have done just that exactly.
I daily my MK1 MR2 in Finland :/
Should have just bought a Toyota mr2 spyder-best of both worlds.
I daily drive a 1991 MR2. NA, but really fun to drive.
Quitters never win, Winners never Quit.
What a beautiful bad decision. Well done sir.
Great story Peyton and congrats on landing the Genius Garage internship. Everyone needs to spend some real time with a miserably unreliable car at some point. Glad you are getting it out of the way early!
Hey Ed, running out of gas isn't the car, neither is not being able to find reverse. And after 40 years I'd say a clutch cylinder seal is surely allowable as a service item. So why the video title? This guy had a lot of fun and got a lot of attention for his money in a nice car and could probably get his money back if he sold the car. Sounds like a shrewd deal to me.
@@AndyWWW It's an old British sports car, there isn't one on earth that is reliable.
@@0KiwiStyles0 Non specific generalisation. Spoken like the driver of a boring new Honda on finance. My point was there is no evidence in the video for misery or unreliability in this case. Quite the contrary on both counts.
@@AndyWWW I'll forgive your nonsensical assumption of what I speak like/drive. There does not need to be evidence in the video to back up the fact there is no such thing as a British sports car that is reliable. I'd even stretch that to this day. The British are not known for their sports car reliability, they have made some beautiful awesome and very capable vehicles yes but have they been reliable? no. Especially a triumph spitfire, to ever even insinuate that car is reliable is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.
@@0KiwiStyles0 If you title a video to suggest that a specific car is unreliable and miserable you DO need evidence in the video or it is just clickbait. All old/classic cars need work sometime. No evidence that this one was a tragedy or miserable or even unreliable given its age. Ed should man up and apologise to Peyton's Spitfire before it sues him.
This could not ring more true. I once took a bus to California to buy a TR7 for $350. It took so long to get back home, I had to get a part time job in the town I broke down in just to earn enough extra money for parts.
That sounds like a VinWiki story right there
Nothing to write home about, that's young lads in old Brit wrecks 101. 😂
(Does work equally with Italian or German classics. Only cars that never let me down once were french.)
@@manfredschmalbach9023 There's a rare thing to see in the Internet. Someone saying they had old French car that doesn't let you down..
I agree, I have one myself..
@@jgoncalodm I had several Citroën DS, GS and CX, 404 and 504 Peugeots as well as J11 and J63 Matras, most of those cheaply bought, heavily used workhorses well into six figures km. All excellent cars, I would take each of 'em again every day. Spities, MGs and other BLMC cars not so much ... besides the 1000 Mini; the latter loves You back when You love it.
Mike A hahaha
Off to go search Craigslist for bad ideas now. Thanks.
I am sure you can find one.or two. Lol
I’ve got a 78 triumph Spitfire if you feeling like you need an experience
looking for a c4 corvette
@@MitYsLiM how reliable is it? What kind of mileage gets per gallon (or liter)? I wanted one for a long time and now they are getting expensive here, i feel like is a now or nevwe kind of situation
so you didn't put it into neutral every time you stopped?
I never do nor did Anyone ever say you had to, I only put it in neutral when im not gonna move for a long time. Might depend on the area you live in.
@@tilburg8683 - except if the clutch is DYING!!
@@markchip1 no it's not... it's the throw out bearing that's getting fucked up
You dont HAVE too buut it saves some clutch components especially on older cars its a good idea
@@markchip1 never heard anyone mention it just keep the clutch pedal pressed down and it will just keep standing there. Also don't think it will harm the car since I've never heard anyone mention it's a thing you must do.
Think it's just depended on the region you live in. And to be honest if the clutch is breaking you need to replace it anyway.
Happy Monday everyone! Thanks for watching. We hope you crush your automotive goals this week.
Ah, I wish. But I appreciate the kind words vinwiki.
Is not breaking down considered a goal? Asking for a friend
My automotive goal was crushed last week from tennis ball sized hail.
So you're saying that I should buy that Grimmspeed Downpipe?
The only thing i've crushed this week so far is the underside of my bumper on a curb... rookie mistake.
When I rolled my Subaru back in ‘00 I was looking to get into a muscle car. I called a dealer and he was like “come on down I have a spitfire”. I didn’t know what one was at the time. I can’t describe how disappointed I was expecting a “muscle car”, but it was a really fun drive...AFTER I figured out how to get it into reverse
Awesome adventure and thanks Ed Bolian for inviting one of the Genius Garage students to be on @VINwiki.
Casey! That picture looks suspiciously close to as if you were sailing. Do we need a separate channel for those stories?=)
1.5x playback everything - thank me later I have my own channel for them already. That story is coming soon. And yes, I was on a 3 masted clipper ship in the North Sea. :)
I'm originally from New Hampshire and I remember seeing that car it's amazing you know the next story on it
should be titled.. kid buys a nice car and wrecks the clutch.
dan johnson clutch master and slave cylinder were on their way out when I purchased it
Couldnt even finish a ten minute video before commenting smh
@@peytonmcallister5811 for future reference.......put it in neutral while on stop light.. clutch will last few millenia longer..
Wizard of Oz oh you are totally right, but keep in mind this was about 9 months ago and I had Just started driving standard.
Peyton British cars are the only vehicles that can out VW a VW when it comes to being "tinker toys". Just be careful with that push button electronic over drive. I've had several experiences with MGB's & that monster gremlin over the years, including my friends maroon 78 MGB bursting into flames because of that evil button.
You know, these cars get a bad rap. Five years ago I restored a 1959 Triumph TR3. I did the alternator conversion, put in a new wiring harness, a high torque starter, and a few other upgrades that are highly suggested. It is as reliable as a Toyota Camry. No kidding. I drive it all the time.
Jim Reddick with a little work here and there they are lovely. I still drive mine nearly every day!
My first car was a 1979 MGB. Drove it to and from high school every single day that it would start. it had a bad radiator, a bad starter, wiring problems that would make even the most skilled lucas electronics technician cry, and rust all along the rear fender beads. But that car meant the world to me and whenever it broke it gave me and my dad an opportunity to bond and fix it, and driving it was a blast.
My father and I spent 5 years restoring a Triumph TR6 and now enjoy it on the weekends. Old British cars are amazingly special to drive.
One of my best friends owns a '76 Spitfire and yes, it was his first car. One of the most fun cars I've ever driven for sure!
My father had a 78' that he drove for about 10 years and it never broke down on him. He claims you had to be under the hood every day oiling the carb actuators, and other things, but he loved the crap out of it. Drove it with the top down in the winter all the time, as long as he had the tonneau cover on it.
My dad raced British sports cars and motorcycles for years.
Upon buying my first vintage Triumph bike I called him thinking he would be proud of me for carrying on a tradition. His exact words were: "Anytime you buy a piece of British engineering you do it for the love of the drive...and the walk...and the push. Remember that every hour you spend riding it will turn into 2 hours turning wrenches to get it back right."
As is often the case, he was right. I love it anyway.
Why trailer the car everywhere and then expect to drive it once you get there?. If I spent all my money on a car I'd be driving it home for sure even if it was 18 hours.
asphalt_ cowboy77 spitfires have a pretty hard time doing much more than 60 mph for any length of time. They are fantastic fun for a backroads commute, but interstates are pretty much out.
Bryce Ocain well that wasnt very nice 😂
Most roads in VT are 45-50mph.
Peyton McAllister agreed. All I can think of is in college I had a 1986 vanagon and it pretty much matches your comment to a T. Luckily I didn’t have to drive it super far.
Drew i trailered from nh to my home, a route that is about 3 times longer if one is to take the back roads/state routes. and then to Rhode island, which is about a 6 hour drive doing 80 on the interstate, also had to bring everything I needed to move into a house for college. My family owns a truck so towing isn’t really a major problem an makes otherwise long and potentially dangerous journeys quite a bit easier ☺️
Haha my first car was and I still have it, an MG midget. Right there with you. Both the best and worst decision ever. It was the most impractical daily ever but I drove it daily to highschool in Wisconsin my entire senior year. That car made me into who I am. Ive hade two radiators explode, hoses blow off, brakes fail 100 percent, and drove it 10 miles using first and the kinda working parking brake to stop as much as I could. Made me persistent, and also taught me how to improvise some crazy stuff to get home. In the winter when it got below 16 Fahrenheit the car wouldn't get up to temperature, because it has no thermostat. I had the carbs tuned so rich it wouldn't drive unless the engine was up to temperature. One day at school the temperature dropped to zero and I couldn't get it to even idle, so I went into the art room and got as many tools as I could find and managed to find a few screw drives and a small socket set some cardboard and tape. Cut out a piece of cardboard to cover the radiator. Still freezing cold took off the whole front grille off and taped the cardboard in and put it back together and it stayed like that till spring. Such a wild but wonderful experience
British cars and Wisconsin salt means you're not going to have a body in 2 years. NE WI chiming in.
I actually love the Triumph Spitfire. I grew up with them in my family and have been looking for one to rebuild as a daily driver car so my Vette doesn't get beat up. They're actually very fun little cars.
I love it when you bring stories of younger people and their first experiences with cars. I think that I enjoy them so much because I can relate. I think that most of us can.
Videos like these along with my own experiences of meeting young people like those that you've highlighted make me confident of one thing. Car people are the best.
Thank you......again
Hey, I’m a 16 year old fan of antique cars. And for my birthday my dad bought me a 1971 Triumph Spitfire and it’s worked out all fine for me.
i did the same thing with a 1970 MGBGT.. it broke down all the time and i learned how to fix it on the side of the road. i will always love old MGs
Mine was a '67 MGB, several friends had MG's and all of us had to learn how to do roadside repairs. That said, it was pretty reliable. Love the old British Leyland cars!
I have a fairly similar story regarding a British car I used to own. I was looking for a Triumph TR6 but in the pre-internet year of 1986 I was basically relegated to local newspaper and printed auto buyers guide ads.
No TR6’s locally for sale. In my daily travels I just happen to notice this small red British looking roadster in a residential driveway with a for sale sign on it. I stopped and was introduced to the 1979 MGB.
The stories then continued for the next 2 years and to this day I miss that car.
We need to back up. Hop out 'lil bro and push.
Thats REAL CHEAP! Good examples of Spitfire's going for 25-30 k in the UK now.
Unrestored 70's models 13/1500's go for between £2-3 grand. Fully restored 70's models can be had for around £10 grand.
Happy Monday Ed! Great Monday video. I have always loved the Spitfire, TR6 and Austin Healey 3000. Never had the guts to own one myself due to worry about maintenance costs. My "British car from the 60's" is a 2000 Miata. Have a great week everyone!
David Roddick spitfires certainly require a lot of tlc but parts are relatively inexpensive compared to any modern car. And the car is so easy to work on it is a great place to practice one’s mechanical skills
@@peytonmcallister5811 - I do think you got a cool car. And, who knows, I may be on Craigslist very soon.
I own a 73 spitfire and I’m 17, I couldn’t have a more reliable car for the money and insurance. Its TAX exempt, MOT exempt. I’m 6"4 and I fit in it perfectly. Although it isn’t the most reliable car and 1 in every 30 journeys end up with the bonnet up somewhere, it is the easiest car to work on and triumph made it knowing things were going to go wrong so they made nearly everything accessible
It I were to pick a title it would be ‘My first car I love and Hate equally.
I had a $400 fiat and it blended in with million dollar cars. My 1st car and drove it 16 years. Same clutch whole time.
I have a spitfire MKIV as a toy, because these cars are meant for that. Now, I have a brand new daily driver. Nonetheless, I wouldn't chance my Spitfire for recreational purposes and auto shows. I love it.
My first car was a 1976 Spitfire with the steel hard top. Honestly, I loved that car, and used to drive every weekend from Maryland to Massachusetts to visit my parents.
It never once let me down, and mine didn't come stock with the fancy over drive like this guys.
My parents were also not in favor of my choice of transportation, but it set the trend for me for life.
I have never been bored with cars due to that first "mistake" and choosing to go out on a limb.
Except for that time I bought a two year old plymoth horizon for $600.00......
I loved daily driving my 77 Spitfire to school after passing my test. Everyone else with the usual tiny engined hatchbacks. Of course in the uk learning to drive in a manual helped. Biggest problem I had was a rear tire blow out kicking the rear end out on a rural road and clipping a rock. It was too low to fit the trolly jack under so ended up lifting and then using the spare wheel as a spacer to rest the chassis on while repositioning the jack! Only car I ever regret selling.
This was a good one. It didn't sound made up, and the kid was cool. Very much enjoyed
My father daily drove his TR6s (69, then 73) from when he bought them until he retired in 2011. I still have the 73. As long as you drive them regularly they are surprisingly reliable, and are easy to work on. Let them sit for more than say 6 months and you are asking for problems.
I just took the plunge on my first British roadster; a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite that needs one of everything.
Managed to snag a free '69 Sprite to harvest the 1275 motor, transmission, and disc brakes from so I can increase my chances for survival. I lucked out on the '62 though; it has only one small spot of rust down the hell hole and requires minimal body work.
a free 69?!?!?
Great to hear another New Englander talking. I’ve been to Newport, great place. If you have the chance, visit Audrain Auto Museum and Newport Car Museum. Both amazing establishments with a great selection of cars to look at and take pictures of.
Should be titled, “why you should make sure you know what your doing before you buy an old car.” I’m not saying that the spitfire is reliable, I’m just saying the problems he had were no fault of the car but instead driver error.
I now understand how & why Bernie Sanders is repeatedly retained as a Senator by the state of Vermont.
He also enjoys classic British cars?
I feel Peyton's pain. We've all been "there". A fool and his money are soon parted. Buying a Triumph Spitfire is akin to buying a Citroen 2CV or a Renault LeCar.I wonder if the push button overdrive in his Spitfire fried the electrics like it did in MGBs???
Most likely the cable going down the gear lever fried, it was a design fault, I have overdrive on my Triumph, but the overdrive switch is located elsewhere
Seen this at cars and coffee yesterday and a college meet last week its a beautiful car
I had a ‘74 which I drove daily for about 4 years. My father said “ son, you’re buying a hobby! But it will teach you more about mechanics than school will” he was right! I learned a lot from that car but it was easy to work on. The electrical system was a different story. Your clutch story made me laugh, I could fix the master or slave in about an hour from shut down to start up, even replaced the clutch on the side of the highway in about three hours. Never had a car that was as fun to drive after that, maybe when I retire?
Thanks for the story. I used to own a '79 Spitfire, it ended up costing me over double in what I paid for it in repairs, it was the worst car I ever owned and it was the best car I've ever owned. I still miss her.
Did you regret it though?
@@jonahjames13 I regret buying it, but I do not regret owning it if that makes any sense :)
Aw man sounds like my e46 M3 I had back in 2011 only I got dupped badly by a private party... Had only 90k miles was an '02 Before I knew how to thoroughly inspect M3s. Blew a "brand new tire" less than 30miles from purchasing it. After a bunch of maintenance issues, got it stolen. Stole it back. Raced a couple cop cars, Got kidnapped in it, Got shot at in it, Got my 1st public nudity ticket in it, Accidentally ran someone over in it(ex gf), Got maced for the 1st time in it, etc etc. Loved that car man thru thick and thin till I sold it @ 112k miles for 3k....... Worst decision I've ever made in my life.... It would turn out the lady I sold it to had a son and some other buddies that came to my house 2weeks later and cleaned out over 67 pairs of shoes, 13 hats, and my entire watch collection while I was home.... I mean they even took the crusty converses I mowed my lawn in. Left me with just the loafers I was wearing while I was in the garage... In less than 5mins flat and didn't even know it, I mean they caught them but gave a slap on the wrist.... So I later grabbed a rag, a lighter, and some gas... And made headlines in the local newspaper 😊😈
was she your ex before or after you drove into her?
@@AnarchistMetalhead she voluntarily got underneath the car about 3mins 40sec(might be less) after we broke up.
I brought a 1969 triumph spitfire MK3 for my first car and I love it,just puts a smile on your face every time
man I miss my spitfires I daily drove one through high school with minimal problems and regret selling it every day
Jeez. You had essentially no problems. Master and slave cylinder replacement is dead easy. So is the starter motor. I had one of these and had to rebuild a lot of it including the engine because the thrust bearing wore out and the crank shaft gored into the block. It was my second car. My first was worse, a 1972 Fiat sport coupe. Would not start in cold weather without having to spray ether down the throat of the carburetor. Worse, it had mag wheels and because the car had lug bolts instead of nuts, the rear passenger side wheel just came off a couple times. Once when I was going 40 mph and the car came down on the brake disc and wore a flat side on it. Meanwhile the wheel goes flying across a thankfully empty shopping center parking lot.
B V yeah I mean, all in all so far it has been pretty good on that front. I have a whole laundry list of things to either fix or replace or upgrade but as it sits it works pretty well. Now that fiat sounds like a royal pain, must have been a lot of fun to drive though if it was worth the work
Thank your lucky stars! The fiat did have a strong engine with DOHC and high compression. Could chirp the tires in 2nd gear. But it was a pain.
This is dope... I have a triumph group that comes to my restaurant every month... None of them drive a spitfire though.
My father in law has 3 triumph show cars. They’ve been in magazines, cover of triumph mags,, won awards etc. I don’t know much about them compared to other cars. I’ve got to go handle and sell them this year as he’s beyond driving again. They’re beautiful. Looking forward to taking them out a little and checking them out before listing.
Awesome, glad you took a chance. My first car was a 1974 Triumph TR6, which I bought in 1981. Wish I still had it...but a couple of years ago, purchased a 2018 Mazda MX-5 and now I have a roadster that won't break down!
I have a 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 it’s yellow. Vary fun car to drive, and it still has the tires that it rolled off the production line
It's funny, I'm thinking about getting a British classic as my first car too. Perfect timing, Vinwiki 😁
DJRF do it! I have no regrets lol
@@peytonmcallister5811 i couldn't agree more i have had two spitfires and loved every moment
I drove a red '74 MGB when I was his age and in college. His stories are nearly identical to my experience 35 years ago! I knew nothing going into it but learned a lot about cars and had many great times along the way. His giddy laugh at the end is priceless.
My buddy's dad has a red Triumph TR6 and a baby blue TR3. His first car was a 70's Spitfire 1500, which was comparable to my 91 Mercury Capri (small, 1.5/1.6l engine, Fun Roadster/Concertible) and he still has it, although he DDs a Subie.
Can concur, had a 72 MG Midget as my first car - think I spent 1/3d of the time I owned it actually being able to drive it. Did teach me a lot about handling, as in "you're trying to kill me again, how do I handle *this*". I am actually British though, so at least I could raid scrapyards all the time for broken Marinas/Minis/etc.
Will always put a manual car in neutral unless I'm literally about to move, doesn't take much to pop it back in gear. Except if it's a MG Midget with no synchromesh for 1st gear...
Mistakes to make when buying a first car:
1. British
2. Sports car
or American junk
@@Andycfto yeah true
My friend spent years tinkering with his. Took it down the the Nurbergring with a few mates (Imprezas and Elises etc.).
Sent me a picture when he got there... His spitfire was on a tow truck. Totally expected.
My second car was a 1979 Triumph Spitfire. It was cursed as it knew when payday was and always broke down on paydays. lol
At age 16, bought a 1961 AH Sprite Mk I on July 1st 1975. No idea what my parents were thinking. I still have that car and will pass it down to my children one day. So many happy memories.
My dad had three of them. They are pretty little cars, but they will nickel and dime you to death.
"Only other thing was I had to replace the starter"
Starters on spitfires are just the worst, steering shaft right in the way
Hahah, sounds SO familiar, except mine was exactly the opposite: everything was rusted and 3 different colors, the interior was all mildewed/rotted, the dash split everywhere, the entire under-hood area was re-wired with one color of lamp cord (oddly, one of the only systems of the car that didn't require work) slipping clutch AND leaking master cylinder, and a loud rod knock. Just add 1 quart of gear oil and 3 quarts of motor oil to the engine. No problem.
My $50 absolutely worn out '68 Spit. I absolutely loved it, despite its copious faults (cough... swing axle rear suspension... cough.). I learned to work on it, fixed the major needs, and kept it running for 4 years.
I also had mine during my college years. And, yep, on more than one occasion, drunk chicks outside of college bars would just *get in* at stop lights and want to go around the block, literally, not figuratively.
Ironically, my Spit ran ever. single. day. Pissed my Dad right off -- he'd just bought a brand new first-gen Escort that was a totally unreliable POS that simply wouldn't start in below-freezing weather.
Last time I was this early, Lisa was still on the F12 list.
Daily drove a ‘77 1500 for a few months. In Texas heat. Brakes went to the floor one day. Stalled at a major intersection one time due to heat. The 4 speed means it’s impossible to do anything over 50 and not destroy the engine. Oh…and it of course leaked oil all over my garage. Sold it and now I miss it and want another. The thing is if you can sort the car out and understand them. They are incredibly fun cars
I have owned and driven Triumphs since 1981, I have a saying, "Triumph didn't make cars, they made lifetime projects", but seriously if you get one, you first need to bring it back to good condition throughout, then you need to drive it, improve it, maintain it. Yes high maintenance, but low cost, and very easy to work on, although I highly recommend getting a workshop manual. You will get more smiles per mile than almost anything else. Oh, another saying, not mine, but very accurate, "A British car will make a mechanic out of an ordinary man". 😅
There's the shell of an old Triumph TR-7 on the roof of an auto shop in my town. My love for that strange little car is what got me inti Triumph. I'll never fit in one, but I can love them all the same.
Great story but where’s rabbit?
As a vermonter this is a neat story. No extra info about who Peyton is in the description?
Good way to start your car life!! Make sure your brakes are up to scratch. From experience with an old British sports car (Escort). You will end up in tears if you don't *sniff*
Worked on an old Spitfire and some old Mini's: The stuff ist real weird! Mechanical it's not as bad, but electrical they are a nightmare. There is a reason why Lucas is known as the prince of darkness.
Nice car, but for gods sake, get rid of those federally mandated crash bumpers!
As a native, thank you for representing Rhode Island well!
Love the hat! Go huskies!
Edit: I’m commenting this from the library at UCONN when I should be studying for finals lol
Whats your major?
So weird that you made this video today for like three weeks I’ve been talking to a few guys about a few spitfires for under 1500.
A Mk II Spitfire, TR6, and a MK 3 GT6 were some of my first car lusts, I fell in love with each as soon as I saw them. I have never owned any of them, and I'm probably better off not having done so.
First car was a 1975 MGB. Constant maintence headache, finally got it sorted after a good year of effort. Driving on the interstate one day, crank seal blew and here went the engine. I can attest, British sports cars make terrible first cars. I learned my mistake and bought a Mini as my second car. 🤣
Great to hear you story. Think your spitty wasn't bad for the money, you just made some rookie stick shift mistakes (plus not checking the fuel level - many of us did that when new to driving!). . If you'd been brought up with manual gear change or learnt to drive in the UK you would have been taught that riding the clutch clutch is bad practice and damaging. Enjoy your Spitfire and learning new skills.
My first car was a 72 spitfire, I built with my Dad. East coast, ya needed an umbrella to run car on the norm. Sister learned to drive stick on it, and sold when we moved :(
LOL Great story and appreciate the honesty, hilarious!
Ed, this kid is awesome! Hopefully we'll here more from him!
Im living through this right now, I'm daily driving a 1967 c10 to campus everyday
It's clear this guy went to University of Rhode Island lol
As a teen in the 90s, I used to get the Old Car Trader at our local store whenever the latest debuted. I found a Jag XJ12 for $400. I’m gung ho for this thing until my dad pointed out how unreliable Jags are and how pricey parts are.
I thought the state law in Vermont was ALL NEW DRIVERS , were required to drive there family's hand me down Subaru ?
One of my highschool friends had an mgb. That pos ran on 1 and 2/3rds cylinders
I also got a fairly nice condition bright red triumph spitfire for 3 grand
a 69, my first car
I got more tail in my Fiat x19 than probably all the other guys in my school combined. Also learned alot about working on cars because something was always wrong with it. Still loved that car. My dad ended up throwing it in with a set of new appliances at his small dealership, broke my heart.
I feel like buying an old British sports car as a first car is a bad idea, but in this case the car seemed very solid. If anything the takeaway from this story is ‘don’t buy a manual car if you don’t know how to drive manual’
I've owned a 76 Spitfire for a couple years now and it's been nothing but great to me. Trust me I don't go easy on it. I autocross it and daily it in the summertime. Yes I've had to do some work, but it's an old car, that's to be expected. Hell it's more reliable than my 76 Mercury Montego which is hilarious to me.
I had a ‘68 GT6 in my sophomore year of college. It was in perfect condition when I bought it. Two months later things started going wrong. I always tell people it was the only car I knew that fell apart around me while I was driving. And though I got rid of it decades ago I still love that beautiful piece of under-engineered shit.
I remember when I was a kid there was this neighbor of my family. He had a Spitfire and he was tinkering with it every other minute (probably had to).
But boy that was a beautiful car. And I guess that's what hooked me up for small english Two-seaters.
Haha we've all had that "how bad could it be" moment. Mine was buying my first car as well...an 87 Mustang 5.0 5 spd that had been painted a lovely shade of Kraft macaroni and cheese orange. Ignored all the warning signs and the car was awful, but I shoved 150 horsepower worth of nitrous down it's throat constantly and it never did blow up.
I'm now on CarGurus looking at ancient stuff for 3Gs.
Try xjs,924, or 944 on Craigslist
Rhode Islander here. LOL at having to drive it in these horrendous, non-maintained roads while you were here at school.. That's why I stick with my Taurus, I wouldn't want to drive anything nice around here.
Not a bad start for a first car! Enjoy it!
Seems like he cares more about “affluent” areas and how he looks in the car instead of just enjoying driving it around. As long as your happy who cares if your car fits in or how nice it is..
Bryce Ocain it does come off that way in the video but I promise you nothing could be further from the truth, I love driving the car for all of its faults, and believe me there are many 😂
No so sir, this crazy man drives it cross country and in snow. I've seen it. He makes us all look like weaklings.
Casey Putsch glad to hear. Much respect if that’s the case 👍🏻
100% Peyton is the real deal. Total crazy man! :)
@@bryceocain7508
Spitfires are probably my favorite lil car ever and i am going to own one.
Rhode Island is the worst state to drive cars in.....trust me
413Dimitri oh I know 😂😂 but the ocean roads can be very nice
Yes it is
I love my 75' Spitfire it is the least reliable most fun car ever.
Jake I preach 😂