-40%
1978 Triumph Spitfire uper-fun original hard-top convertible - perfect for a fall day!
$ 6019.2
- Description
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Description
Yep... you've seen it correctly: that ready-to-drive, not-so-perfect-that-you're-scared-to-drive-it-to-Starbucks, but oh-so-sweet-that-everyone-will-thumbs-up British convertible!Here's the story: I purchased this last year for my wife for our 25th anniversary. I bought it as a fully-running, mostly-restored specimen from a great guy in Dallas who had, in turn, purchased it for his wife. I had it cleaned up by a British motors specialist in North Texas before bringing it up here and surprising my wife with it. She loved it. Or... at least she loved the idea of it! After it sat in the garage for a year, I asked her, "You'd don't really love the Spitfire, do you?" Aiming not to hurt my feelings, she said, quite honestly, "It messes up my hair." Bingo. A discovery: we're not convertible people. So someone else gets to own it.
Since owning it, I have had all work performed by Alex Rutter at British Auto Service (the absolutely best in the OKC metro, by the way, if you have Land Rovers or anything else from the UK - new or vintage). The little gem runs like a top. The four-speed transmission shifts smoothly; the peppy engine is simple and strong; the brakes are safe and recent; and the lights and signals work. There are some little things - the speedometer and gas gauge are finicky, for example - but nothing that a weekend and some wire nuts won't fix.
Some questions:
1. Is it car-show perfect? No. If you want a vehicle of this vintage that will win car shows, that will cost you ,000. That's not this one. If you're aiming that direction, this is a great start.
2. Is it really, really pretty and really, really fun? Yep.
3. Is there a top? Yes. This is a relatively-rare original hard-top convertible, and the top is intact and in great shape. It's simple to bolt on but, frankly, I don't keep it on... and you probably don't either. You can if you wish, though.
4. If I buy it, can I drive it home? Absolutely.
5. Would you recommend driving it from Oklahoma City to Seattle? Probably not.
6. What's the license plate on the front? Is that some secret code? No. That's the alpha-numeric sequence on Queen Elizabeth II's Land Rover license plate. (Seriously.)
7. Will I help you arrange for shipping? You bet.
8. Does the pretty Labrador Retriever come with it? No chance.
UPDATE: Added a couple of pics of the engine! Beautiful fall weather... perfect for zipping around in a Spitfire!