1977 Triumph Spitfire

Description

British, attractive, nimble, and meticulously restored - this 1977 Triumph Spitfire is everything you want when you're looking for a show-ready classic at an affordable price.

You're looking at the best of Europe. Italian styling wrapped in a nimble British package and named after a famous WWII fighter plane. These 1500- series Spitfires had arguably some of the best styling cues of the bunch with the flat rear end that was shared with larger Triumphs like the Stag. If this one seems particularly appealing to you, that's because it received a careful restoration completed in the early 2000s to keep this drop-top at its best. And there is a detailed file book showing the multi-year projects and the care that has gone into it to keep it looking and driving so exceptionally. The deep blue paint has a butter-smooth appearance across the long hood and flat trunk. And the color also has a sophisticated presence that coordinates nicely with the darker elements like the taunt black roof. Plus, it also makes the bright elements really stand out such as the mirror-like bumpers, Spitfire 1500 decals, classic wheels, and sporty rear trim.

As much as we like the look of the black roof, the tan interior is really the show-stopper. The bright appearance is a direct contrast to the exterior deep blue, but the full package has an upper-class kind of style that makes it all harmonious. You can tell there was added time and investment to make sure nearly everything was rebuilt or replaced during its full restoration. That's why it all still feels so fresh. This has a great vintage style with the wood on the dash and even the classic AM/FM radio is still there for display. And there's just something extra special about the feeling of a sports car where you can take down the roof with the light action of one arm. It's a true driver's car where the three-spoke sports steering wheel is the perfect diameter, and your right hand just naturally rests on the gearstick. This will fit you like a glove.

The final series of Spitfires received the largest motor of the bunch. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder looks terrific in the engine bay. In fact, the level of tidy style with a clean look at the painted chassis shows off a level of freshness that's likely better than when this one got off the boat from the U.K. So you can really tell it was a passionate restoration over every inch. And the way this one fires up so eagerly and runs strong tells you this was more than just cosmetic care. What makes the Spitfire special is how it balances power and weight. The car barely tipped the scales but had a level of rigidity not seen on other roadsters of its day. These were built on a solid backbone chassis with lightweight metal partial unibody. This gave them a firm but nimble feeling on the backroads, and it only got better when paired with the four-speed manual transmission, fully independent suspension, and front disc brakes.

This Spitfire almost seems too good to be true, but we have the restoration photos, service manual, and build receipts that prove the amount of sweat equity (and money) invested. It's an amazing sports car that will bring you more open-top joy than anything at even double the asking price. Call today!!!