|
About the carI have owned this car for the last 14 years. It came from Vancouver where it was stored in a parking garage, never saw a winter or even rain. Since I have owned it, it has spent it's winters under a breathable car cover in my temperature controlled garage. All body panels are original and there is zero rust anywhere on this car. This car had 80,000 kilometers when I bought it and it now has 112,000 kilometers. I enjoyed this car every summer and put about 2300 k on it each year. The oil is changed every fall before the car is stored, Bardahl B1 additive is included with every oil change. This car has been completely restored over the years with many of the new parts and upgrades done in recent years. This Triumph Spitfire is a rare find and a definite head turner. I had my fun and enjoyment, now it is someone else's turn. Also, I am getting older and it seems to be getting tougher to get in and out....
|
Drivetrain
|
The engine was refreshed at 90,000 k with new bearings, timing chain, sprockets and new seals throughout. The oil pressure is excellent and starts out at about 60 lbs when cold and drops down to 50 when at operating temperature. Acceleration is impressive and is helped along with an electronic fuel pump that delivers to twin HS4 carbs that have been balanced and colour tuned for extra performance. A high energy coil and Pertronix electronic ignition ensures that power is available throughout the power band without skipping a beat. By far one of the most exciting upgrades was the Fidanza aluminium flywheel mated with a new Borg and Beck clutch and pressure plate which provided a much more responsive throttle. For smooth shifting the transmission was completely rebuilt at 95,000k with all bearings, springs and synchro's renewed. At 97,000K the electronic overdrive was completely rebuilt with new bearings, seals, pump, filters and solenoid switch. as well all universal joints were changed. At approximately 102,000k the differential was rebuilt with new bearings and seals.
|
Suspension and Steering
|
This car has an incredibly smooth ride and is unbelievably comfortable on long trips. A few years back I attended a car show in Bronte Provincial Park. The overdrive allowed me to cruise at 120k and the suspension provided the luxurious ride. Up front are new Spax ride and height adjustable shocks with uprated 330 lb springs. These springs are also lowered and allow the car to sit level as it was originally designed before Triumph made changes to meet federal regulations for headlight height. For quick and accurate steering response, all bearings, bushings, truniuns, ball joints, tie-rod ends, sway bar links and rubber bellows are new. The rear suspension features a upgraded spring with an additional leaf which greatly reduces the famous spitfire "squat". To completely eliminate the squat and to provide flexibility in driving preferences, the Corvette air shock upgrade was installed as featured in Vintage Triumph Register. Still in the rear suspension, all bushings, bearings and seals have been replaced.
|
Brakes
|
The rebuilt calipers ensure smooth and even braking. The stainless flexible hoses maintain a hard pedal even under extreme braking. The Rossini rotors and ceramic pads reduce overheating and provide more stopping power. The entire hydraulic system has been drained and flushed at least 3 times over the last 10 years, In the back, every component is new, including drums, pads,wheel cylinders, all hardware. Again stainless flexible hoses have been installed to prevent pedal fade, All components of the the handbrake system have also been renewed. All brake parts have been painted with high temperature ceramic paint |
Exhaust System
|
Starting at the cylinder head, a set of Bell stainless steel 4-2-1 headers provide free flowing exhaust to increase performance. It then passes through the dual Ansa free flow exhaust system and out the four chromed exhaust tips. The sound is smooth and crisp classic British sports car that cannot be replicated.
|
Wheels and Tires
|
The 13 x 5.5" Minator mag wheels are a perfect match for the car and provide that original classic British sport car look. Although these rims are 11 years old there are no scratches or dings and certainly no curb rash. These wheels where removed twice per year, cleaned and waxed to protect the beautiful finish. The tires are Micheline X radials, 175/70 13 and are an excellent match for this car, providing a good balance of comfort and high performance grip. The tires are in good condition and plenty of tread wear remaining. The tires were rebalanced in July 2016 and there is absolutely no vibrations at any speed.
|
Interior
|
The interior features new carpeting with the classic Triumph laurel wreath embroidered on both driver and passenger side. The seats have been completely rebuilt with new seat, back and headrest foams. The upholstery is a an extremely rich and beautiful leather hand crafted by Park Lane Classics in Staffordshire, U.K. where the finest Mercedes and Jaguar leather is user to provide the best in style, comfort and durability. The dash has been hand crafted using exotic Brazilian jatoba wood which is one of the hardest and most dense woods available on the market. Protected with more than 20 coats of varnish, the original layout has been maintained and is complimented with the classic Smiths gauges. A new dash crash pad has also been added along with new visors and door seals. For safety, a factory produced roll bar designed specifically for the Spitfire has been installed using top quality steel plates and automotive grade bolts. Padding has been added to the roll bar to improve the aesthetics and to prevent injury from incidental contact. To finish the interior, a classic MOMO wooden steering wheel has been installed. Not only does this add style and beauty, but it offers a terrific grip during spirited driving.
|
Other....
|
A recent addition includes gas hood strut lifts which make the large heavy hood much easier to open and close and reduces wear and tear on the hood clasps. For additional cooling, a three core aluminum radiator has been installed complimented by a Hayden electric fan. A brand new battery was installed on July 20th, 2016.
I also have many spare parts including a full engine and transmission. The items listed on this page are only the highlights. Please use the contact form if you wish to have full details. |