Triumph Spitfire 1300 MkIV

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The concept for the Triumph Spitfire predated the production version by some 5 years. Michelotti had supplied Triumph with a full-sized mock-up as early as 1957, but due to financial restraints, Triumph had not been in a position to move it beyond the ‘good ideas’ pile.

When Leyland finally took over the company, the mock-up was exhumed and quickly given the go-ahead for production. Designed to compete head on with the likes of MG and Austin-Healey, the fact that it could be based on the Herald chassis meant that its development time was short. Production commenced in 1962.

The 1,147cc Herald 12/50 engine fitted to the MkI and MkII was pepped up with twin carbs, the MkIII graduating to the 1,296cc unit from the 13/60 when that became available in 1967. By 1970, the export-driven firm needed to update the car yet again to meet legislation overseas, the MkIV incorporating a huge list of styling and safety improvements to freshen the product. Probably the most significant of these was the adoption of the new rear suspension design found on the Vitesse and GT6 models, doing away with the rather alarming lift-off oversteer that had characterised the earlier swing-axle set-up.

This amazing 1973 MkIV has covered just 15,350 miles from new and comes with a file containing a full-house of MOTs which substantiate this figure. It also comes with the original bill of sale, the vendor informing us that it was purchased new by a factory owner from Birmingham who barely used it. He put it away in one of his units for his son to have when he reached 21, but when presented with the car, the generous offer was declined and the car continued its life of indolence until it was eventually sold.

The vendor, the car’s fourth owner, purchased it through a dealer in Birmingham in the summer of 2012, but rather like his predecessors, has barely had time to use it, adding just six miles since its last MOT which expires in August 2015. Otherwise in original condition, he has fitted replacement brake calipers at the front and swapped the original fixed seatbelts for inertia-reel items to make it more comfortable to use. The original calipers and belts have been retained so that its new owner can return this time-warp Spitfire to the exact original specification if so desired.

Fitted with a new battery and recently waxoiled, it displays just a few minor paint blemishes and is described by the vendor as “an excellent starter which feels very much like a new car to drive”.

Catalogue Amendment: Purchased new by a lady who drove it for around 12,000 miles and then sold it to the factory owner for his son. Not recently wax oiled.