Triumph Spitfire Mk3

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Introduced in 1967, the Mk3 was the first major facelift to the Spitfire which had been launched in 1962.

The front bumper was raised in response to new crash regulations, entailing a completely different front end and bonnet. The interior was improved again with a wood-veneer instrument surround, although this still remained in the centre of the dash to make it easier to convert the car to LHD for the booming US market.

The 1,147cc engine was replaced with a bored-out 1,296 cc unit, as fitted on the new Triumph Herald 13/60 and 1300 saloons. In twin-carburettor form, the engine put out a claimed 75bhp and made the Mk3 a comparatively quick car by the standards of the day, achieving 60mph in 12.5 seconds. Popular options included wire wheels, a hard top and an overdrive gearbox, giving five forward gears and more relaxed cruising at high speeds. The Mk3 remained in production until 1971 when the Mk4 took over.

First registered in February 1968, this particular Spitfire has had just one lady owner from new and has covered only 45,700 miles to date, which is said to be correct. Finished in attractive Royal Blue paintwork with a black interior, it also benefits from wire wheels which give it a really sporting look and straight-through stainless steel exhausts which give it an equally sporting sound.

Complete with both a factory hard top and a soft top, it also has an immobiliser fitted. Recently fitted with new trunnions, it is said to be in very good condition both inside and out, having been regularly waxoiled from new and apparently never having been welded underneath. Said to drive as you would expect from such a low mileage car, it has an MOT until September 2016 with no advisories recorded. A V5C and an owner’s handbook are also present.

Being offered here from a deceased estate, it did apparently have a good history file at one point but, at the time of cataloguing, this could not readily be located.