Buying a Spitfire 1500

[AJLintern]

I fancy a bit of cheap, open top motoring for the summer
What sort of money would I need to spend to get a half decent one? I'd be looking for something with tax+mot, structurally sound, overdrive and BRG or dark blue. Don't mind if its a little tatty as long as it runs ok

[yertis]

I would have thought two grand will see you right.

[anonymous-user]

Two grand I reckon would by you a bit of a tatty one

I'm supposed to be selling mine, but instead am pulling it out of storage.

I've just insured it and got a new battery for it.
It has had new plugs and is running really sweetly

Hope to get it MOT'd tomorrow as it expired about a year and a half ago.

I tried to sell mine for 3k (no rust) 65,000 miles and a known history back to 1986, last year.

A guy looked at it, with a fine tooth comb, then decided there was too much work needed doing!!
It is one of the better ones around, but he wanted one he could use every day.
I think he was looking for a concourse car to use every day.

I saw a some at a show in Coventry a couple of years ago for sale.

There was a white bodyshell (LHD) with just seats and a steering wheel, and running gear for £1500.
There was another very ropey one for just over 2k.

I bought mine as a box of bits in 1996 and that was 2k.

Trying to find a good one, for anything less than 3k will be difficult.

Lee

[FunkyNige]

My brother paid £1200 for his 1500 last year, it was a bit tatty, but because the parts are so cheap he's slowly making it a bit more presentable.
It doesn't have overdrive, but he says overdrive gearboxes are about £250.

[AJLintern]

Thanks for the replies - I'll try to find a bargain

[yertis]

I never realised they were getting so expensive. They're approaching TR6 money.

[AJLintern]

Saw a nice one for £3k on Autotrader today a bit more than I wanted to spend, but it seems they are becoming proper classics now!
Thinking about going to have a look...

[FunkyNige]

Have a look here on the Triumph Sports Six Club webiste, there's a red one on there with overdrive for £2,000. There's loads more on the site, that one was just close to the top!

[AJLintern]

Yes I've looked there, some nice cars - you have to be a member to get details for the current months cars though.

[FunkyNige]

AJLintern said:

Yes I've looked there, some nice cars - you have to be a member to get details for the current months cars though.

Well, you get discounted insurance through the club, so joining could be a good investment...

[T88CAN]

There are a couple of running TanT projects from £650 in Autotrader As already stated they are so cheap to restore, you won`t mind a tatty decent runner that you can do up as you drive, great cars IMO Tony

[AJLintern]

I've now got my Spitfire - £2700 from Ebay



What oil should I put in it - I believe it should be some sort of 20W/50 multigrade? Has anyone heard of Morris Lubricants? That's what my local motorist shop sells and it seems good value Any other recommendations?
Also the brakes need a big push to make them do anything! I assume this is due to there being no servo, but it is a little disconcerting Is it a case of 'They all do that'?

[Wacky Racer]

AJLintern said:

I've now got my Spitfire - £2700 from Ebay What oil should I put in it - I believe it should be some sort of 20W/50 multigrade? Has anyone heard of Morris Lubricants? That's what my local motorist shop sells and it seems good value Any other recommendations? Also the brakes need a big push to make them do anything! I assume this is due to there being no servo, but it is a little disconcerting Is it a case of 'They all do that'?

Looks a nice car...

Any good quality 20/50 oil will do........

My Mk 4 Spit did not have any problems with the brakes AT ALL, (although it was new at the time), suggest you get them looked at pretty sharpish (imo)....

[yertis]

AJLintern said:

I've now got my Spitfire - £2700 from Ebay What oil should I put in it - I believe it should be some sort of 20W/50 multigrade? Has anyone heard of Morris Lubricants? That's what my local motorist shop sells and it seems good value Any other recommendations? Also the brakes need a big push to make them do anything! I assume this is due to there being no servo, but it is a little disconcerting Is it a case of 'They all do that'?

Cool - I love Spits. You might just try bleeding off the brakes and adjusting the rear drums - can make a useful difference. Triumph brakes are quite crap comparted to modern cars, though not as bad as most other classics. Are you bringing the Spit to PF?

[AJLintern]

I'll probably be in the 944 at PF. Drove to work in the Spit this morning though The brakes aren't quite as bad as I thought, just need getting used to I suppose. Goes very nicely and hardly needs any choke - the chap I bought it from had the carbs set up properly.
Just ordered a load of bits and pieces from Rimmer Bros/Canley Classics