Early Triumph Spitfire: how many left?
Discussion
tapkaJohnD said:
Ask:
Triumph Sports Six Club, which has registers for all the Triumph models.
Club Triumph
and
North American Spitfire Sqquadron, etc.etc. and so on and so on. Why should I do your homework for you?
This is what Google and the internet is for!
JOhn
That's a bit harsh...Triumph Sports Six Club, which has registers for all the Triumph models.
Club Triumph
and
North American Spitfire Sqquadron, etc.etc. and so on and so on. Why should I do your homework for you?
This is what Google and the internet is for!
JOhn
I had a 1973 Mk 4 from brand new in Pimento red...great little car....
I suppose the obvious answer is the VERY early ones have gone to the great scrapyard in the sky earlier simply because they are older.
My favourite version was the MK 3, apart from the seams on the bonnet which were prone to rust.
Rare these days because they were left behind by the classic car bubble. I had one in 92, when a good one was about £2k. They aren't much more now and an MX 5 is soooo much better. Mine was a mk4, 73. No longer taxed, disappeared 2003. The mk1 and 2 were rare 25 yes ago, restoration costs would be prohibitive on most given their low value over the last 20 odd years.
As the dick who posted the current top entry, the OP was asking 'How many Mk1 Spitfires still exist?'
That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
tapkaJohnD said:
As the dick who posted the current top entry, the OP was asking 'How many Mk1 Spitfires still exist?'
That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
In this section of PH we tend to be more helpful or, if we can't help, we shut up.That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
There were few about 30 years ago really as has been said. And those that were, were cheap. Guy next door bought one, albeit a Mk III, with gaping holes in the sills for £25. No-one wanted them.
The Mk IV I bought in the early 90s had been heavily welded, so those that were 10 years older had simply rusted to nothing mostly.
The Mk IV I bought in the early 90s had been heavily welded, so those that were 10 years older had simply rusted to nothing mostly.
battered said:
Rare these days because they were left behind by the classic car bubble. I had one in 92, when a good one was about £2k. They aren't much more now and an MX 5 is soooo much better. Mine was a mk4, 73. No longer taxed, disappeared 2003. The mk1 and 2 were rare 25 yes ago, restoration costs would be prohibitive on most given their low value over the last 20 odd years.
This. IMO the Mk3 also stole alot of the limelight away from the Mk1. It had the best looks of the lot but also with the best selection of engines ; after the MkIII the 1500s while sprightly were not keen revvers and had engine issues ; the bottom ends for example.I doubt it's many that are left at all in the UK ; Spitfires have not been the cheapest car to restore for what they are worth until now.
As far as the UK goes, there's the "how many left ?" website. I have no idea how accurate the data is and of course it won't include pre-sorn, barn residing examples.
But if the OP is still around, this might give you a starter...
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/browse/triumph/trium...
If that's right, then there are a lot of 1500's around dropping to an apparently consistent 26 Mk1's. A pity, I always liked the Mk1 but as another poster has said, the Mk3 was so much better back in the day.
But if the OP is still around, this might give you a starter...
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/browse/triumph/trium...
If that's right, then there are a lot of 1500's around dropping to an apparently consistent 26 Mk1's. A pity, I always liked the Mk1 but as another poster has said, the Mk3 was so much better back in the day.
tapkaJohnD said:
As the dick who posted the current top entry, the OP was asking 'How many Mk1 Spitfires still exist?'
That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
Well done - your dickish response persuaded the OP to remove his post. There is rarely a question asked that google won't answer. Why does the forum exist at all. That few now appear on sale was only a rider to his Q.
I can't answer it, but I have some idea about how to do the research by going online, and get annoyed at the lazy bones who can't be bothered to do it themselves. So I suggested how.
John Dick
SebringMan said:
battered said:
Rare these days because they were left behind by the classic car bubble. I had one in 92, when a good one was about £2k. They aren't much more now and an MX 5 is soooo much better. Mine was a mk4, 73. No longer taxed, disappeared 2003. The mk1 and 2 were rare 25 yes ago, restoration costs would be prohibitive on most given their low value over the last 20 odd years.
This. IMO the Mk3 also stole alot of the limelight away from the Mk1. It had the best looks of the lot but also with the best selection of engines ; after the MkIII the 1500s while sprightly were not keen revvers and had engine issues ; the bottom ends for example.I doubt it's many that are left at all in the UK ; Spitfires have not been the cheapest car to restore for what they are worth until now.
I asked a similar question when I was on the hunt for a 948cc Triumph Herald Coupe. I googled and nothing came up. As a lapsed member I wasn't allowed to post on the TSSC (old) forum. I asked them via email but they just wanted to sell me membership. At a show, I asked a club member and the final answer was 'around 25.'
A least I got a number. This number wasn't accurate though. It could be a combination of guesswork, club members (only) cars and fobbing off.
So I decided to find out for myself and have since located two hundred and sixty nine - and a half! The 'half' being the Earls Court car used for the launch in 1959, hacksawed in half from front to back, it still exists at Coventry Motor Museum, hence the inclusion in the current remaining number. From that number I owned two.
I like tapkaJohnD for his frank and honest answer, after all I would really like to write that kind of response when someone asks "what classic should I buy?" when we all have different tastes, budgets and circumstances however I did try your methods but either they did not work or weren't particularly accurate.
Triumphs seem to take a knocking and yet still offer stylish and affordable classic motoring. With the exception of earlier TR's or specials like the Italia they are still referred to as 'Starter Classics' yet prices for early examples of these cars are certainly on the way up. A couple of years ago you could still get a good original MOT'd car for just over a grand - Heralds, Spitfires, TR7, Dollys, Vitesse (1600 saloon), etc. You'd be struggling today.
Buy an original/unrestored (or sympathetically restored), early, low mileage, documented-history-bulging example of these cars today and next year you'll get double what you paid for it.
That sounds fab but it's £2000 now and £4000 next year were are not talking thousands and thousands are we? However, these cars are limited for that price and the condition you are after and that figure HAS to increase further at some point hasn't it? Sounds like a good investment if you ask me with a driveable classic included.
A least I got a number. This number wasn't accurate though. It could be a combination of guesswork, club members (only) cars and fobbing off.
So I decided to find out for myself and have since located two hundred and sixty nine - and a half! The 'half' being the Earls Court car used for the launch in 1959, hacksawed in half from front to back, it still exists at Coventry Motor Museum, hence the inclusion in the current remaining number. From that number I owned two.
I like tapkaJohnD for his frank and honest answer, after all I would really like to write that kind of response when someone asks "what classic should I buy?" when we all have different tastes, budgets and circumstances however I did try your methods but either they did not work or weren't particularly accurate.
Triumphs seem to take a knocking and yet still offer stylish and affordable classic motoring. With the exception of earlier TR's or specials like the Italia they are still referred to as 'Starter Classics' yet prices for early examples of these cars are certainly on the way up. A couple of years ago you could still get a good original MOT'd car for just over a grand - Heralds, Spitfires, TR7, Dollys, Vitesse (1600 saloon), etc. You'd be struggling today.
Buy an original/unrestored (or sympathetically restored), early, low mileage, documented-history-bulging example of these cars today and next year you'll get double what you paid for it.
That sounds fab but it's £2000 now and £4000 next year were are not talking thousands and thousands are we? However, these cars are limited for that price and the condition you are after and that figure HAS to increase further at some point hasn't it? Sounds like a good investment if you ask me with a driveable classic included.
tapkaJohnD said:
Why should I do your homework for you?
This is what Google and the internet is for!
JOhn
I find this an inedcredibly selfish response, not at all in the usual character of this sub-forum. One of us may have done the research already and had an answer at his fingertips, saving the OP a pile of time trawling around other less-reliable sources. Yesterday I had cause to find a wiring diagram for the central locking on a '96 Audi Coupe This is what Google and the internet is for!
JOhn
. I found it in about four clicks because someone else had previously asked the same question, another person on that forum had pointed them at the correct wiring diagrams which yet another person had taken the time to scan and share online, free for all to use. That is what the internet is for. 1973 Mk4. All true. A mate had a series of Mk4s and a GT6, good cars all but he and I spent as much time spannering them as we did driving. Another mate had a 1500, same comments apply.
They are slow. It's a 60's car, 75bhp or whatever they are was decent back then but poor now.
They are thirsty. 30mpg average from my 1300. One that my mate had had a Herald manifold and a single carb, we used to marvel that it delivered 35mpg.
They don't handle, they are famous for it. Better than the Mk3, but still tricky in the wet and bloody dangerous in snow. The only car I've had that lets you know it's going to try to kill you by lifting your bum in the seat.
They are slow. It's a 60's car, 75bhp or whatever they are was decent back then but poor now.
They are thirsty. 30mpg average from my 1300. One that my mate had had a Herald manifold and a single carb, we used to marvel that it delivered 35mpg.
They don't handle, they are famous for it. Better than the Mk3, but still tricky in the wet and bloody dangerous in snow. The only car I've had that lets you know it's going to try to kill you by lifting your bum in the seat.
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