Triumph Spitfire History

The two-seater sports car Triumph Spitfire was produced by the Coventry, England-based Triumph Motor Co. over an 18-year span. It was the company's most popular sports car manufactured through five generations of models. More than 314,000 were sold between 1962 and 1980. Although not particularly powerful, it appealed to buyers who wanted a sports car without the hefty price tag that usually went with one.

Origins

The concept for the design of the Spitfire began in 1957 by Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti. The Spitfire was based on the already existing Triumph Herald saloon. The Spitfire was to be an affordable compact answer to the Austin-Healey Sprite. The sports car used Triumph Herald mechanical components and a shortened Herald chassis.

Body Style

The body was designed with sweeping lines from its nose, with a dip at the doors, and then sweeping downward at the tail. The front fenders bulged above the hood with the windscreen appropriately narrow to give it a low profile. One eccentricity was the semaphores on the cowl to indicate direction change.

Financial Woes

Before the Spitfire was produced, Triumph Motor Co. was called Standard-Triumph after Triumph's 1944 acquisition by the Standard Motor Co. Standard-Triumph was in deep financial trouble and couldn't build the Spitfire. In 1960, Leyland Motors Ltd. stepped in and took over Standard-Triumph, which again became Triumph Motor Co., and paved the way for the Spitfire's production.

Production

Production began for the 1962 model with the Spitfire 4, commonly identified as the MkI. It sat on an 83-inch wheelbase and measured 145 inches long. It was powered by a modest, if not underpowered, 1147cc, four-cylinder engine. But sales were exceptional, with 45,763 built from 1962-65. Engine capacity wasn't increased until the MkII models debuted with a 1296cc engine. A 1493cc engine was finally introduced for the Spitfire 1500 that ran through 1980.

Performance

The Spitfire could not be mistaken for anything but an inexpensive sports car. Its only special feature was the roll-up windows while many competitors were still using attachable side screens. Wire wheels and a hard top were options. Sound deadening material was minimal and the road was very much felt over long drives. In other words, it behaved like a true sports car.

Under the Bonnet

Under the bonnet, or hood, the 1147cc engine was slightly tuned by 1965 to generate a still anemic 67 horsepower. But its top speed was a respectable 96 mph. Out of the gate, though, the Spitfire performed less well, hitting 0 to 60 mph in a lazy 15.5 seconds. However, it got more than 31 miles per gallon and sold for only £550.

Spitfire 1500

The last generation Spitfire 1500 was Triumph's best seller of the series, with 95,829 units sold from 1974-80. But U.S. safety and emissions regulations and Triumph's own failings doomed its future. The 53-horsepower, 1493cc engine proved unreliable and U.S. emissions rules required a catalytic converter and lower compression ratio, which sucked the power out of the engine. New impact collision rules required black rubber bumpers, which compromised the Spitfire's design. Production ended in 1980 and Triumph shuttered its doors four years later.