Spitfire w/o the wings - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

JimH · 08-27-2012, 06:58 PM

Just thought I'd throw up my newest project. Going for a full factory restore. Sure it'll take forever as usual but parts are cheap and by far the easiest thing I've ever worked on.

It's a 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500. 1.5 liter with 4 on the floor. Most fun I've ever had driving a car and in the 24 hours of ownership, I've been stopped at least 6 times to talk about it to strangers. Plus I can't beat it for the $1100 price tag and gets ~30-35mpg.

lownslow95 · 08-27-2012, 08:02 PM

Lol tiny car, huuuuuuugggeeeeee pictures.

Errly Dabbin · 08-27-2012, 08:08 PM

Wow. $1100 thats a steal!!! Nice pick up. I was looking at one and going to swap an sr20det into it.

renn · 08-27-2012, 11:47 PM

any problems yet? a friend of mine had one of these and it was by far the biggest (littlest) ****box i've ever seen. hopefully yours isn't the headache his was.

JimH · 08-28-2012, 06:30 AM

Fortunately I know this car inside out. I helped the PO with an engine rebuild, ignition upgrade, clutch, some suspension along with other odds and ends. So luckily there are no surprises as far as things I need to get done.

CherryBomb · 08-29-2012, 02:34 PM

I love these cars. My uncle had 8 Triumphs and my dad had a TR6. I still remember the day I fell in love with cars was when my uncle had me pull the throttle body back on his Spitfire race car and the sound and smell that resulted had me hooked for life.

Mishimoto · 08-29-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renn

any problems yet? a friend of mine had one of these and it was by far the biggest (littlest) ****box i've ever seen. hopefully yours isn't the headache his was.

I have heard similar stories. Either way this thing looks like a blast for a summer cruiser. It's begging for some corner carving.

**Big_Jim** · 08-29-2012, 03:57 PM

How small is the car? Are the pictures you posted actual size?

JimH · 08-30-2012, 08:03 PM

Haha. 145" long and 57" wide. Makes my DSM look like a monster. I love hanging my arm out the window and almost touching the ground.

As for handling, at the moment it need s a new rear leaf spring (corvette style with one leaf across the rear). You can see how low it's sagging in the rear. But it had new KYB shocks all around. Just pulled the trans out yesterday to rebuild the clutch fork setup. The PO really hacked up the install. Funny seeing a clutch I can almost wrap my hand around. Trans weighed about 60lbs. was awesome ripping it out myself through the interior.

Sleeping w/ some American Muscle

JimH · 08-31-2012, 05:15 PM

While waiting for clutch fork parts, i decided to clean the trans up and give her a fresh coat of paint. Looking purty now.

Mishimoto · 08-31-2012, 05:57 PM

Looking good! Is everything as simple as it looks?

JimH · 08-31-2012, 06:02 PM

Simpler. lol

inteva6184 · 09-01-2012, 08:52 AM

Haha awesome car to drive but they bring a whole new meaning to the word junk. This is coming from a guy who thought it was a good idea to build an isuzu. I agree about hanging your arm out of the car if I stretch I am actually able to touch the ground but all the extra weight in the drivers seat could have lowered it a bit

.

JimH · 09-02-2012, 07:35 PM

I'm a bit confused about your Isuzu comment. I'm guessing you're speaking of yourself.

The car as a whole though, runs excellent for being 32 years old and is very good shape for being a car that lives and lived at the beach all its life.

08-27-2012, 06:58 PM	#1
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	Spitfire w/o the wings Just thought I'd throw up my newest project. Going for a full factory restore. Sure it'll take forever as usual but parts are cheap and by far the easiest thing I've ever worked on. It's a 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500. 1.5 liter with 4 on the floor. Most fun I've ever had driving a car and in the 24 hours of ownership, I've been stopped at least 6 times to talk about it to strangers. Plus I can't beat it for the $1100 price tag and gets ~30-35mpg. __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-27-2012, 08:08 PM	#3
Errly Dabbin Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lancaster,Pa Member #23199 My Ride: 2008 Caliber SRT-4, 1988 EF 4DR iTrader: (0)	Wow. $1100 thats a steal!!! Nice pick up. I was looking at one and going to swap an sr20det into it. __________________ 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT-4 Some Stuff To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-28-2012, 06:30 AM	#5
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	Fortunately I know this car inside out. I helped the PO with an engine rebuild, ignition upgrade, clutch, some suspension along with other odds and ends. So luckily there are no surprises as far as things I need to get done. __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-30-2012, 08:03 PM	#9
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	Haha. 145" long and 57" wide. Makes my DSM look like a monster. I love hanging my arm out the window and almost touching the ground. As for handling, at the moment it need s a new rear leaf spring (corvette style with one leaf across the rear). You can see how low it's sagging in the rear. But it had new KYB shocks all around. Just pulled the trans out yesterday to rebuild the clutch fork setup. The PO really hacked up the install. Funny seeing a clutch I can almost wrap my hand around. Trans weighed about 60lbs. was awesome ripping it out myself through the interior. Sleeping w/ some American Muscle __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-31-2012, 05:15 PM	#10
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	While waiting for clutch fork parts, i decided to clean the trans up and give her a fresh coat of paint. Looking purty now. __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-27-2012, 11:47 PM	#4
renn Tri-State Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ Member #13821 iTrader: (1)	any problems yet? a friend of mine had one of these and it was by far the biggest (littlest) ****box i've ever seen. hopefully yours isn't the headache his was.

08-29-2012, 02:34 PM	#6
CherryBomb Tri-State Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Bradford, PA Member #6479 My Ride: 96 Nissan 300ZX TT, 12 Infiniti FX35, 12 Infiniti G37xS iTrader: (0)	I love these cars. My uncle had 8 Triumphs and my dad had a TR6. I still remember the day I fell in love with cars was when my uncle had me pull the throttle body back on his Spitfire race car and the sound and smell that resulted had me hooked for life.

08-31-2012, 05:57 PM	#11
Mishimoto Vendor Join Date: Apr 2009 Member #12742 My Ride: 2008 EVO X, 1991 RHD J-Spec S13 (566RWHP) iTrader: (0)	Looking good! Is everything as simple as it looks? __________________ MISHIMOTO AUTOMOTIVE --Push the Limits-- [ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. ] The Leader in Aftermarket Performance Cooling Technology Offering Aluminum Radiators, Intercoolers, Silicone Hoses & Cooling Accessories

08-31-2012, 06:02 PM	#12
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	Simpler. lol __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

09-01-2012, 08:52 AM	#13
inteva6184 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: To far from japan Member #14151 My Ride: I am a ricer iTrader: (0)	Haha awesome car to drive but they bring a whole new meaning to the word junk. This is coming from a guy who thought it was a good idea to build an isuzu. I agree about hanging your arm out of the car if I stretch I am actually able to touch the ground but all the extra weight in the drivers seat could have lowered it a bit . __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

09-02-2012, 07:35 PM	#14
JimH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cape May Court House, NJ Member #10664 My Ride: 90 Plymouth Laser RS iTrader: (0)	I'm a bit confused about your Isuzu comment. I'm guessing you're speaking of yourself. The car as a whole though, runs excellent for being 32 years old and is very good shape for being a car that lives and lived at the beach all its life. __________________ 90 Plymouth Laser RS - 15psi, stock NT internals, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. SOLD 93 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - SOLD 80 Triumph Spitfire - Under Construction 99 Grand Cherokee Limited - SOLD 90 Mustang 5.SLOW - 3.73 Gears, 1/4 Million Miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

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