Are Triumph Spitfires Really That Bad? We’ve Just Bought One To Find Out

There are certain classic cars that almost everyone seems to have an opinion on.

The Triumph Spitfire is definitely one of them.

Mention that you’ve bought one and you’ll hear everything from tales of brilliant summer drives and enormous fun at sensible speeds to rather less complimentary descriptions of the way they drive, handle and generally behave.

We’re about to find out for ourselves, because the latest arrival at UK Barn Finds is this 1970 Triumph Spitfire Mk3.

Our Latest Purchase

We’ve just bought the Spitfire as one of a pair of classic cars from the same owner.

The other one is being collected next week, and we’re keeping quiet about what that is for the moment.

For now, though, the little Triumph has made it safely back to UK Barn Finds.

It’s a 1970 Mk3 fitted with the 1300cc twin-carb engine and has spent the past few years tucked away in a garage.

It came from a Spitfire enthusiast, which is always encouraging when buying an older classic. There are plenty of signs that somebody has cared about the mechanical side of the car, and the engine bay in particular made a good first impression when we lifted the bonnet.

There’s no pretending it’s perfect, though.

There’s Some Bodywork To Do

A walk around the car reveals a few areas of bodywork that could do with attention.

There’s visible corrosion around some of the lower edges and wheelarch areas, along with the sort of marks and imperfections you might expect to find on a classic that hasn’t just emerged from a restoration shop.

But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

We buy plenty of cars that need work, and there’s something appealing about a classic you can actually use without worrying about every stone chip or parking-space door ding.

Under the bonnet, things look considerably smarter.

The 1300cc twin-carb engine and surrounding engine bay appear very clean compared with some of the exterior areas, and we’re looking forward to spending a bit more time getting to know the car properly.

Are Triumph Spitfires Any Good?

This is where things become interesting.

Before collecting it, we mentioned the Spitfire to a couple of friends.

One had owned and driven them before and immediately talked about how much fun they could be.

Another offered a rather more concise review:

“Bloody horrible things.”

And that pretty much sums up the reputation of the Triumph Spitfire.

They can be surprisingly divisive.

For some enthusiasts, they represent exactly what an affordable British sports car should be. Small, light, simple and entertaining, with the roof down and very little separating you from the road.

Others have rather less fond memories.

The early rear suspension design in particular has generated plenty of discussion over the years, while anyone expecting the refinement or road manners of a much newer sports car is probably missing the point entirely.

But judging a 1970 sports car by modern standards seems a bit unfair.

What matters to us is whether it makes you smile.

We’re Actually Going To Keep This One

Usually when a car arrives at UK Barn Finds, one of the first questions people ask is what we’re going to do with it.

With this one, the answer is slightly different.

We’re going to keep it for a little while and enjoy it.

That doesn’t mean we’ve suddenly embarked on a full restoration or decided its long-term future. There are jobs to investigate and we need to get to know the car first.

But rather than immediately moving it on, we fancy experiencing a Spitfire for ourselves.

And that may be the best way to settle the argument.

Instead of reading decades of conflicting opinions about whether Triumph Spitfires are wonderful little sports cars or deeply flawed creations, we can simply use one.

Hopefully with considerably more “loads of fun” and rather less “bloody horrible”.

A Classic That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

There’s another reason cars like this appeal to us.

Classic motoring doesn’t always have to involve immaculate paintwork, huge values or worrying about whether every nut and bolt is exactly as it left the factory.

Sometimes you just want an old car that feels completely different from anything modern.

The Spitfire certainly ticks that box.

It’s tiny by current standards, sits low to the ground, has a simple little four-cylinder engine up front and, when the weather plays ball, there’s hardly anything between you and the outside world.

Even sitting strapped to the truck after collection, it has bags of character.

Whether that character remains quite as charming once we’ve spent some proper time behind the wheel remains to be seen.

What Do Spitfire Owners Think?

This is where we need some help from those who know them.

If you’ve owned a Triumph Spitfire, what were they really like?

Were they every bit as much fun as their fans claim?

Did yours leave you with brilliant memories, or are you firmly in the “never again” camp?

We suspect there are going to be some good stories.

For now, the little blue Mk3 is safely home and we’re looking forward to seeing what it’s like to live with.

And then there’s that second car.

We’ll be going back to collect that one next week.

For the moment, you’ll just have to guess what it is.

Got A Classic Car Or Bike Sitting Unused?

If you’ve got a classic car, motorcycle or project sitting in a garage, barn, workshop or outbuilding and you’re thinking about selling it, we’d love to hear from you.

We buy classic cars and bikes outright, including non-runners, unfinished projects, long-stored vehicles and garage finds, and can help arrange collection from across the UK.

If you’re considering selling, you can get in touch using our simple online form here:

https://ukbarnfinds.com/selling-your-classic-car/

No pressure and no obligation, just a straightforward conversation about what you’ve got.