The Triumph Spitfire was a British sports car available as a convertible and roadster. At launch time, this was not popular among the masses as people’s attention was on the muscle cars. The Triumph Spitfire was surprisingly in production for 18 years between 1962 to 1980. Giovanni Michelotti, the legendary designer from the UK built the car which helped the car gain universal reach. Here is everything about the original Triumph Spitfire.
Best Engines
Like most British roadsters, the 1962 Triumph Spitfire was equipped with the inline-4 engines. This model was equipped with OHV and Twin SU carburetors. The hp was very low for this car, but it relied on its top speed which was around 94mph. This was a Front-engine vehicle made on lightweight chassis. Because of this, the Triumph Spitfire delivered great performance with high mileage. The handling for this model was amazing because of its Rack-and-pinion steering technology.
Technology
Designed as a lightweight roadster, the Triumph Spitfire had some of the best available tech features. The gearbox featured a 4-speed manual transmission which was a great addition to the car. Independent suspension was equipped in both ends with coil springs, wishbones, transverse leaf springs, and swing axles. The vehicle had disc and drum brakes. Overall, the performance and maintenance were great for the car because of its marvel engineering.
Simple Features
The interior features focused on driver’s safety and passengers’ comfort. It was not ultra luxury, but Triumph Spitfire had decent features. It was just a 2-seater car with vinyl bucket seats. The steel dashboard, tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge meter, and heater system were the key features. Rubber floor mats were added along with the radio. There were chromium trim accents inside the car. Sun visors and interior courtesy lights were the other features. It was not advanced for its time, but the main interior features were available.
Fighter Plane Connection
No one knew how the Triumph Spitfire got its name when it was launched. The brand revealed it was named after the British World War II fighter aircraft, Supermarine Spitfire which was deployed by the Royal Air Force during the war period. The name helped the vehicle gain attention.
Designs
The designs by Giovanni Michelotti were top-notch. After a few years of launch, the Triumph Spitfire found success and this was mainly because of the designer. The designs like long hood, wide stance, and short rear deck were retained. It had a low-slung body with rounded fenders and an oval grille. Rounded headlamps were placed near the fenders. It was available in colors like Wedgewood Blue, Spa White, Green, and Red.
Circuit Racing
The Triumph Spitfire was a racing vehicle, but it was not part of major racing events like NASCAR. It featured primarily in circuit racing events, endurance races, and rally races. The vehicle’s engineering made it possible for the brand to join the racing events.
Extraordinary Sales
When the Triumph Spitfire was launched in 1962, it didn’t have great sales. After a few months, it gained attention for its styling and technology. It was sold in and around the UK and USA markets. The other countries where the Spitfire sold were Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. The Spitfire MK I was an ultra cheap vehicle with a price around $2,500 USD. In 18 years, the total production of the Triumph Spitfire was around 330,000.