Practical Classics Magazine: Triumph Spitfire group test

Practical Classics Magazine. Journalist John Simister road tests a group of five very different classic Triumph Spitfires at a soaking wet Bruntingthorpe proving ground in the UK.

Models include a standard Mk1 Spitfire, a car fitted with a Renault engine taken from an old Renault 5 GT Turbo, a Macao racer replica and a Le-Mans spec Spitfire.

Featured in the July 2011 issue of Practical Classics Magazine.

[kjer]

The final shot of the "spitfires" accelerating out of frame was well done and quite pleasing. congrats!

[willtopower]

I loved the video! Don't know what the complainers have in their ears but I found your presentation easy to hear and excellent! I have a GT6 which I have owned since new and really enjoyed this presentation!

[jaguar]

I get a Spitfire from 1969, I love it, the bonnet has the same colours that ADU 2B in yellow and green the same:-) it's very "sport look "!! Children say when they see It: "Oh look look, a sport car !!!! :-)) I'm very proud !
sorry for my english I'm french ...

[Mac_]

Just bought cjr 115k a couple weeks ago, doesnt have the gd turbo anymore sadly

[chrishenniker]

How did the owner of the Renault 5 Turbo swapped one turn the engine to rear wheel drive? What transmission is he using and what adapter plate?

[sanderhertoghs]

Look at the front right wheel on the ADU 2B! ! ! 2:30

[spitgtturbo]

That was a great day out. Would of been better if i didn't snap the drive shaft on my turbo spitfire on the way which made me a bit late Haha

[walkertongdee]

I've owned and restored several British Leland cars and I can assure you they are not practical. I loved them and mourn their passing but while they ran well at times the upkeep was a chore due to parts that did not wear well over time. This said this car still has all its parts readily available at an inexpensive price, so if you have a greasy thumb go for it you will be happy at times and unhappy at other times....

[wickiezulu]

If it were a realistic possibility it would have been great to further enlarge the Triumph 1493cc engine to 1567cc for the Spitfire (and even the Toledo/Dolomite) or in essence a 4-cylinder version of the distantly related 2350cc 6-cylinder Rover SD1-Six / Triumph PE166 engine, though in derestricted form.

[jimisback]

I wish I still had my 68 MK3, I loved it.

[spitgtturbo]

And the turbo spitfire is currently up for sale if anyones interested.

[TheHypnotstCollector]

I have a green 1963 spitfire I'm going through now.

[twincamspit]

Nice variety of Spitfires, shame the weather wasn't better - bet the purists are crying watching this though :D

[DreadedChicken]

My dad had one during his freshman year at age 15. The battery crapped out on him, and he had to roll start for a year to save up for a new battery. LOL

[gregghorner]

Spitfire heaven!
It's hard to understand the narration, nowever.
You Brits need to speak louder and not mumble so much!

[Xhumedcorpse]

Weeehee! Beautifull cars with a great growl!

[Scadderbrain]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Off2theGym sorry this one wasn't for you!

[TheWierdFish]

Convertible Mustangs leak too, and they don't go round corners, or stop very well, and they drink the petrol like nothing else. Not great for a country with lots of corners, and expensive petrol.
Fortunately, most of the rest of the world has corners, and fuel is a good thing to save, so British cars work well almost everywhere.

[a]

The Macao GP car looks Cobra-esque. and for the purists my plan isn't to make it look like a Cobra but rather I want it to feel and look like a car that could have raced at Lemans in the 60's and 70's. I don't want to copy it but like I like the general vibe that the Macao car gives. It's obviously not a numbers matching car anyways so i don't think that it would ruin the value or general look of the car.

[GTVAlfaMan]

That Triumph GT6 would be a beautiful car to drive here in Southern California, but I would be too afraid of being crushed like a grape by an idiot in their huge SUV while their cell phone is to the ear and texting at the same time.