Miata Inside: 1976 Triumph Spitfire

The biggest problem with driving a 90s Miata is that everyone knows it is fun, reliable, and easy version of a classic British roadster. While an MX-5 might be a great car for a curvy road on a fresh spring day, it doesn't get much attention or street cred at your local classic car night.  So, how do you marry the piquant reliability of an MX-5 with the buttery visage of a classic British roadster...well..you need a Spitfire, a donor MX-5 and a torch. Find this 1976 Triumph Spitfire with MX-5 running gear offered for $7000 in Santa Teresa, NM via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Hope Its Not A Scam: 1964 Triumph Spitfire

The Triumph Spitfire was a tiny, lightweight, two-seat sports car assembled in Coventry, UK from 1962-1980.  A competitor of the Austin-Healey Sprite & MG Midget, the Spitfire was only available with a small inline four cylinder engine and didn't get the bigger inline sixes available to the GT6 or TR6 -- but it is a sweet looking classic ride offered for the cost of a set of factory lug nuts for a similar vintage Porsche.  The price IS extremely low, so this is either (A) great deal, (B) gone, or (C) a scammer. Let's hope for A or B. Find this 1964 Triumph Spitfire offered for $2000 in Deerfield Township, OH via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Spitfire Kit: 1960ish Lotus Seven Replica

Last I checked most of the Midwest was under about 30 feet of snow, so I'm not sure when these pictures were taken, but it looks like convertible season to me! Find this 1960ish Lotus Seven kit offered for $6750 in Hubbard, OH via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

4 Cylinders Good, 8 Cylinders Better: 1969 Triumph Spitfire V8

The Triumph Spitfire was a diminutive, featherweight, two-seat sports car assembled in Coventry, UK from 1962-1980.  A competitor of the Austin-Healey Sprite & MG Midget, the Spitfire was only available with a small inline four cylinder engine and didn't get the bigger inline sixes available to the GT6 or TR6. Don't worry, lots of folks over the years figured out how to shove the extra two cylinders into the Spitfire body, but today this next car has an extra 4 cylinders shoved under the hood. Find this 1969 Triumph Spitfire V8 offered for $10,000 in San Diego, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Better Than Church On Sunday: 1978 Triumph Spitfire

Is it more true that it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow?  With about 53 horsepower on tap, the featherweight Triumph Spitfire 16 second 0-60 time falls clearly in the deep end of the slow car category.  The malaise era was equally cruel to British car engine power outputs as it was to the USA V8's.  Today's seller quotes The Guardian (UK) writer Jasper Gerard to do his selling for him, but whether any NYC craigslist shoppers actually care or not remains to be seen.  Find this BRG 1978 Triumph Spitfire for sale in Weston, CT for $4,500 via craigslist.

Chevy V8 Engine: 1974 Triumph Spitfire

This next car comes from tipper Rock On who writes: This has to have one hell of a power to weight ratio!!!  Yeah, it also comes with a giant hole in the hood, which is good or bad depending on your particular feeling about hood "speed" holes.  Find this 1974 Triumph Spitfire offered for $11,900 in La Jolla, CA via craigslist.

Toyota 4AGE Power: 1979 Triumph Spitfire

The Triumph Spitfire is a very small British roadster named after an iconic WWII fighter, the highest production British airplane of all time.  The Spitfire vehicle didn't quite achieve the same success as its namesake fighter plane, but it does have a decent cult following and gets lively if you up the horsepower from the spinning parts.  Find this 1979 Triumph Spitfire with Toyota 4AGE TwinCam Power offered for $10,000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Silver Surfer: 1974 Triumph Spitfire

There is no better money spent on a car than a serious investment from the previous owner and today we've got a whooper.  How about $24,000 spent and countless weekends of assembly -- and you get the entire package from something you can negotiate that is less than $10k. Find this 1974 Triumph Spitfire offered for $10,000 in Campbell, CA via craigslist.

Raise You Two Cylinders: 1976 Triumph Spitfire Six

American car manufacturers are most commonly associated with the Malaise era in the late 1970's, but British manufacturers were far from immune to the changes to the safety and pollution regulations of the time.  The 1976 Triumph Spitfire had a curb weight of only 1800 lbs, but it's 1500 four cylinder engine weazed out enough horses for a 16 second 0-60 time.  The Triumph GT6 coupe straight six engine produced considerably more gusto and made far more pleasing sounds.  Today's Spitfire is a bit of a mashup between the two Triumph models. It would appear the builder intended to build the Spitfire that should have been offered from the factory.  Find this 1976 Triumph Spitfire for sale in Coram, NY for $6,500 via craigslist.

One of a Kind: 1970 Triumph Spitfire

The phrase "nothing like it on the road" gets tossed around by car dudes like "rare", "custom" or "stock", but this next feature made me do a triple take.  It looks like a someone hot rodded a 30s fire truck?  Find this 1970 Triumph Spitfire custom offered for $5,990 in West Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.

Racecar: 1963 Triumph Spitfire

 The Triumph Spitfire was a peppy little British lightweight named after one of the most famous British warriors from the 2nd World War.  The flying Spitfire was a 37-liter Roll-Royce Griffon V12 powered beast with an elliptical wing design that allowed it to cut through the air like nothing else -- so the grounded Spitfire had some huge shoes to fill.  Find this 1963 Triumph Spitfire offered for $3,800 in Littleton, CO via craigslist.  Tip from Zach.

5k: Yellow Jacket: 1979 Triumph Spitfire 12A Rotary Power

If you fancy your afternoon tea with a dollop of wasabi, you might have the right attitude for this next feature.  It is a not to uncommon combination of British chassis with Japanese power, but a particularly potent version.  Find this 1979 Triumph Spitfire 12A Rotary Power here on eBay currently bidding for $6,199 with a few hours to go.

1k: DT Exclusive: 1970 Triumph Spitfire

The following car is a Daily Turismo exclusive that comes as a seller submission from DT reader Zach, who has owned the car since 1996 and penned a small novel about his experience with it.  No...it isn't a barn find XK120, it is the Spitfire hiding in the corner. This 1970 Triumph Spitfire is offered for $1250 in Des Moines, IA.

5k Flash: 1978 Triumph Spitfire, 39k miles

After completing just 39,000 miles, this carotene-hued ankle-biter is listed by the owner's parents. They say he wanted his ownership to be as reliable as possible. You've got to hand it to him for finding the least expensive route of British sports car ownership: not driving it. It's also possible that after parking it in the garage one day, its existence merely slipped his mind. This is an experience many of us have with Idaho. Find this 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Boise, ID for $4,500 via craigslist.

Mid Week Match-Up: Snow Bound

It is Wednesday already, so that means time for another Mid Week Match-Up (TM)! As mid October comes upon us, the realities of the snow fall in states that end with akota become clear in many folk's minds.  Soon, garages will be locked up as classics are kept away from the salt and destructive elements, but perhaps a few owners find themselves short a garage spot.  Is this the time to cut a deal?  Find us the best snow state cars for export (and resale?) in sunny climates to the South, East or West under $10k.

5k: RoSpit: 1976 Triumph Spitfire 12A Power

The Triumph Spitfire had a long production lift, starting back in 1962 and then soldiering on with few changes from its Mk1 release in 1962 to the slow and excruciating death in sync with demise of the British auto manufacturing industry in 1980.  The Spitfire's extended production life means that many are offered in various states of neglect, and this means that many appear with awesome engine swaps.  Find this 1976 Triumph Spitfire 12A Power offered for $4,000 in Upper Marlboro, MD via craigslist.

5k: What's A Cobra? 1978 Triumph Spitfire V8 4-Spd

The Spitfire is a diminutive British roadster build by Triumph from 1962 to 1980 in five slightly updated generations.  The Spitfire was named after the most successful British fighter plane of all time and while small, it is well proportioned to hide its diminutive stature in photos - the opposite of a facebook selfie.  Imagine a world where legendary Texan Carroll Shelby had made a deal with Triumph instead of AC Cars for his Cobra, this is what it probably would have looked like.  The biggest problem is finding a name for it...Cobrumph, Triobra, mess?  Find this 1978 Triumph Spitfire V8 4-Spd currently bidding for $2,550 on ebay, in Newburgh, NY with a few hours to go.