Topic: CD Article: Triumph Spitfire, 1963-1980

[Arthur Dent]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/bv/63-80spitfire.htm

Great to see an article on the Triumph Spitfire with a little GT6 thrown in too.

Great cars - I loved mine.

But one little correction. The MkIV Spitfire (and 1500) still had swing axle suspension it was just modified to avoid any nasty camber changes. In fact the MkIII GT6 used the same swing axle suspension. Only the MkII GT6 had the fully articulated independent rear suspension.

[tpl]

My second and last crash was in a Spitfire ( in 1968)... do not drive a Spitfire in ill fitting, oversized Wellington boots.

When they were introduced in the UK, Triumph subsidized the Insurance for a year or so. The idea was that young men could afford to drive one. IIRC that got too expensive and then the gov regulated that idea out of existence.

[Arthur Dent]

Having owned a Spitfire I surely wouldn't have wanted to crash in one. They seemed to have the crash worthiness of a paper bag.

[tpl]

Having owned a Spitfire I surely wouldn't have wanted to crash in one. They seemed to have the crash worthiness of a paper bag.

A low speed crash, following a light truck with no brake lights too closely ( at 30 mph) and 'cos of the big boots my foot hit the gas before it hit the brake.  All my fault.  sheet metal damage ( destroyed the hood) but the car was still driveable.

No seat belts either.

[chrischasescars]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/bv/63-80spitfire.htm

Great to see an article on the Triumph Spitfire with a little GT6 thrown in too.

Great cars - I loved mine.

But one little correction. The MkIV Spitfire (and 1500) still had swing axle suspension it was just modified to avoid any nasty camber changes. In fact the MkIII GT6 used the same swing axle suspension. Only the MkII GT6 had the fully articulated independent rear suspension.

I'll ask Bill about this. Thanks for posting. 

[Arthur Dent]

Thanks. I quite enjoy these motoring memories articles.

[safristi]

 "SUSPENSION" of disbelief.......a case of nomenclature ov'r fact...the TRIUMPHKamikaze would have been a more apt name..........

[chrischasescars]

Thanks. I quite enjoy these motoring memories articles.

Still waiting on a response from Bill, by the way. He's, ah, a little slow in the whole checking e-mail thing.