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Triumph Spitfire 1500 - the Gaul among sports cars

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Created on February 20, 2019

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

48

Mark Siegenthaler

1

Archiv

17

Bruno von Rotz

48

Mark Siegenthaler

1

Archiv

17

Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - the roadster is the most exciting open-top model

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - 1.49 meters wide

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - a bird's eye view

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - makes a good impression both closed and open

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - only 3.78 meters long

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - compact two-seater

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - the rear design already changed with the transition to the Mk IV

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - ready to go

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - flat and slightly sloping body towards the rear

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - only 1.205 meters high

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - typical, the negative camber of the rear wheels

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - a pretty car from every perspective

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - sporty without needing a lot of power

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - the cheapest convertible in Germany at the time

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - negative camber at the rear, positive camber at the front

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - note the different front and rear wheel arches

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - fun even on cold winter days

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Top speed over 160 km/h

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - strictly for two people

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - surprisingly fuel-efficient - you can also drive with seven liters per 100 km

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - easy-to-grip gearshift

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - get in and drive off

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - typical British cockpit

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - narrow but comfortable

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - unfortunately there was no instrument for the all-important oil temperature

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - two large round instruments behind the steering wheel

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Additional instruments for fuel level and water temperature

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Pepita upholstery fabrics

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Langhuber at work

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - two carburetors, but no overhead camshaft

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - longitudinally mounted in-line four-cylinder engine

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - good accessibility of the engine and suspensions

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - two SU carburetors

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - simple but functional, used to hold the hood up

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - simple but effective technology

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - the engine was also used in a similar form in the Triumph Toledo

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Triangular wishbone for front wheel guidance

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Lettering in the engine compartment

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Chassis license plates

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - one headlight per side is enough

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - clearly labeled

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Lettering on the front

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - the hood is closed on both sides by a latch of this type

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - this wheel lock enables a turning circle of 8.2 meters

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - impressive wheel impact

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - pretty steel wheels

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Door lock

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1977) - Fuel filler cap behind the crew

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Triumph Spitfire (1962) - neat little sports car

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Triumph Spitfire Mk III (1967) - on a quick test drive

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1971) - presented at the IAA 1971

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1970) - with the redesign, the rear was adapted to Stag & Co

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1973) - with neat hardtop (extra charge)

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1973) - 64 DIN horsepower from a displacement of 1.3 liters

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1973) - Interior of the right-hand drive model

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1973) - with closed roof

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1973) - plenty of air for the crew

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1974) - Left-hand drive with attached hardtop

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Triumph Spitfire Mark IV (1975) - the all-round visibility is above average even with the folding roof up

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Triumph Spitfire Mk IV (1972) - significantly revised compared to the Mk III

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Triumph Spitfire Mk IV (1974) - the hood was now adapted to the high bumper

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Triumph Spitfire Mk IV (1974) - equipped for another six years

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1974) - all of a piece and pretty to look at

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1974) - significantly upgraded interior

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Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1974) - 200 cm3 more displacement, slightly more power, significantly more torque

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Summary

Shortly after his appearance at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show, his career came to an end after 18 years. Little had changed during this time. The Triumph Spitfire had simply become a little sportier, more economical and prettier, but remained cheap and simple enough. That's how its owners loved it back then and they still do today. A "silver lemon" could do just as little about it as the bow-top convertibles of the seventies. This driving report is dedicated to the latest iteration of the Spitfire theme and shows the 1.5-liter version in many current and historical pictures, as well as in a video. Brochure material and sound samples are also included.

This article contains the following chapters

Five generations
Wonderfully old-fashioned
A silver lemon
Last stand
Incredibly agile
Also for the small budget
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

At the end of the 1970s, the Triumph Spitfire 1500 was a bit like the famous Gauls Asterix and Obelix. Its days were actually over, but it survived thanks to (almost) magical powers. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980, where it was still on display, it stood out like a rose in a bed of lettuce - colorful (often in mustard yellow or orange-red), compact, affordable (13,890 francs) and beguilingly open! Convertibles were in short supply at the time, almost extinct. Only a small number of suppliers were still able to offer completely open cars without roll bars. The Triumph Spitfire, however, came from a different era.

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