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Sympathetic fire breather - Triumph Spitfire in (historic) test

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Created in 1963

Text:

Olaf v. Fersen

Photos:

Archiv Jürg Kaufmann / Auto Sport Schweiz

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Archiv

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Archiv Jürg Kaufmann / Auto Sport Schweiz

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Archiv

59

Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - at speed

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Triumph Spitfire (1963)

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Triumph Spitfire (1962) - neat little sports car

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Triumph Spitfire (1963) - tidy but not very voluminous trunk

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Triumph Spitfire (1963) - defoliated engine compartment

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Triumph Spitfire (1962) - a good way to make a name for yourself

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Triumph Spitfire (1963) - very popular with women

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Triumph Spitfire (1962) - at a motor show

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Triumph Spitfire (1962) - close-cut, with a low silhouette

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Triumph Spitfire (1963) - chassis - the swing axle with transverse leaf springs and thrust struts is clearly visible

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Triumph Spitfire (1963) - affordable roadster from England

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Triumph Spitfire (1965) - Jacques Thuner on the factory triumph at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1965

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Triumph Spitfire 4 Mark II (1965) - visually hardly changed from the Mark I

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Triumph Spitfire 4 Mark II (1965) - right-hand drive version, still with single steering wheel

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - View of the interior

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - one version of the steering wheel

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - all controls centrally located

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Dashboard with central instruments

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Triumph Spitfire 4 Mark II (1965) - sealed together with the Triumph TR4-A

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Triumph Spitfire 4 Mk II (1964) - who wouldn't want to get on board?

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - at the Earls Court Motor Show 1962

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - at a motor show

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - a joy to behold

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Chassis and drivetrain

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - Rear swing axle

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - sporty and uncomplicated

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - Scene in the park

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1962) - on the road in a sporty two-seater

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - attractive from every perspective

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - taken from a bird's eye view

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - View into the trunk

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Roof stowed behind the driver's seats

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - opening the roof is not complicated

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Design by Giovanni Michelotti

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - tight turning circle

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Spacious trunk

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - rear view

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - pretty convertible

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - in 1963 the AR undertook a long-distance test with the Spitfire

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - longitudinally mounted four-cylinder engine

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - that's all you need for a sports car

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - with attached hard top

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - with attached fabric roof

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - with closed folding roof

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - with hardtop

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Space for two people

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - in-line four-cylinder with two SU carburetors

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - robust four-cylinder

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - slim and handy

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Seat rails driver's side

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - sporty rear section

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - type designation on the rear

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1963) - Front suspension

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1964) - with hardtop

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1964) - Thuner and Gretener at the Monte-Carlo Rally

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Triumph Spitfire 4 (1969) - higher bumpers on the Mk III, exhibited at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show

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Triumph Spitfire Mk III (1967) - "the new look"

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

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Triumph Spitfire Mk III (1967) - when Madame is bored

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Summary

The Triumph Spitfire was another showcase of the paragon of British automotive engineering - the affordable sports car. Large-scale production technology made it inexpensive, a low power-to-weight ratio ensured that it was lively, and a Michelotti dress provided the beauty. The magazine Automobil-Illustrierte tested the Spitfire in 1963. This article reproduces the original wording of the report and illustrates it with extensive historical images.

This article contains the following chapters

Chassis from Herald, bodywork from Michelotti
Elastic long-stroke engine
Swing axle with negative camber
Unparalleled maneuverability
Minimum maintenance
Comfort and interior
Driving characteristics
Build quality and price
Technical and test data

Estimated reading time: 16min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The small sports cars have always been one of the vehicle types that have been particularly cultivated in England, while a "real" sports car at a reasonably popular price has not yet been built here. The Spitfire differs from its direct competitors in England in that its design differs from the cliché, including independent suspension, including at the rear, and a sensationally small turning circle. If we compare the price of the Spitfire with that of other, similar cars, then we should take the English base price of £ 530 as a basis. That's around DM 6250. For this you get a car that reaches a top speed of 150 km/h, is surprisingly comfortable to drive and is surprisingly economical at a continuous speed of 120 km/h with 8.5 L/100 km. So before applying the yardstick of harsh criticism, these figures should be taken into account.

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