Triumph Spitfire: The Small, Pretty One in the Range
Where the TR6 offered muscle, this smaller sibling offered charm — a genuinely pretty, affordable roadster built for buyers who wanted style over outright power.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A Different Kind of Appeal Within the Same Range
Not every sports car needs to be about outright pace. This one built a loyal following on styling and affordability instead, occupying a genuinely different space from its more muscular six-cylinder sibling.
Generations at a Glance
| Version | Years | Engine | Gearbox | Body | 0–60mph | Top Speed | Price New (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spitfire Mk1–Mk3 | 1962–1970 | 1.1L–1.3L four-cylinder, 63–75bhp | 4-speed manual, overdrive optional | Roadster | approx. 14–15.5s | approx. 92–96mph | approx. £550 (Mk1) |
| Spitfire Mk IV | 1970–1974 | 1.3L four-cylinder, 63bhp | 4-speed manual (all-synchro), overdrive optional | Roadster | approx. 15.5s | 96mph | approx. £735 |
| Spitfire 1500 | 1974–1980 | 1.5L four-cylinder, 53–71bhp (market-dependent) | 4-speed manual (single-rail), overdrive optional | Roadster | approx. 13.2–14.3s | approx. 100mph (UK-spec) | approx. £1,070 (1971, MkIV) |
A Herald-Based Chassis With a Michelotti Body
Introduced in 1962, the Spitfire used a shortened version of the Triumph Herald saloon's chassis, styled by the same Michelotti design house responsible for several other Triumph models of the era. Its swooping, elegant lines gave it a genuinely upmarket appearance despite a modest four-cylinder engine and accessible price point, and its forward-hinging bonnet, revealing the entire front end at once, remained a distinctive and practical feature throughout the model's long production run.
The Chassis Tunnel Rust Worse Than an MGB's
Where MGB owners worry mainly about sills and doglegs, Spitfire buyers face a genuinely more serious structural concern: rust in the backbone chassis tunnel. Long-term owners of both cars describe this as potentially more severe than typical MGB sill or dogleg corrosion, since it affects the whole rear-end mounting structure and often requires a full rotisserie restoration to fix properly rather than a more contained sill or panel repair. It's a genuine consideration for anyone comparing the Spitfire against its closest rival, the MG Midget — the two competed directly for the entirety of the Spitfire's production life, and buyers choosing between them today should weigh this specific structural difference alongside styling preference.
The Genuine Midget Rivalry That Defined a Class
Production continued through several distinct Mark versions until 1980, with each update bringing styling refinements and engine improvements while retaining the same fundamental lightweight, affordable formula. It competed directly against the MG Midget for the entirety of its production life, the two becoming the defining rivalry of Britain's affordable small roadster class throughout the 1960s and 70s, and its combination of genuine style and accessible pricing introduced many first-time buyers to open-top sports car ownership.
How Much Does a Triumph Spitfire Cost Today?
Well-preserved examples remain a genuinely accessible entry point into classic British sports car ownership, with values reflecting both the model's long production run and a strong surviving population supported by an active specialist parts community. Given the chassis tunnel concern above, a car with documented rotisserie restoration or verified rust-free structure commands a real premium — checking underneath, rather than just admiring the Michelotti styling, is where the real due diligence on any Spitfire purchase needs to happen.
Watch & Explore
More Triumph Icons
- Triumph TR6 Overview — Classic Icon
Sources: Triumph Heritage archives, Wikipedia.