70s Custom Built One of a Kind Fiberglass Wide Body Chevy V8 Spitfire

1967 Triumph Spitfire WideBody Targa 327c.i. V8 4Speed Trans/Axle IRS Description

The Triumph was in typical yard/barn find stored foe 25 years condition. To the average unexperienced and unknowledgeable person this Triumph is something strange and assumed to be of low quality. To an experienced eye the engineeringplanning and build executionin the 1970s to build a 2300lb rear trans axle front engine V8 car balancing out at near 50/50 weight distribution is far ahead of sports carsof its day. It will requiresome work/maintenance from storage. Dry rotted old tires are preventing it from being driven. This is Not a kit car. Starts everytime and runs very good. The exhaust note sounds GREAT like a race car.
This 1967 triumph was shipped to Japan when it wasnew and stock condtion. The first owner was stationed at an USAirForce base in Japan. The 2nd owner,a airforceengineerstationed at the basebought it in 1968 and in 1970 had it shipped to the US where he built the Triumph intothe one of a kind 70s custom it is now.The Triumph has been primarilystored for about 25 years.The body is a not a complete fiberglass body. It utilizes the original hood, trunk lid and body with fiberglass laidovera steel heavy gauge wire-frame. The fiberglass body is not weak or flimsy . There are many sizablw cracks in the hood, but the wire frame is strong under it all.The targa top is a two piece custom made set. I have purchased all new seals for the doors and the top. The chevy 327 millfires up easily. I have had to use a little spray of starting fluid a few times after letting it sit for a few weeks. It has a electric fuel pump that can be heard until it starts, then all you can hear is the engine. The clutch is strong and goes into gears/shifts withno problem. No one expects it to sound like it does when it fires up.The 327chevy isa L79 clone andsounds like it should be on a racetrack with only straight pipe mufflers. Engineis a67 327 Chevy, 4bolt main,Double hump heads,stock lifters/rockers & mild cam, quadrajet carb, revs quick and soundsawesome.It was built by a speed shop in Chandler Arizona. There is no smoke,ticks, tocks, or funny noises, just a great exhaust note. Clutch is a coild 10" sprun for max pressure. The clutch pedal is very stiff. There is a fabricated adapter on the bell housing that connects a overdrive unit. It is always in overdrive, making up for rear end gearing/small tires. The rear mounted Transmission-Axleis aSaginaw 4speed from amid-engine V8 Corvair. This was very common with mid-engine corvairs. The shift throw is very short. The front brakes are from aSpitfire GT and the rear are corvair drums with a pressure regulator. The rear hubs were redrilled to have the same bolt pattern as the front. The master cylinder was replaced a couple months.
Only therockers have rusted. the underbody, floors or frame do not have any rust and are normal clean Arizona condition. The interior shows it age.
This is just abouteverything I know so far about the Triumph. Basically it needs the typical TLC of a car that has been stored for 25 years - fluids, bulbs, cycle switches, shocks ect. The tires are badly flat spotted and dryrotted from storage
The title is clear Arizona titlefrom 1970.
Although listed under the business here, the Triumph is privately owned and listed here for the owner. Please look at the photos closely for condition of everything.
Thanks!