Home / Triumph /

1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 with period mods

Price: Ask a price!
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Make: Triumph
Model: Spitfire
SubModel: British Sports car
Type: Convertible
Doors: 2
Year: 1979
Mileage: 74,000
VIN: FM91328U0
Color: White
Engine size: 1500
Number of cylinders: 4
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: RWD
Interior color: Black
Drive side: Left-hand drive
Options: 15 inch wheels, Quad Carburetor, Overdrive transmission, Factory Hard Top, Convertible
Vehicle Title: Clear

1979 Triumph Spitfire Description

For sale, one recently restored 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500. This vehicle is a real head turner. In fact, today when I drove into town to take some of the pictures for this auction - someone literallybowed to the car as it rolled by - seriously that is not an exaggeration! Lowered stance with slight forward lean gives it an aggressivelook, and the sound coming from the custom exhaustand race cam make it sound amazing.
Restoration included:

Frame on restoration finished in Leyland white with black stripes
New interior upholstery and carpets from Moss Motors
New brake calipers
15 inch "Minilite replica" wheels from SpitBits
Rear end has 3/4 inch lowering block, front end has 1" lowered springs
Rear tires Kumho 185/55R15 82V
Front tires Kumho 155/60R15 74T
Engine rebuilt by Chris Cancelli of MotoCancelli - Stage 1 prep
Transmission (including overdrive) rebuilt by Wishbone Classics, NY
Differential rebuilt to stock European specs for higher speed with lower RPMs
Custom quad-carb intake manifold with Keihn CR race carburetors by MotoCancelli
Exhaust - Bell stainless header with custom stainless steel straight pipes
Marker lights and other ugly late 70's DOT abominations removed
Bumpers returned to early 70's (1974 - pre DOT) styling
Factory hard top
New wiring harness
Includes older tonneau top and unrestored soft-top frame

Now for the "less than perfect":

Currently the speedo is not working - I assume that the cable broke, haven't taken the time to check
Passenger door, exterior handle needs adjustment - interior release works fine
Some of the cabin lights and audible piezio door alarm not working
Windshield fluid does not squirt
Front and rear bumper have some pitting. The front is the classic drip mark on Spitfires where water drips down from the bonnet. The rear was caused by the original DOT guard that once removed revealed some spots on the original chrome bumper that was underneath. Neither of these detract from overall appearance.

Based on the modified wheel size and European differential, this car cruises the highway with modern vehicles without overtaxing the engine. Below is a table generated from the "Minty Gear Speed Calculator" (google it). I have personally verified the 90 MPH at 3750 RPM in 4th gear overdrive. It is smooth as silk at that speed. I haven't taken it on a track, but I'm confident that the 120 mph is definitelyachievable at 5000 rpm redline.
Calculated MPH by RPM for each gear selection

RPM	1st	2nd	3rd	3rdOD	4th	4thOD
750	4	6.6	10.1	13	14.1	18.1
1000	5.4	8.7	13.5	17.3	18.9	24.2
1250	6.7	10.9	16.9	21.6	23.6	30.2
1500	8.1	13.1	20.3	26	28.3	36.3
1750	9.4	15.3	23.7	30.3	33	42.3
2000	10.8	17.5	27.1	34.6	37.7	48.4
2250	12.1	19.7	30.4	38.9	42.4	54.4
2500	13.5	21.8	33.8	43.3	47.1	60.4
2750	14.8	24	37.2	47.6	51.9	66.5
3000	16.2	26.2	40.6	51.9	56.6	72.5
3250	17.5	28.4	44	56.2	61.3	78.6
3500	18.9	30.6	47.4	60.6	66	84.6
3750	20.2	32.8	50.7	64.9	70.7	90.7
4000	21.6	35	54.1	69.2	75.4	96.7
4250	22.9	37.1	57.5	73.5	80.2	102.8
4500	24.2	39.3	60.9	77.9	84.9	108.8
4750	25.6	41.5	64.3	82.2	89.6	114.8
5000	26.9	43.7	67.6	86.5	94.3	120.9

This is a fantastic, rust free, classic car that you can enjoy with confidence. I'm selling now because I'm downsizing to move onto a boat to begin a multi-year cruise throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Please email with questions, or if you would like to come and test drive.

More Triumph classic cars for sale