1979 Triumph Spitfire

Convertible

Manual

FM102034C

Clear

NOTE: Winning bidder from last week's auction did not have the funds to purchase so, I'm relisting for 5 days with a reduced reserve price! TRIUMPH SPITFIRE with 1970 GT6+ 6 cylinder engine conversion. This car is the culmination of a 5-year meticulous restoration and conversion. Completely rust-free California car, no bondo. Starts and runs reliably (and quickly!) every time. Everything works! Even though it looks somewhat stock, it has MANY custom touches so, if you're a strictly stock person, this isn't for you. I have ALL receipts in a 4" thick folder and have kept most NOS and product packaging. ENGINE: block professionally dipped, magnafluxed, decked, bored .030 over NOS Hepolite pistons, turn crank, new timing chain and sprocket, new oil pump. HEAD: professionally rebuilt with hardened valve seats, stainless steel valves, new guides and stem seals, Payen head gasket. COOLING: custom aluminum radiator and mounts from Wizard, SPAL fan, new water pump. CARBS: Rebuilt 150CD-2S (pre-emission) sourced from UK without temp compensator, overrun valve, etc...original Ramflo air cleaners from Australia, custom Venhill cable-operated linkage, new fuel pump with genuine Italian Redline pressure regulator (set at 2.5) TRANSMISSION: professionally rebuilt non/OD gearbox, Borg and Beck clutch assembly, flywheel professionally resurfaced, new master and slave cylinder (DOT 5), new driveshaft, professionally rebuilt differential with NOS 3.27 ring/pinion set. EXHAUST: professionally applied ceramic coating on pre-emissions manifold, Remflex gasket, stainless steel sports exhaust from UK. EXTERIOR: professional paint in original Old English white with color matched front air dam, chrome grill, hood bulge is fiberglass from Honeybourne Mouldings in UK with premium Union Jack wrap, new Robbins top, Michelin X tires, 1" sway bar. BRAKES: cross-drilled GT6 rotors, rebuilt calipers with stainless steel pistons, copper alloy brake lines, new master and wheel cylinders (DOT5), Wilwood brake proportioning valve. INTERIOR: moulded carpet set, new seat foams and upholstery, custom center console, original EPCO shift knob, custom one-piece dash, rebuilt vintage leather steering wheel, custom dash pad and door cards, all gauges either refurbished or NOS, clock has modern battery-operated quartz movement behind original clock face, proper GT6 trans cover with heat reflective material applied to the underside. ELECTRICAL: factory rebuilt Lucas alternator, Hella headlights, new starter and solenoid, rebuilt 25D with Pertronix and new vacuum unit, Bosch "blue" coil, ALL wiring replaced with US made wire, fused circuits for each branch, proper Hella relays. HEATER: removed and cannot be replaced. As lengthy as this list of features is, there are many more things! This is a special car. I encourage any interested bidders to arrange an inspection. I would be proud to show my Spit6 and confident it would pass the most detailed inspection! Of course, that would include a test ride. Please ask questions...I will post them all for others to read. On Oct-04-15 at 18:56:03 PDT, seller added the following information: My wife noticed I didn't include any photos of the convertible top so I added a couple. If anyone would like additional photos of specific areas, just let me know. Also, please purchase with confidence! If after viewing the car in person, you decide you don't want it, I'll cancel the transaction and refund your deposit. On Oct-05-15 at 16:45:53 PDT, seller added the following information: A few more things...new fuel tank, gas strut bonnet lifts (I've kept the original prop stick too) and the trunk is unfinished! The trunk was going to be my next project...looks like it's going to be the new owner's first project! The trunk area is repainted and spotlessly clean. On Oct-09-15 at 10:39:47 PDT, seller added the following information: I've added a few more photos: Radiator...when I designed it, I had the drain plug placed at the lowest point in front for super easy access. You can also see the uprated 1" sway bar with custom heavy duty mounts. Trunk...showing new fuel tank Carbs...close-up of custom, smooth operating cable/linkage...pressure regulator Suspension...closer view of front On Oct-13-15 at 19:29:34 PDT, seller added the following information: Sorry guys and gals...I thought all the prior questions and answers would transfer to this relisting...here they are: Question & Answer Answered On Q: how many miles since rebuild? Oct-06-15 A: Another good question! The restoration was originally as a Spitfire1500. Once it was completed, I was less than thrilled with the performance of the 4 cylinder so, after about 1000 miles, I decided to build a Spit6. The completed project has 665 miles. To use a distinctly British term, it is "well fettled". I changed the engine oil/filter after the first 50 miles then again at 500. I changed the gearbox and differential oil at 500 as well. I flushed the radiator at 100 miles. I broke with tradition and did not re-torque the head. Modern Payen gaskets say it is not necessary and ARP (I installed new ARP head bolts) does not recommend it. You may have a different opinion and choose to re-torque. I readjusted the valves at 100 miles. Jeff Q: This is a beautiful car. I must ask a rude question - why are you selling it? Oct-06-15 A: Hi, Not rude at all! First of all, it has nothing to do with the car itself...it's exactly as described (if not better). It has more to do with me. After 30+ years of restoring British cars and bikes, I've discovered that I enjoy the build as much, if not more, than the actual driving. Plus (I know this may sound corny), I get satisfaction from bringing these neglected vehicles back to life and passing them on for new owners to appreciate. Jeff Q: Hi great car! Dose it have a GT6 frame brakes and rear end or is it a spitfire with a gt6 engine in it??? Thanks Jay Oct-05-15 A: Thank you! It started life as a '79 Spitfire. Please check out my answer to a similar previous question. Spit and GT6 frames are identical with the exception of different spacing on the rear extensions to allow for larger muffler on GT6 (stock GT6 muffler won't fit in Spit frame). Of course the front towers are different but they're bolt on. Let me know if that answers your question. Thanks! Jeff Q: what shocks are mounted? did you change the front verticals and stub axles to the GT6 or stay with the spitfire? are brakes GT6 or spitfire? what about the rear end? is the third member Gt6 or spit? swing spring or rotoflex? engine cam? nice car by the way. Oct-05-15 A: Hi, Great questions. I did forget to address the suspension in my item description! The entire front suspension/rotors/calipers/motor mounts,etc are GT6, nothing Spitfire up front. Of course, all new bearings/seals. I installed new stock GT6 springs over KYB shocks. The rear suspension/brakes are the stock '79 set-up...no rotoflex. (drums turned, new shoes, wheel cylinders, bushes, etc). I've installed a 1/2" lowering block and individually adjustable air shocks so I could fine tune the ride height. Also, I've set the rear camber at 2* neg and the front at 1.5* pos. The differential is GT6, professionally rebuilt with NOS 3.27 ring/pinion. The engine was pretty sweet internally when I got it. I considered a fast road cam but the original was in near perfect shape so I kept it. I didn't want to get too greedy...I figured doubling the horsepower would be just fine! Thank-you for the compliment. Jeff Q: Did you change the bumpers or was that already done? Oct-05-15 A: Hi Larry, The car originally had rubber bumpers. I removed them and purchased a 1975 chrome set. The chrome was in poor shape and I planned on having them re-chromed. Then I saw a Spitfire online that had black painted bumpers and I really liked the look so I stripped the chrome and painted them (etch primer/ SEM acrylic enamel sprayed on in my shop...very durable!). Then decided to "chrome" the grill and have the front air dam match the body. I also purchased the smaller Euro-sized front overriders to complete the look. Thanks for the question! Jeff Q: BEAUTIFUL!!!!! If I were a rich man.....thank you for creating such a wonderful spit6!! Oct-04-15 A: Thank you very much! On Oct-14-15 at 13:39:41 PDT, seller added the following information: