Found on Craigslist: Free 1965 Triumph Spitfire

"Vee Ate Injun" (VeeAteInjun) 02/01/2014 at 22:47 • Filed to: found on craigslist

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I know nothing about this, other than it says "free", and free things are good. it does look like a BIG project though. "unique coffee table" contender perhaps?

this might be for you if:
-you have a bunch of stuff lying around, like an engine, transmission, complete interior (well, not complete - I see door panels on the car)
-you're pretty good with tools
-you have some free time

unfortunately, I do not meet those requirements so I'm passing it on. GOOD LUCK.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/4254075399…

Blathering Seagulls > Vee Ate Injun 02/01/2014 at 23:05

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No windshield/frame? Turn it into an Aston Martin CC100 "homage!" I'm sure a Jaguar V12 will bolt right in.

evil2win > Vee Ate Injun 02/01/2014 at 23:24

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I have two of these already. if I had a third I might have enough parts to get two complete cars. My wife would kill me though. I mean that literally. You would be hearing about it in the news.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Vee Ate Injun 02/02/2014 at 00:02

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MACAO SPITFIRE REPLICA TIME!!!

SPNKiX > Vee Ate Injun 02/02/2014 at 01:08

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Free cars disappear almost immediately. Lack of completeness may delay slightly.

orcim > evil2win 02/02/2014 at 02:35

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'eggxactly. Spread the interest level from family utility vehicles to land utility vehicles (trucks) to land manipulation vehicles (tractors with buckets) and you've got domestic maintenance issues that do.not.stop. Death with a single misstep.

Wish I had some Triumph love instead. (1965 - Whitworth? Dad still has a set of those sockets/wrenches. Raced Triumphs back in the late 50's and 60's.)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Vee Ate Injun 02/02/2014 at 07:35

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Free Spitfire? Hell yes. If this was available to me at the start of my build I'd probably have saved about £500, and that's taking into account buying all the bits I'm reusing.

It's ideal for an engine swap, but it might be pretty tricky to find some of the common ones over in the States. You could go down the route that I've done and find a 2.5l Triumph I6, or you could get a 2.0l from a GT6 and make a revvy triple-carb screamer.

Personally, I'd try and find a 1.8l K-Series I4 for it. Might be tricky in the States, but could be possible. The first gen. Elise's had them with powers ranging from 118bhp all the way to 190bhp, and all that from a criminally light engine (I've got a full dressed engine pegged at 98kg).

Mate that to a modern 5-speed, the rotoflex multi-link rear suspension from a GT6+ (plus some goodies from Canley Classics), some fibreglass bits at the rear to ease weight distribution and wider tyres and you've got a sub 650kg (~1430lbs) 190bhp road-rocket.

Vee Ate Injun > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 02/03/2014 at 14:00

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well, like i said.... BIG project no matter what.

what's the possibility of finding an existing chassis (and running gear, interior) with the same wheelbase that you can just drop the Spitfire body onto? I realize that's probably impossible.

hmmm... find a salvage Miata and swap in everything? YA!

Vee Ate Injun > Blathering Seagulls 02/03/2014 at 14:01

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groovy idea.

the Spitfire has a long-looking hood... we could probably get an inline-16 in there, no?

Vee Ate Injun > SPNKiX 02/03/2014 at 14:01

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yeah, I though that, too. the ad is from December so long gone i'd bet.

actually, wouldn't that mean the ad has been renewed since they automatically expire after 2 weeks unless you renew? hmmm... quick, someone call!

Vee Ate Injun > evil2win 02/03/2014 at 14:04

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we can't have that - your wife probably wouldn't like the food in prison.

is either of yours running?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Vee Ate Injun 02/03/2014 at 14:24

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Pretty slim. They're really dinky little things. The chassis aren't the stiffest you'll find, but with a bit of boxing in can be pretty good and they're light as anything. Little sense in throwing it all away :)

An MX-5 engine would be a pretty good swap. Not much heavier than the stock 4-cylinder either, and nearly twice the power stock.

evil2win > Vee Ate Injun 02/03/2014 at 17:56

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One of them I've got running though the wheels were too bent to drive on. I found some nice vintage slot mags for it, and I'm in the process do replacing all the wheels studs with larger longer ones as the stock studs weren't long enough for mags. I also took my tires to the shop to have them installed on the mags and they destroyed one in the process. Apparently 185/60 R13 tires don't exist in their universe so I finally order another to replace the one they damaged. It should be back on the road barring any new problems in a week or two. The other spitfire suffers from serious rust damage and has been relegated to parts car status, or possible lemons racer depending on my energy level.

Vee Ate Injun > evil2win 02/04/2014 at 12:09

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well, there you go. sounds like a labor of love. i'm diggin' the silver/black color combo. kudos...