1978 Triumph Spitfire - 1500

In the late 1970s, the Triumph Spitfire 1500 was much like the famous Gauls, Asterix and Obelix. Its heyday was actually over, but it survived thanks to (almost) magical powers. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980, where it was still on display, it stood out like a rose in a salad patch – colourful (often in mustard yellow or orange-red), compact, affordable (13'890 francs) and beguilingly open! Convertibles were in short supply at that time, almost extinct. Only a handful of manufacturers could still offer open-top cars without roll bars at all. The Triumph Spitfire, however, hailed from a different era. In the autumn of 1962, the Triumph Spitfire was unveiled as an alternative to the Austin-Healey. Based on the chassis and technology of the Triumph Herald, Giovanni Michelotti had created a handsome roadster which, with 60 hp from 1'147 cc, had enough power to propel the car’s weight of around 750 kg forward in a sporty manner. In 1964, the little car gained a few extra horsepower, becoming the Spitfire 4 Mark 2. At the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, the Mark 3 was unveiled, featuring a 1.3-litre engine and higher-mounted bumpers. Its 75 hp was now sufficient for a top speed of 160 km/h. In November 1970, the fourth generation introduced a modernized body design with a contemporary front end and a rear end styled to match the rest of the Triumph range (Stag, Dolomite). For the time being, the 1.3-litre engine was retained, but in December 1974 European customers were also able to enjoy a powerful 1.5-litre engine, which had already been fitted to the American versions for some time. The 1'493 cc engine, already familiar from the Triumph Toledo, produced 72 hp. Otherwise, time had passed largely without leaving its mark on the Spitfire. As before, triangular wishbones with coil springs provided front suspension, whilst the rear wheels were individually mounted on a swing-axle design. At any rate, the chassis had been repeatedly refined in detail, and the brakes (discs at the front, drums at the rear) had also been brought up to date. The interior had also benefited from several revisions; a well-functioning heater and an easily folding soft top were, of course, standard features on the Spitfire 1500. Only the hardtop came at an extra cost, albeit a comparatively modest 650 Swiss francs or 880 marks. This attractive mustard-yellow Triumph Spitfire 1500 was originally delivered in Switzerland and was first registered on 2 May 1978. The available documentation suggests that the little convertible remained with its first owner until 2012, before being purchased by an enthusiast with a mileage of around 63‘500 km at the time. Over the following 13 years, this owner had, amongst other things, a stainless-steel exhaust system and an electronic ignition fitted. In 2015, after around 8‘000 km, the sporty British car had a new camshaft fitted, and the valve tappet cups and cylinder head gasket were replaced. In August 2025, the Spitfire was finally taken over by the current owner, who had a major service carried out in September of that year, during which the master brake cylinder was replaced, four new tyres fitted and the cooling system converted to Evans coolant. With three previous owners and just 74‘500 km on the clock, the Triumph is in good to very good, well-maintained original condition. The car will be handed over to a new enthusiast complete with an optional hardtop and its most recent veteran MOT completed in June 2022.