A British Classic
For Sale: 1964 Triumph Spitfire Mk1
The 1964 Triumph Spitfire Mk1, introduced in October 1962 by Standard-Triumph, was designed as an affordable British sports car. Named after the WWII fighter plane, it featured a lightweight body-on-frame construction built on a modified Triumph Herald chassis with a distinctive tilting front end for easy maintenance.
Weighing just 1,568 pounds, the Spitfire Mk1 was powered by a 1,147 cc inline-four engine with twin SU carburetors, producing 63 horsepower. Paired with a four-speed manual transmission, it could reach 92 mph and achieve 0-60 mph in 16.4 seconds, while delivering an economical 31 mpg.
The car featured a simple but functional interior with a wood-veneer dashboard (later changed to black crackle-finish), basic gauges, and vinyl seats. Its suspension combined independent front with coil springs and a swing-axle rear setup with transverse leaf springs, though the rear suspension became known for challenging handling characteristics during aggressive cornering.
Standard features included removable side screens, hydraulic front disc brakes, and a basic heater. Wire wheels were optional. Priced low in the UK, the Mk1 successfully competed with rivals like the Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget, with 45,753 units produced between 1962-1964.
The Spitfire Mk1’s success established a foundation for the model line that would continue until 1980, and today it remains a popular, relatively affordable classic British sports car with strong parts availability and community support.
A five-year sales history can be seen at Classic.com. Valuation tables can be seen at Caaarguide.com. For production numbers and values, see Conceptcarz.com. Current values can also be seen at Collectorcarmarket.com.
Nadaguides.com – Average price: $13,000
Image credit – Wikipedia.org
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