1970 Triumph Spitfire MKIII |

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1970 Triumph Spitfire MKIII

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£9,000

Mileage~59,710 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.3-litre
LocationLaunceston

SOLD

1970 Triumph Spitfire MKIII

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Jacob Boodrie

Professional Consigner

This Spitfire offers the ultimate wind-through-hair motoring thrills and with a full body-off restoration and uprated parts from the MKIV, means this example is ready for its next adventure.

In March 1967, the Mark III Spitfire was introduced with an all-new facelift from the previous models. A raised ‘bone in teeth’ front bumper and front coil springs, rear overriders deleted and bumper-mounted reversing lights made for a staple in the Spitfires history, not to mention the much improved folding soft top that unlike previous models no longer needed storing in the boot.

The most important development however for this beautiful sports car was the new, bored-out 1,296cc engine. This made for a sweeter, more distinct exhaust note and significantly reduced cabin noise.

This car was gifted to Stephanie by her husband as a birthday present. Before her ownership, it was treated to full body-off restoration with a 5-speed gearbox conversion, and various other mechanical and cabin upgrades donated by an MKIV.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Stephanie the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

The car was gifted to me by my husband, a fellow classic car enthusiast.

Stephanie mentions: "my husband gifted me the car in 2012 and I have so many happy memories of driving this Spitfire on short trips around the UK. We also have a classic VW camper which we love taking away on trips too".

Due to travelling around New Zealand and the rest of the world, Stephanie is not using the car as much as she originally planned to. The current custodian, Stephanie's father-in-law Kevin, agrees that they would be sad to see the car go, but feels it will be better owned by a Triumph enthusiast and someone who will be able to attend to the upkeep of the car.

Stephanie had attended to the following items during her ownership: new fuel pump, new heater control valve, re-chromed bumpers and repainted wheels. However with very little use, she has had the car stored undercover in her father-in-law's garage in Cornwall.

Stephanie will be more than happy to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

Stephanie

Vehicle Owner

Stephanie saved £1,620* when they
sold their Triumph with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Elegant chrome wraps this beautiful and timeless British classic, which has been resprayed in a stunning Sapphire Blue.

Wheels and Tyres

13” steel wheels with chrome hub caps - the wheels on this car look lovely and Stephanie confirms that they have been repainted along with the restoration of other chrome work on the car.

The wheels are wrapped in Fato tyres on the front and JoyRoad on the rear, all four appear to have lots of tread.

Please take a look at the details photos and videos for a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

The bodywork on this Spitfire looks to be in very good condition, there appears to be no obvious signs of corrosion or dents to the panels, just what you'd expect from an extensive restoration and well cared for example.

We did notice one very small crack on the front bonnet top edge, you'll have to get really close to notice it though.

All the panels appear to sit tight and flush with no signs of previous accident damage.

We have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the bodywork condition for yourselves.

Paint

The Spitfire is finished in Sapphire Blue, which stands out among modern traffic. The car was originally Signal Red (colour code '38') however during the 1992-1996 restoration, it was resprayed in Triumph Sapphire Blue (colour code 96).

The paint has a smooth finish, even in colour, and deep in lustre - the choice of colour pairs very well with the black soft top. Having been effectively dry-stored in a garage throughout Stephanie's ownership, the paint has been preserved brilliantly, with just a very tiny patch of blistering found on the front bonnet.

Again, please take time to review all the images and videos showing the paint from different angles and reflections, to assess the condition for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass looks in great condition throughout, the rubber seals appear tight around the windows and not perished.

The soft top too looks in great condition.

The chrome work on this car too looks to be in very good shape, the mirror-like finish is consistent throughout, Stephanie has had the chrome work replated in 2019.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

An elegant mix of black vinyl and wood-veneer, neatly wrapped around the classic Jaeger dials.

Seats and Carpets

Fitted with uprated and reclining black leather seats from an MKIV, this spitfire is very comfortable to sit within. The seats appear in great condition with no signs of concern.

The previous owner has fashioned together some black leather pads, as the MKIV seats are wider they rub against the metal frame for the retractable soft top.

The door cards and carpets look to be in good condition too, please take a detailed look at these items in the media pack below.

Dashboard

The wood-veneer dash looks in great condition, paired with the large black dials, the bold interior adds the charm of this sports car.

The top dashboard is cracked, however, the rest of the material appears in good condition throughout.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Fitted with a small and sporty three-spoke steering wheel, which makes maneuvering the Spitfire very easy. A Triumph gearstick is present and both the wheel and stick are present in great condition.

We believe these items may have been updated during the upgrade to a 5-speed gearbox.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Fitted with an uprated recon MKIV engine, the car offers a swift 63bhp - ideal for keeping up with modern city traffic.

Engine and Gearbox

The car is fitted with an MKIV recon engine outputting 63bhp. It underwent an unleaded head conversion, alternator conversion, full stainless steel exhaust, 5-speed gearbox conversion, rear springs, Kenlow fan, uprated radiator during the body-off restoration between '92-'96.

Once given a key-turn the engine sprung into life and the car quickly came up to temperature settling down to a smooth idle shortly after, with no unwanted noises.

Please take a look at the cold start and the on-the-road footage in the mechanical video.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension throughout the car has received attention throughout the restoration and since the Stephanie and Kevin have maintained the car mechanically, attending to any work required.

We were told, that the Spitfire offers a smooth ride for long distances with precision in the corners.

The Drive

A classic British two-seater sports car, which will bring many miles of smiles.

Stephanie has very much enjoyed her time with the Spitfire and will always remember the great trips she's had out in the car.

Electrics and Other

The electrics are said to work as they should, Kevin disconnects the battery when the car isn't being used.

This example does have the addition of a retro Radiomobile, which currently only serves as a decoration. We are informed that it never worked during Stephanie's ownership.

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History and Paperwork

A well-documented full body of restoration between 1992-1996, the car comes with a host of provenance in the form of hand written notes and documentative photographs.

The car was treated to a full body-off restoration in 1994 by a Triumph specialist in Scotland 'Chic Doig', since the restoration the car has had little use and has been stored in Stephanie's farther-in-law's weather-tight garage. The car is fitted with an MKIV recon engine outputting 63bhp. As mentioned, it underwent an unleaded head conversion, alternator conversion, and has a full stainless steel exhaust, 5-speed gearbox conversion, new MKIV reclining seats, rear springs, Kenlow fan, uprated radiator. Between 1995 to 1996 TRGB and Kohn Kipping Triumph added £8,000 worth of work and parts to improve the car.

The current owner has owned the car for around 7 years, during this time the car had new fuel pump, new heater control valve, re-chromed bumpers and repainted wheels. The car is kept under a cover, which will be sent with the car to the new owner, and it's always been garaged in Stephanie's and Kevin's ownership.

Stepanie's father-in-law became the registered owner of the car in 2019 since she went traveling, and therefore he is the named owner on the V5, however, Stephanie has owned the car since it was gifted to her in 2012.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view of the car in the listing above and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail. This has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa, so please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
31.08.2012	MOT	57,644
22.08.2011	MOT	56,753
31.08.2010	MOT	56,741
03.09.2009	MOT	56,654
04.09.2008	MOT	56,394
2005	MOT	56,304
2003	MOT	56,159
2002	MOT	56,122
2001	MOT	55,949
1996	MOT	55,167
1992-1996	Full Restoration
1991	MOT	55,123