Test drive Triumph Spitfire Mk III: Red sun.
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Test drive Triumph Spitfire Mk III: Red sun.

Triumph Spitfire Mk III: Scarlet Sun.

Meet a masterfully restored classic English roadster in the middle of summer

A red open car is approaching a wide road between green trees. First we recognize the typical English silhouette of the middle of the last century, then we find that the steering wheel is on the right, and finally, the car is beautifully restored and well maintained. The grille (as well as all the other chrome parts) says "Triumph", "Spitfire Mk III", and "Overdrive" on the trunk lid. In a word, a British classic.

During the photo shoot, a small treasure made at the Kenley factory near Coventry in 1967 gradually reveals virtues that will soften the heart of any car enthusiast. Behind the huge front cover, which covers almost half of the car, hides a small but solid engine with two carburetors with sports filters. The front axle with sports suspension (with two triangular wheel bearings) and disc brakes are also clearly visible. In the open cockpit, all controls are grouped on the center console (carefully refurbished and with original technology), making it easy to produce left-hand and right-hand drive versions.

In fact, regardless of the British nature of the model, most copies were intended for right-hand drive countries. When George Turnbull, CEO of Standard-Triumph (as part of Leyland), personally pulled the 1968th Spitfire from the last station on the assembly line in February 100, reports showed that over 000 percent of the cars produced were sold outside the United Kingdom. the main markets are the USA (75%) and continental Europe (45%).

Believe it or not, this successful car, produced from 1962 to 1980 for five generations, could have had a much sadder fate. In the early 60s, Standard-Triumph faced serious financial difficulties and was acquired by Leyland. When the new owners inspected the production area, they found a prototype covered in tarpaulin in a corner. Their enthusiasm for the light, fast and elegant design of Giovanni Michelotti is so strong that they immediately approve of the model, and production begins in a few months.

The project itself started a few years earlier with the idea of ​​creating a lightweight two-seater roadster based on the Triumph Herald. The original model has a base frame that contributes to a stable open body design, and the four-cylinder engine (64 hp in the first generation) is powerful enough to give the car weighing just 711 kg (unloaded) decent dynamics for the time.

In the third generation, which shines before us with its bright red paint, the engine has an increased displacement and power; The controls are built into the fine wood dashboard, and our hero also has two of the most requested additions - spoked wheels and an economical driving overdrive provided by Laycock de Normanville. Opening the trunk, we find in it a full-fledged spare wheel (also with spokes!) And two unusual tools - a round brush for cleaning the rim and a special hammer, with which the central wheel nuts are unscrewed.

Nothing beats the feeling of lightness, dynamism and primary intoxication from fast movement in such an open car. Here the subjective perception of speed is completely different, and even transitions at a moderate pace become an unforgettable pleasure. Modern safety requirements, which have saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, but made cars almost twice as heavy, have deprived some of the pleasure of direct contact with the car, nature and the elements, in the name of which classic roadsters were created and bought. And while there are still light sports car makers like Lotus, their era seems to be gone forever.

By the way, does anyone know ... The people at BMW are mass-producing an electric i3 with an ultralight, all-carbon, extremely robust and at the same time oversized body. And as you know, the rights to the "Triumph" brand belong to BMW ...

Restoration

The magnificent Spitfire Mark III is owned by Valery Mandyukov, the owner of the LIDI-R service and an active member of the Bulgarian classic car movement. The car was bought in Holland in 2007 in apparently good condition. However, upon closer inspection, it turns out that the car is being cared for very unprofessionally - the sheets are sewn up with bandages soaked in epoxy resin, many parts are not original or cannot be restored. Therefore, it is necessary to deliver a number of parts from England, and the total amount of orders will reach 9000 2011 pounds. Often, work on a car is interrupted until the required part is found. The wooden elements of the dashboard, gearbox and engine were restored at the LIDI-R workshop, where other restoration work was carried out. The whole process lasted over a year and ended in November 1968. Some components, such as the original Britax seat belts that should have been installed from XNUMX, were supplied extra (so they are not in the photos).

Valeriy Mandyukov and his service have been involved in the restoration of classic cars for over 15 years. Many clients come from abroad after they have become acquainted with the quality work of the masters. Auto motor und sport intends to present other models, refurbished and supported by inspired fans of the automotive classics.

TECHNICAL DATA

Triumph Spitfire Mark III (1967)

ENGINE Water-cooled four-cylinder in-line engine, 73.7 x 76 mm bore x stroke, 1296 cc displacement, 76 hp. at 6000 rpm, max. torque 102 Nm @ 4000 rpm, compression ratio 9,0: 1, overhead valves, side camshaft, timing chain, two SU HS2 carburetors.

POWER GEAR Rear-wheel drive, four-speed manual transmission, optionally with overdrive for third and fourth gears.

BODY AND LIFT Two-seater convertible with textile trim, optionally with a movable hard top, a body with a steel supporting frame made of closed profiles with cross and longitudinal beams. The front suspension is independent with two triangular cross-members of different lengths, coaxially connected by springs and shock absorbers, a stabilizer, a rear oscillating axle with a transverse leaf spring and longitudinal reaction rods. Disc brakes at the front, drum brakes at the rear, optional with power steering. Steering rack with toothed rack.

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT Length x width x height 3730 x 1450 x 1205 mm, wheelbase 2110 mm, front / rear track 1245/1220 mm, weight (empty) 711 kg, tank 37 liters.

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSUMPTION, PRICE Maximum speed 159 km / h, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (97 km / h) in 14,5 seconds, consumption 9,5 l / 100 km. Price £ 720 in England, Deutsche Mark 8990 in Germany (1968).

PERIOD FOR PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION Triumph Spitfire Mark III, 1967 - 1970, 65 copies.

Text: Vladimir Abazov

Photo: Miroslav Nikolov

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