For those who didn't notice, his top speed on that was 50 mph. A great/terrible thing about a Spitfire is that you feel like you are speeding when you are just going 35.
You even stepped the tail out with only 50-something horsepower. As a Miata enthusiast, I heartily concur. I’ve scared passengers near to death under the speed limit. Feeling trumps power.
Looks like he got a bit sideways there for just a second. I drive one and it's such a fun car. If you go back and read the old road tests of it, the fun factor is the one quality that shines through. If you want more speed than, say, 70 mph (or 80, with overdrive), get a bigger car. Or a Lotus. A Spitfire will still kill you, if you're so inclined.
Not gonna lie on the downhill drive I was a little terrified. Looks like you were going so much faster than you were. Proud recent owner of a ‘76 MGB but lots of love for the Triumph lineup as well!
A kingpin snapped on mine. This left the car propped up up on the bare suspension with the wheel flapping about. I had done motorway speeds in the car but this left me stranded in the middle of a three point turn. This was a common fault in Morris Minors. Englands roads were littered with gouges when those cars got old, but I never expected it of Herald Vitesse Spitfire. Bad maintenance and age fatigue. I would seriously consider changing them for new in any resto, as a matter of course.
When you go in the Triumph wrecking yard and find only one right hand suspension uprights but 27 left hand ones, this should be a clue. Also, when the entire British wrecking yard has ZERO heater switches, you know they were a shitty design. I had a suspension upright fail i on a Spitfire whilst turning the car around in the garage. The square acme threads fail thanks to stress and fatigue. I bought 3 GT6's and several Spitfires over the years where the right front suspension dropped the frame to the ground. I cringe when I see people stuffing Ford 302 engines in a Spitfire knowing how easily the suspension fails.
My very first car was a Spitfire Mk III. They are fun, but be prepared for a lot of diy as the quality is...well...british 😊. My current sportscar is a S2000. Love that car.
Great car great sounds. Thanks for the thrill. It pumped my blood. Wonder if the driver was over extending his arms? Maybe the seat was reclined a click too much. When I was coming up three of my brothers had sports cars and autocrossed with the local region of the SCCA. One had a bugeye and then later an Alfa. Next brother had a Datsun 1600 roadster and later a Jag. Next brother had a Flat 850. Oh and first brother's girlfriend had a MGTF. What a great environment. As for me I always loved all those cars but followed my own passion of amateur bicycle racing. No regrets. Thanks for your exciting video.
@@JahBreh give me a break . It's been 53 years since I drove that. And I am not Rand McNally. Highway 50 runs all the way from the east coast to Sacramento Cal. I don't know every inch of it.
I think I found this car at my work place but its look abandonned and its been there for a few years, it looks run down and i'm thinking of asking my boss if it works or can I even buy it
One of these revolting heaps nearly killed me, taking a curve at speed the rear wheel tucked in on itself ! and I did a 360, fortunately no other vehicles around. Bastard suspension system was lethal.
Yes it was one of the first in the show room, I think it was 1963/4. Rust spots appeared through the paintwork, Triumph rep said the body had been left out in the rain prior to spraying. They did fix it, but I was never happy, I vowed never to buy a British car ever again, and I never did to this day !
They addressed the problem in about 1973 by widening the track of the rear axle and giving the wheels a negative camber. Behind a later Spitfire in traffic, the set up did look odd but worked quite well. It is worth saying that the Spittie was generally light on the back axle and this made for hard work in snow.
When i was 5 years old i threw a stick at a red sports car. The driver stomped on the brakes, got out and whooped my butt in front of God and everybody. 😂😂😂😂 Not exactly sure what kind of car it was but it looked just like this car.
Is it just me or was anyone else bothered by the steering wheel being profoundly out of alignment? Great looking car but that kinda ruined the video for me. Why would you not fix that? The whole point in that car is the driving experience.
I was two or three inches taller and used a Spitfire daily for about five years. No problems as such but my knees took some punishment from regular use of the car.
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. Now they even want to slow down all the gas pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime. "Bundesabgasbespaßungsverbot" in German!
Yes but thankfully Britain is no longer helping our German cousins Bank roll the EU . We have left it to you Germans. So no problem driving our classic cars here . 😂🏴🇬🇧
For those who didn't notice, his top speed on that was 50 mph. A great/terrible thing about a Spitfire is that you feel like you are speeding when you are just going 35.
You even stepped the tail out with only 50-something horsepower. As a Miata enthusiast, I heartily concur. I’ve scared passengers near to death under the speed limit. Feeling trumps power.
insanely slow.... and yet insanely fun to drive. so much fun - i bought one too.
Looks like he got a bit sideways there for just a second. I drive one and it's such a fun car. If you go back and read the old road tests of it, the fun factor is the one quality that shines through. If you want more speed than, say, 70 mph (or 80, with overdrive), get a bigger car. Or a Lotus. A Spitfire will still kill you, if you're so inclined.
Never has a 1500cc straight four sounded so gorgeous and I love the way he called the heater climate control.😊
Brings back memories of the brooklands green one I had in the early 80s.
The most fun you can have under 55.
Not gonna lie on the downhill drive I was a little terrified. Looks like you were going so much faster than you were. Proud recent owner of a ‘76 MGB but lots of love for the Triumph lineup as well!
A kingpin snapped on mine. This left the car propped up up on the bare suspension with the wheel flapping about.
I had done motorway speeds in the car but this left me stranded in the middle of a three point turn.
This was a common fault in Morris Minors. Englands roads were littered with gouges when those cars got old, but I never expected it of Herald Vitesse Spitfire. Bad maintenance and age fatigue.
I would seriously consider changing them for new in any resto, as a matter of course.
When you go in the Triumph wrecking yard and find only one right hand suspension uprights but 27 left hand ones, this should be a clue. Also, when the entire British wrecking yard has ZERO heater switches, you know they were a shitty design. I had a suspension upright fail i on a Spitfire whilst turning the car around in the garage. The square acme threads fail thanks to stress and fatigue. I bought 3 GT6's and several Spitfires over the years where the right front suspension dropped the frame to the ground. I cringe when I see people stuffing Ford 302 engines in a Spitfire knowing how easily the suspension fails.
Great Video. No talking needed. I want one! Oh well, will have to settle for my 99 Miata!
That handled surprisingly well. One of my dream cars.
My very first car was a Spitfire Mk III. They are fun, but be prepared for a lot of diy as the quality is...well...british 😊. My current sportscar is a S2000. Love that car.
It would be nice to see those cars on the streets again. This ASMR is so satisfying, thank you :-).
I had a 1975 1500 I bought in Scotland when I was in the US Navy. Brought it back to the states.
A college roommate had a spitfire 1500.
I loved that car!
Bring it back...update a few features..
Classic.
I love the black trim and wire wheels. Mine has dual exhaust and sounds great too.
Great car great sounds. Thanks for the thrill. It pumped my blood. Wonder if the driver was over extending his arms? Maybe the seat was reclined a click too much. When I was coming up three of my brothers had sports cars and autocrossed with the local region of the SCCA. One had a bugeye and then later an Alfa. Next brother had a Datsun 1600 roadster and later a Jag. Next brother had a Flat 850. Oh and first brother's girlfriend had a MGTF. What a great environment. As for me I always loved all those cars but followed my own passion of amateur bicycle racing. No regrets. Thanks for your exciting video.
Beautyfull intro😍
Tr-250 owner here, NICE
Gorgeous car, gorgeous road!
The six cylinder fast back was pretty powerful. Love the looks and feel. The driving gloves are a bit much
One of the only two seater sports cars I love as much as my 280ZX.
I love the intro 🎶🎶
Thanks!
The year was 1971 and I would drive from Reno to Travis AFB. Driving my Spot do highway 50. Fun fun fun.
Wouldn’t that be HWY80?
@@JahBreh No it was Hy way 50.Then as now I seldom drive Interstate highways.
@@Helm-w1q HWY50 is fun but HWY80 is the one that goes to Reno
@@JahBreh give me a break . It's been 53 years since I drove that. And I am not Rand McNally. Highway 50 runs all the way from the east coast to Sacramento Cal. I don't know every inch of it.
@@Helm-w1q sorry i wasnt trying to give you a hard time. I live between travis and reno on i80. but yes I agree HWY50 is a good drive
3:50 No need Skyline GTR, you can do it with Spitfire too. 👍
I have a spitfire 1500...I call her Fatina..😂😂😂
What rims are those?
I think I found this car at my work place but its look abandonned and its been there for a few years, it looks run down and i'm thinking of asking my boss if it works or can I even buy it
One of these revolting heaps nearly killed me, taking a curve at speed the rear wheel tucked in on itself ! and I did a 360, fortunately no other vehicles around. Bastard suspension system was lethal.
These cars are definitely dated.
I think that must have been an earlier model.
Yes it was one of the first in the show room, I think it was 1963/4. Rust spots appeared through the paintwork, Triumph rep said the body had been left out in the rain prior to spraying. They did fix it, but I was never happy, I vowed never to buy a British car ever again, and I never did to this day !
Is this a stock spitfire engine?
Yes it is
where can I get those gloves?
so cool, any upgrades?
Did anyone else notice how bald the inside edges of both front tires looked when he tilted the front end (0:41 to 0:45)?
Yes , I did notice the tyres were bald on the inside.
Not that slow, just takes time get Up speed, it's a roadster
Did those back wheels tuck under when the rear went?
They addressed the problem in about 1973 by widening the track of the rear axle and giving the wheels a negative camber. Behind a later Spitfire in traffic, the set up did look odd but worked quite well.
It is worth saying that the Spittie was generally light on the back axle and this made for hard work in snow.
I had a rally driver test drive my 74 spit on a very winding road, scared the hell out of me but the rear never came close to breaking out
What year of spitfire is this?
I believe its 1974 but could be wrong
When i was 5 years old i threw a stick at a red sports car. The driver stomped on the brakes, got out and whooped my butt in front of God and everybody. 😂😂😂😂 Not exactly sure what kind of car it was but it looked just like this car.
Carro hermoso
Hello. How tall are you please?
what year is this car?
I believe its 1974 but could be wrong
Is it just me or was anyone else bothered by the steering wheel being profoundly out of alignment? Great looking car but that kinda ruined the video for me. Why would you not fix that? The whole point in that car is the driving experience.
How tall is the driver?
180 cm (almost 6 ft)
I was two or three inches taller and used a Spitfire daily for about five years. No problems as such but my knees took some punishment from regular use of the car.
@@jonathanlewis453 Thanks that’s helpful
If you want one, get it now. They are still under $200.000
You stole the car?
Not digging the blacked out rims and bumpers. A Shame!
You have to use gloves to drive that little thing!
This type of spitfire was the slowest version of them all
Usa destroyed triumph spitfire heart
この顔が大好きですが私はクーペが好きなので、GT6 MkⅢを求めています。
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. Now they even want to slow down all the gas pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime. "Bundesabgasbespaßungsverbot" in German!
Wrong?? From 2035 all new cars will have to be EVs, classics and used cars won't be touched
@@Rialas Please cite me your sources saying that in 2030 all internal combustion engine cars will be banned.
Yes but thankfully Britain is no longer helping our German cousins Bank roll the EU . We have left it to you Germans. So no problem driving our classic cars here . 😂🏴🇬🇧
WRONG ! Get your facts straight! 2030 is proposed cutoff date for the supply of NEW ic cars
Yes and all the cows in the world will have corks in their butts. It is not wise to spread false rumors