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Spitfire Do you think it's worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

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Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Hi Jan,

That is the same year as mine. I am in central PA, so if you ever want to take a spin with me, guaranteed yours will look mighty good by comparison!

Good luck with your decision. By the way, I paid a little over 2,000 for mine, no rust on the body, floor boards have been welded, paint peeling badly, interior shot, hard top, no soft top, straight, all parts there, and runs like a mink when the battery isn't dead. I'd pay 4500 for that any day of the week.

Dan
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

The car looks ok to me as well. Yes it can use some work but almost all triumphs need work of some type.

If you feel the price is good and you like the car then pay the money and be happy. You may always find a better deal but maybe not. The trick is to stop looking once you buy the car if you don't want to worry about the price.

Is the car worth 4500 dollars to you? You are the only one that counts.
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Car looks good! I have seen some Spits around here alot cheaper but needing work. I would offer the 4000.00 and take the other 500.00 put it on the road and detail work. Cleaning and detailing the engine compartment will bring it up to that 4500.00 mark.

I would say go for it!
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

You 'd have no decision if I had spotted it first! lol
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Depending on what you want to do with the car, please consider the rust factor. IF (and this is a big "if") the rust is superficial (it almost never is) and does not affect the car's structural safety/rigidity, it's not a big problem. Remember that the sills and floor pans are stress-bearing members in these cars. Weak or deteriorated pans/sills, etc., can, in some cases, be hazardous.

Rust and collision damage are really your only concerns. If the frame is straight and you don't mind driving with the rust, I'd say go for it.

However, having said all that, at some point you'll probably want to repair the rust (I would). Then, you're faced with doing it yourself (not for the uninitiated) or paying someone else to do it (cost could approach or exceed the $4,500 value of the car if done correctly). Remember, the rust will NEVER get better, it only spreads and gets worse.

If you are dead-set on a roundtail Spit, wait. A good example will come your way. It's worth waiting for if you really want one, trust me. :yesnod:

Let us know, good luck!
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

You are all thinking way too much . The guy is 18 and his father has looked at it. Just hand over the money and get out on the road.
When I was 18 I fell in love with a TR3. It was all shiny and black. The reason it was shiny was it was a wrecked car that had been painted. That never affected how much fun I had with it.
I had to sell it before I went to Viet Nam when I was 20. I still think of that car. What if like so many others I didn't come home?
Like Tom said "you are the only one that counts"
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Rhodyspit75 said:
You are all thinking way too much . The guy is 18 and his father has looked at it. Just hand over the money and get out on the road.
When I was 18 I fell in love with a TR3. It was all shiny and black. The reason it was shiny was it was a wrecked car that had been painted. That never affected how much fun I had with it.
I had to sell it before I went to Viet Nam when I was 20. I still think of that car. What if like so many others I didn't come home?
Like Tom said "you are the only one that counts"
Click to expand...

You have a very good point there, Rhodyspit. Not bad advice! :cheers:
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

I have to agree with Rhodyspit. I got my TR4A senior year in high school and it was a rusty bucket of junk even for $500, but I have fond memories of driving it those first few years and it was amazing how much I learned on my own about fixing and maintaining British cars!

Scott
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

My father and I are picking the car up this Friday at noon!
grin.gif


Thanks everyone for your advice! (If you have more however, It is always appreciated as I now for the first time am delving into the wonders of open top British motoring!) This is quite exciting.
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Congrats. You will have fun and sometimes tears. I am also excited to see another roundtail spitfire user on the board. There are some really great people on this board and are very helpful. You will always remember this car.

My first car was a 65 Chevy impala that was a farm car and I had to hose out the mud and other farm stuff from inside the car as well as the trunk. Lucky it had so many holes in it. This car was a jem, it got 10 miles to the quart of oil, 16 miles to a gallon of water and I am not sure what the gas milage was but it got me from point a to point b.
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Congratulations! Good purchase.
 
Re: Do you think its worth it? - 1964 Spitfire MK1

Congratulations. At the risk of sounding like your father (grandfather?) . Be careful out there.
 
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