Spitfire E-Bay '70 Spitfire-- Questions???

[CraigFL]

Does anyone know about this car?
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-TRIU...1QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen it on ebay at least 3 other times in the last several months. It seems like it has been "sold" before but this owner claims he's owned it for the last year?

 

[Hayfever]

Wasn't the first year for the Mk 4 Spit 1971? My friend had a 70 Mk 3 which had a distinctive RAF-logo Spitfire badge on the hood.

BTW, the work was done by a "certified mechanic for Triumph". Who is certifying Triumph mechanics? Surely not BMW.

 

[JamesWilson]

I'm always a little wary when the English used in e-bay ads doesn't sound right. This has a lot of mistakes:

"... NEW EXILES" ???- ...someone fleeing Cuba hiding in the trunk, perhaps?
"PAINT JOB FRONT TO BACK", the sides too?
"2 BACK LIGHTS COVERS",
"RADIATOR COMPONENTS" ... a new cap? or re-cored?

"THE VEHICLE IS IN MY POSSESSION FOR A YEAR, AND I HAVE BEEN REPLACING IN IT PIECE BY PIECE. THE CAR BELONG TO A WOMAN." belonged.

"THINGS THAT NEES TO BE REPLACED - INTERIOR DOOR COVERS, AND BREAK PUMP." panels... brake M/C would they mean?

I certainly wouldn't say these things in that way... it just seems very, very odd.

As does their being a e-bay member since March with 0 deals done.

The pictures look ok, as though they might really be in Fla.

But the fake wire wheel covers really are criminal! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[billspit]

I'd be a little leary due to the bad English and obvious mistakes (1970 model). Car also appears to have a quickie paint job. If I bought it I's take cash in hand instead of paying any other way.

 

[Andrew Mace]

[ QUOTE ]
Wasn't the first year for the Mk 4 Spit 1971? My friend had a 70 Mk 3 which had a distinctive RAF-logo Spitfire badge on the hood.

[/ QUOTE ]
You are correct. Lots of "knowledgeable" folk still don't seem to get the concept that Triumph did go by "model years" and not just by calendar years...and had been doing so since at least the latter part of the 1950s. The MkIV was introduced late in calendar year 1970 as a 1971 model; fact is, I'm pretty sure no one in the US would've seen a MkIV Spitfire before early (calendar year) 1971. I remember watching for the "new" Spitfire myself back then. Of course, being a poor college student at the time, I had to settle for a used '69 Mk3 Spitfire that I shared with my dad (ostensibly to "retire" his Herald, which I'm still hoping to restore some 35 years later)!

Same thing with the "original" Spitfire 4. It was officially introduced in the US in January 1963, but some folks here still insist they have 1962 Spitfires. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, the work was done by a "certified mechanic for Triumph". Who is certifying Triumph mechanics? Surely not BMW.

[/ QUOTE ] Good point. I suppose a certification from JRT/ BLMC/ whatever, from 25+ years ago, might still be considered valid! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif