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Spitfire Spitfire question for CA owners

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SCguy

SCguy

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Ok... Here I go again. I've located a very original 73 Spitfire, faily priced, with overdrive. A perfect rolling restoration! My plan is to buy it next weekend from a forum member 400 miles away and trailer it home.

Now I'm being tempted by a 79 (has to be smoged, nonoverdrive) very clean Spitfire locate 30 minutes away. My guess is that the seller will want more money, but I'll take a look at it this Saturday.

My question.. is the 73 smog exempted vehicle clearly more desirable? All thing being equal, which one would you buy? The easy purchase or the long drive? The Spitfire will be drivng a good deal on a freeway. Is overdrive on a Spitfire just nice or a necessity? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ok... Here I go again. I've located a very original 73 Spitfire, faily priced, with overdrive. A perfect rolling restoration! My plan is to buy it next weekend from a forum member 400 miles away and trailer it home.

Now I'm being tempted by a 79 (has to be smoged, nonoverdrive) very clean Spitfire locate 30 minutes away. My guess is that the seller will want more money, but I'll take a look at it this Saturday.

My question.. is the 73 smog exempted vehicle clearly more desirable? All thing being equal, which one would you buy? The easy purchase or the long drive? The Spitfire will be drivng a good deal on a freeway. Is overdrive on a Spitfire just nice or a necessity? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're going to be on the freeway, you'll NEED the overdrive (and so will the Spit!).

Mickey
 
While I've nothing against the very last of the Spitfires (in all their safety-bumpered, smogged glory), one might argue that the 1973 model is the last "great" Spitfire. It was the first year in the US for the larger engine and the wider rear track, and the last year before the cars began to get heavier with various impact bumper overriders and other goodies. And while I don't consider OD an absolute necessity, it is a giant plus for highway driving in terms of fuel economy and reduced "buzzy-ness"!
 
400 miles isn't all that far.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif I would rather have a nonsmogged than a regular Spit that you have to smog. I currently own a 79 Spit, and its a hassle to get a smog done on it, since most of the smog kids don't even know which end of the car to work on. Although I finally did find a decent mechanic who does smog. If yopu're planning to work on your car its also a benefit not having to deal with all the extra plumbing that comes with the 79.
Don't bother with the 79
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif

Cheers,

Rob
 
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