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Spitfire Spitfire vs. TR6

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Well you can very easily get hooked on Spit rdst's i continuously get so much joy out of jumping in mine on warm afternoon.The ride is unlike anything that current.If you own a GT6 you'll ALWAYS be yearning for that clear blue sky over your head.I've had my Calif car for 4 years now and have loved every minute owning it.You can see it at;...https://www.myspitfire.zoomshare.com All restored top to bottom.....Ken
PS;Big Tr's MG's & the like seem to be all the same,but the Spitfire is a benchmark car.....As far as parts avail ability all the restore parts are very readily available,And that first ride in one will get you hooked.
 
With a '3 and a '4 in the garage it looks like a starter kit for someone who wants to "collect the whole set". I can't do that but if I was to get one more Triumph it might well be Spitfire just to have a greater contrast to the cars I already have.

Since the original post was (I think) a TR6 owner looking to get into a second Triumph -- the Spit would make a nice change of ride.
 
Ok, I can't resist... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

Why not get a wedge? A TR7 can be purchased for about the same or less than a comparable Spit, but will outperform one in both power and accelleration. The 5 speed in the later models makes them decent on the freeway (I pull about 3200 rpm @ 70mph). Most parts are readily available, and the interiors are much more comfortable than a Spit.

Now before I get beat up by all the Spit lovers, I too had one in my younger days (many, many moons ago). Really loved that car, and years later that's one reason I got back into LBCs. But the Spider has been really reliable after I got the initial sorting done, and wouldn't trade it (well, maybe for an F/I TR8 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif)
 
well the tr6 is a great car, but a spit with a six in it will dust a tr6 anyday and it can corner better in most cases too, unless the tr6 is really modified. the spit is not as durable and parts cost about the same
just my thoughts
Randy
 
I myself also owned a Spitfire (I think it was a 1978 or 1979). I'll always remember it being a very fun car. It was extremely reliable and, of course, very easy to work on. However, there's just something about the TR-6 that really gets the juices flowing. Both are great cars. They each have their own personal identity and feel.
 
I have owned a 71 Tr6, and currently own a 78 MGB and a 80 Spitfire. The TR6 and MGB are great cars but the styling of the Spitfire to me is more of the old English sports car look, must be the swoup of the rear fender. The Spitfire handles like a gocart and is very low to the ground but not as comfortable as a TR6 which seems much smoother riding. I would say that a Spitfire would make a good companion for your TR6, and are different enough from each other that it wont be like having 2 of the same cars.

I have thought about selling my Spitfire a couple of times to free up room in my garage, but a spirited ride with the top down around some corners at high speeds has always changed my mind and plastered a silly grin on my face. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Paul


spitdc1.jpg
 
On the financial side... I know of two Spits here in Colorado that are practically perfect, no expense spared restorations. Both have close to 40k in them but are worth probably 8k maximum. TR6's on the other hand can cost about the same for a full restoration but can easily bring twice or more of what the Spit would bring.

It's also been my experience that Spits tend to go thru more owners than TR6's and also tend to be butchered more than TR6's (on average). I guess there was more of an impression of "throw away" cars with the Spits. So the chances of finding one that has been really abused is greater with the Spit.

The thing to be very careful of though with the Spit6 idea is overpowering the rest of the drivetrain. A stock tuned 2.0 litre (GT6) should offer no problems but if you hot rod it or go to the 2.5 litre (TR6), the extra torque could spell the end of the trans and dif. But you could really have fun doing it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Just some more thoughts...

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
To me, the TR6 has always seemed to be more of a touring car, whereas the Spit is the car to be tossing through the twisty bits.
I've never owned a TR6, but have driven a few, and I think that if I were going go any distance, I'd take the 6. But for a day out challenging the esses, I'd pick the Spit.
Jeff
 
Just had another thought to add; the late, 1500 Spitfire might make a decent low-budget alternative to an MGA, as they are a bit similar in lines and performance, at least the early MGA 1500.
Simon.
 
My very first car, 32 yrs ago, was a 70 MkIII Spitfire. I loved that car, but it was not only underpowered, the handling in bone stock form was downright scary. I could never keep up with with my buddy's Midget in the cornering department, and with the early rear axle set up it was prone to break loose on the ragged edge and swap ends.
My next cars were a ratty TR3, then a TR4 and then a TR4A. In my opinion they were not only all better looking, and far more powerful, but certainly handled better.
I have since owned a number of MGs, Jags, Alfas, BWM etc. My previous car was a 69 MGB. My current TR250 is way more fun to drive than the last several chrome bumpered MGBs that I have owned, and better looking than all of my previous rides, with the exception of a 66 XKE (sold 28 years ago) and a 73 Alfa GTV that I had in Italy while with the US Army, and perhaps the MGA.
 
[ QUOTE ]
To me, the TR6 has always seemed to be more of a touring car, whereas the Spit is the car to be tossing through the twisty bits.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't doubt that you say that, especially if you have only driven stock TR6's. When I've driven stock TR6's back to back with my TR6 the stocker feels like a Buick.

It doesn't take a whole lot to change that GT character of the TR6 though.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Triumph had a full range of production cars down through the years has given each & every personality his or hers on personal signature,whether Spitfire4 thru TR8.,Their is a Triumph for ALL SEASONS & REASONS THAT is one reason the Triumph name will live on until the LAST rustbucket goes to the crusher.HOPEFULLY that LAST Trumph will be saved on the history channel...Just some ramblings from a different angle. My Spit is a restored road & show at; https://www.myspitfire.zoomshare.com Theirs no bragging points here just my own recent personal extension from my past LBC past.Just a pleasant place to visit a few minutes on a cold Jan winters day
 
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