Spitfire Was the spitfire a body & frame car pre-73?

[Deleted member 3577]

What were the last body on frame cars built before 73? Not the exotics. Was the spitfire one of these?

 

[Bugeye58]

Yes, the Spit was always a body on frame car.
Jeff

 

[aeronca65t]

Yes. Jeff's correct about all Spits.

In fact, *all* Triumph sports cars have a seperate frame, except the TR-7.

 

[Banjo]

Of our LBCs a short list of the more popular ones is like this
1.Body on frame
-A.TR2,3,3a,3b,4,4a,250/5,6
-B.Spitfire (all years)
-C.MGTC,TD,TF,A
-D.Jaguar XK120,140,150, and saloons
-E.Austin Healey 100-4, 100-6, 3000
2.Unibody (no seperate frames)
-A.MGB-C-BGT
-B.MG midget/Austin Healey Sprite
-C.Mini
-D.MG 1100 (and all the other names it was called)
-E.Triumph TR7,8
The jaguar E-Type was more of a space frame, built kind of like an aircraft. Unibody tub, framework bolted to the firewall suppourting the engine and front suspension.

There's tons more but this is the basics.

 

[Bugeye58]

Ben,
(B) Spitfire <u>and</u> GT6, all years.
Had to get the GT6 plug in there.
Jeff

 

[Banjo]

Good catch. I knew I'd miss some.
I should have gotten that one too. I like the GT6

 

[dklawson]

Jeff, you asked on another thread what the production number is on my GT6. Mine's KC6233L, fairly early but not among the first.

Banjo, the Mini is a sort of hybrid regarding its frame type. It is a unibody for the coach and the body does provide the fore/aft stiffness. However, the engine and front suspension are are attached to a front "sub-frame" that bolts onto the body. Likewise, the rear suspension is a complete sub-frame subassembly that bolts on. The only exception to the rear is that the top mounts for the shocks attach to the body.

 

[frankenstang57]

[ QUOTE ]
In fact, *all* Triumph sports cars have a seperate frame, except the TR-7

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, but the Stag was a unic-body as well! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif But then again, I guess it wasn't a *real* sports car!

 

[Bugeye58]

[ QUOTE ]
Jeff, you asked on another thread what the production number is on my GT6. Mine's KC6233L, fairly early but not among the first.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, Doug. I'm always curious as to whether I can find a close relative to mine. I like the MkI's the best of the bunch, warts and all.
Jeff

 

[Andrew Mace]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jeff, you asked on another thread what the production number is on my GT6. Mine's KC6233L, fairly early but not among the first.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, Doug. I'm always curious as to whether I can find a close relative to mine. I like the MkI's the best of the bunch, warts and all.


[/ QUOTE ]There is an online GT6 Regsistry at <https://www.teglerizer.com/InternationalGT6database/>. Organization is more or less by commission number, but scan through the whole list, as it tends to jump around a bit. There is a KC6255 on that list (twice, in fact); that's pretty close!

 

[Bugeye58]

Thanks, Andy. Mine (KC5048LO) is already in there.
One of these days I'll update the condition from "In restoration" to "Finished and tearing up the highway!"
Jeff

 

[dklawson]

This is diverging into a brief GT6 discussion. That said....

I restored our GT6 a decade ago (except for the engine). It is seldom used these days and the restoration (and engine) are showing their age. I need to put effort into the engine before things decay further. Still, with four people in the family and the GT6 being a 2-seater it's hard to give the car the road time it needs. I love taking that car on the highway.

 

[Deleted member 3577]

Thanks folks for the great response. The reason I asked was because a young, very enthusiastic friend of mine asked me for a recommendation. I immediately thought pre 73 spit (even though I'm kind of an MG guy) because of their separate frame. It is likely that what he buys will be in need of some metal work.

 

[Deleted member 3577]

Jeff,
Your avatar...Did it take a roll in the kitty litter? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Bugeye58]

Yeah, it did one aileron roll, and then an outside loop. The corner workers said I was twenty feet in the air.
What a rush.
Jeff

 

[Deleted member 3577]

Better change to N58 if yer gonna keep that up.