Please do some research before making a statement like “a previously-unremarkable AC Ace sports car”, as not only did one place 7th overall at Le Mans in 59, but they were the car to have in SCCA racing, dominating their class for several years with numerous national class titles. Seriously, the Ace was anything but…

Roll bar if only a bolt in is worthless. Also any roll bar is too close to your head so without a helmet you're going to give yourself brain damage.

I got 36 mpg in my Spitfire at just over 70mph about 5 years ago from Hilton Head SC to Austin TX. 22 hours of driving. Also beat lots of modern cars at autocrosses in Austin in one of the most competitive clubs in the country. 

Just saw this. Well, remove the stock doors and how do the front of the doors stay secure? You’d need a latch on the front and rear of the doors. Otherwise they’ll pop open and the car will crumple like an accordion in an accident. Plus the door fron will pull away due to aerodynamic forces. Lastly, good luck getting…

That was previous generation rear end. But more than about 85-100hp depending on how it’ll be used is wasted. I upgraded mine to whre it made 63hp at the wheels, and 111lbs of torque. 0-60 in low 8 sec range but so much torque it was fast on the road and in autocrosses. But definitely upgrade wheel studs. Stock ones…

The 1500 is a very torquey engine. You don’t need to keep it in a narrow rev band. Also, the shifter is anything but a slushbox. They should be bolt action rifle precise and smooth and easy to shift. My 1500 gave fits to Spec Miatas and Alfa 4Cs on backroads and tighter road circuits. Neither could outrun me on the…

I just sold my 78 Spitfire a month ago after putting 112,000+ miles on it since early 2010. It was my only car for 7 years in Austin, TX. Drove it halfway across the country to Hilton Head, SC twice. Won a bunch of autocross class titles with it, plus several Fastest Time of Day awards. These are very durable, and…

Only if you buy a bad one that was never maintained, and don’t do some common sense things like clean the grounds when you buy it. I’ve put over 111,000 miles on my Spitfire since March 2010. In TX. Also have won numerous autocrosses with it, either class, season long class win, or outright depending on the…

Not really. Some parts are interchangeable but most of the issues are due to owners who buy them not knowing to clean grounds and connections once, then make sure to use the car.

Agree. I have a 78 Spitfire, 74 TR6, 80 TR8, 76 Porsche 914 (which is boring to drive) and 62 TR4. My Spitfire was my only car from 2010-2017, and has covered 111,000 miles since 2010. Plus it’s won lots of autocrosses, has set FTD at the last 2 Vintage Triumph Register regional autocrosses, won a national VTR title,…

I hear that so often, and usually it was due to people having an SU carb equipped car with worn throttle shafts, or a bad distributor, or bad points. If Stromberg equipped, usually there were worn needles or the diaphragm was brittle or had pinholes. Easy fixes but not many people think to look in those places.

Only need a spare transmission if you don’t keep fluid in it. Or you put incompatible oil which eats the bushings.

Funny, I’ve had many Triumphs and all were very reliable. TR7, drove it from Indy to NY many times in the mid 90s, then I had a GT6 as my only car in Indy from 96-99, Spitfire 1500 was my only car in Austin, TX from 2010-2017, and it’s covered 111,000 miles since I put it back on the road in 2010. Parts for Triumphs…

Actually the wedge Triumphs are really solid. Even stout side impact in the doors. Those shells were designed for higher output version of the TR8 engine that sadly never came.

If you drive them regularly and do a comprehensive check of everything when you buy one, a TR6 is quite reliable. I’ve covered tens of thousands of miles in them over the last 10 years. As well as over 111,000 miles in my Spitfire during the same time. Also, they are much quicker than most give credit for, but you…

The rotary swap is much more work than you think, as the entire rear end has to be redone. I have a friend who had one for a while. Fast, but not easy conversion.

I have a 78 Spitfire that is fun and cheaper than my friend’s Miatas, has covered 111,000 miles since 2010 when I put it back on the road, and wins lots of autocrosses in vintage events, and beats lots of modern cars at regular autocrosses. Still has the Triumph 1500 engine in it as well.

I had a 78 that only had Pertronix ignition, a header, and twin SUs and it wasn’t a hi comp engine and it was able to do 0-60 times of about 8 secs. For comparison, that’s what Jag XK120 and 140s did. You don’t need high compression, you need torque and getting the engine to breathe. Now it has a 76 hi comp engine and…

Triumphs are as reliable as you make them, which takes a few hours in an afternoon. I drove my Spitfire 111,000 miles from 2010-now. Look for a TR8, 3.5 liter v8, 5spd, AC. Comfortable. You can likely find one in your price range. Plus they are rare.

I’vegot a 76 914 with the factory fuel injection. It's much quicker than people think. Ask the Mustangs, Alfa 4Cs, and other supposed faster cars behind me on a speed rally in the TX hill country a few months ago.