Wild Triumph Spitfire

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/2488569628.html

I know there's a story behind this one. Anyone recognize it?

That is the same year as mine. Why would you swap in the 1500 though?

I'd buy that for a dollar. /Robocop

Someone really wanted a D-type jag, but couldn't afford it...

Different.

Worth every penny.

I don't think that's a Spitfire body that been modified. Maybe an aftermarket body on a Spitfire frame or maybe just a Spitfire engine. It looks kinda Elvaish to me.

I like it.

Huh. I thought it was old. But the guy sent me some more pictures. Supposed to call him tonight just to chat.

Engine looks to be a bone stock US 1500.

Any idea what kind of price he is thinking about?

He said he's looking for 8,500-9,500 or trade on a CJ-5 or CJ-7.

I'm going to give him a call later just to talk about the car. I'm curious about it. He knows I'm not a buyer, just an interested person.

I used to race Spitfires and thought I had seen it all. That's definately different, especially the Jag D type air foil.

foxtrapper wrote: He said he's looking for 8,500-9,500 or trade on a CJ-5 or CJ-7. I'm going to give him a call later just to talk about the car. I'm curious about it. He knows I'm not a buyer, just an interested person.

$8,500 is way too much for that car IMHO.

Any competition history in that configuration? That would be interesting.

I like it! I think it looks a bit more like a corvette then a jag.

Spent some time on the phone with him last night. It is not a kit car body, it is a very highly modified Spitfire body. No Elva in there.

He got it years ago down in Tennessee, in this configuration. He is under the impression it was raced there, but never found proof of that. He did some racing himself, discovering that he was no racer. He's moved around in the ensuing years, and brought the car with him as he went. Currently, he's up in the northern Virginia area.

The body work is massive amounts of bondo. Many inches thick. It was that way when he got it, and in his restoration of it he simply repaired it back to what it had been modified to. I did ask him if that front end was fiberglass. He said it was not, that there is the stock steel bonnet in there, with all the seams and edges bondo'd shut, and the front built up, and the MGA like hood cut into it. Fascinating!

The engine is a stock 1500, single ZS, etc. Purrs like a kitten according to him, and I've no reason to suspect otherwise.

The number 26 has no historic significance. He likes one of the numbers (2 or 6, forgot which), his wife likes the other number. Ran them together and got 26. No wonder I couldn't find anything!

And that's about what I know. He's an enthusiastic Spitfire owner, plans to get another some day in the future. He's looking for a new owner for this very unique Spitfire.