November 21, 2009, 09:51:47 pm *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with username, password and session length
Day-by-Day Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8GT; Day 3
So the Genesis Coupe isn't the most practical sports car around, says James, but what really matters here is how the car drives. And it's in that department that this car really shines, he says.

Read the article | View the photos | All the blogs
News: Used Vehicle Review: Pontiac G6, 2005-2009
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]   Go Down
« previous next »
  Print  
Author Topic: CD Article: Triumph Spitfire, 1963-1980  (Read 1054 times)
Arthur Dent
Drunk on Fuel
****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Posts: 2361



View Profile
 Stats

Champion of
 
« on: March 10, 2008, 03:46:29 pm »
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/bv/63-80spitfire.htm

Great to see an article on the Triumph Spitfire with a little GT6 thrown in too.

Great cars - I loved mine.

But one little correction. The MkIV Spitfire (and 1500) still had swing axle suspension it was just modified to avoid any nasty camber changes. In fact the MkIII GT6 used the same swing axle suspension. Only the MkII GT6 had the fully articulated independent rear suspension.
Logged
tpl
Car Crazy
*****
Offline Offline

Vehicle: VW GTI, Honda Fit
Gender: Male
Location: The Royal City
Posts: 10490



View Profile
 Stats
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2008, 09:22:59 am »
My second and last crash was in a Spitfire ( in 1968)... do not drive a Spitfire in ill fitting, oversized Wellington boots.

When they were introduced in the UK, Triumph subsidized the Insurance for a year or so. The idea was that young men could afford to drive one. IIRC that got too expensive and then the gov regulated that idea out of existence.

Logged
In what is seen, there should be just the seen;
In what is heard, there should be just the heard;
In what is sensed, there should be just the sensed;
In what is thought, there should be just the thought.
 The Buddha.
Arthur Dent
Drunk on Fuel
****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Posts: 2361



View Profile
 Stats

Champion of
 
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2008, 10:49:15 am »
Having owned a Spitfire I surely wouldn't have wanted to crash in one. They seemed to have the crash worthiness of a paper bag.
Logged
tpl
Car Crazy
*****
Offline Offline

Vehicle: VW GTI, Honda Fit
Gender: Male
Location: The Royal City
Posts: 10490



View Profile
 Stats
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2008, 10:55:25 am »
Quote from: Arthur Dent on March 11, 2008, 10:49:15 am
Having owned a Spitfire I surely wouldn't have wanted to crash in one. They seemed to have the crash worthiness of a paper bag.

A low speed crash, following a light truck with no brake lights too closely ( at 30 mph) and 'cos of the big boots my foot hit the gas before it hit the brake.  All my fault.  sheet metal damage ( destroyed the hood) but the car was still driveable.

No seat belts either.
Logged
In what is seen, there should be just the seen;
In what is heard, there should be just the heard;
In what is sensed, there should be just the sensed;
In what is thought, there should be just the thought.
 The Buddha.
stickshift
Auto Obsessed
***
Offline Offline

Vehicle: Whatever they're paying me to drive this week / 1997 Mazda Protege beater
Gender: Male
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 546

Automotive journalism ninja


View Profile
 Stats
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2008, 10:22:03 am »
Quote from: Arthur Dent on March 10, 2008, 03:46:29 pm
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/bv/63-80spitfire.htm

Great to see an article on the Triumph Spitfire with a little GT6 thrown in too.

Great cars - I loved mine.

But one little correction. The MkIV Spitfire (and 1500) still had swing axle suspension it was just modified to avoid any nasty camber changes. In fact the MkIII GT6 used the same swing axle suspension. Only the MkII GT6 had the fully articulated independent rear suspension.

I'll ask Bill about this. Thanks for posting.  Cool
Logged
Buy this car to drive to work; Drive to work to pay for this car...
Arthur Dent
Drunk on Fuel
****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Posts: 2361



View Profile
 Stats

Champion of
 
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2008, 12:06:13 pm »
Thanks. I quite enjoy these motoring memories articles.
Logged
safristi
Car Crazy
*****
Offline Offline

Vehicle: Mazda Millenia Millenium S 2000 MMMMedition; 1997 Ford Ranger
Gender: Male
Location: Bethlehem
Posts: 35210



View Profile
 Stats
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2008, 12:16:08 pm »
 "SUSPENSION" of disbelief.......a case of nomenclature ov'r fact...the TRIUMPHKamikaze would have been a more apt name.......... Bang Thinker Dancy Banana Evil
Logged
stickshift
Auto Obsessed
***
Offline Offline

Vehicle: Whatever they're paying me to drive this week / 1997 Mazda Protege beater
Gender: Male
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 546

Automotive journalism ninja


View Profile
 Stats
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2008, 02:01:10 pm »
Quote from: Arthur Dent on March 14, 2008, 12:06:13 pm
Thanks. I quite enjoy these motoring memories articles.

Still waiting on a response from Bill, by the way. He's, ah, a little slow in the whole checking e-mail thing.  Wink
Logged
Buy this car to drive to work; Drive to work to pay for this car...
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
CarTalkCanada > The Press Room > CanadianDriver Articles/Reviews > Topic: CD Article: Triumph Spitfire, 1963-1980
 « previous next »
 
Jump to:  



Don't miss these great features

Photo Galleries
1000s of photos, with full screen enlargements, all 2006 - Today models

Focus on Trucks
We've brought all our truck reviews and photos together in one place. Easy.

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.4 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC      Disclaimer        Privacy Advertise
© 2005 - 2009 CarTalkCanada & 1999 - 2009 CanadianDriver Communications Inc, all rights reserved.
Page created in 0.074 seconds with 29 queries.