70s Custom One of a Kind hand built Fiberglass Wide Body V8 Spitfire

1967 Triumph Spitfire WideBody Targa 327c.i. V8 4Speed Trans/Axle IRS

This is one very different Triumph Spitfire.It draws a crowds of critics and skeptics. I had to buy it when I saw it floating in the craigslist cesspools.It was in typical barnfind condition andrequired a bit of work to get it to where it is now. The attention is almost overwhelming and can be hard to handle if your easily offended by persons with loose lips. No one expects it to sound like it does when it fires up.The 327is well built L79 clone andsounds like it should be on a racetrack with only straight pipe mufflers. I would guess it to be around 300-350hp. Most people guess everything but what it is and most everyone assumes it to be a kit car of some sorts. It is not a kit paddcar of any sorts. Will be adding a link to video shortly.
This 1967 triumph was shipped to Japan when it wasnew. The first owner was a woman stationed at an USAirForce base in Japan. It was first registered as aprivately owned military service vehicle. The 2nd owner, an afengineerstationed at the basebought it in 1969 and in 1970 had it shipped to the US where he built the Triumph into a one of a kind 70s custom.The Triumph has been primarilystored for about 25 years.The body is a not a complete fiberglass body. It utilizes the original hood, trunk lid and body with fiberglass laidovera steel heavy gauge wire-frame. The fiberglass body is not weak or flimsy . There are many sizablw cracks in the hood, but the wire frame is strong under it all.The targa top is a two piece custom made set. I have purchased all new seals for the doors and the top.
The chevy 327 millfires up easily. I have had to use a little spray of starting fluid a few times after letting it sit for a few weeks. It has a electric fuel pump that can be heard until it starts, then all you can hear is the engine. The clutch is strong and goes into gears/shifts withno problem.
Engineis a67 327 Chevy, 4bolt main,Double hump heads,stock lifters/rockers & mild cam, quadrajet carb, revs quick and soundsnasty.It was built by a speed shop in Chandler Arizona. There is no smoke,ticks, tocks, or funny noises, just a great exhaust note. Clutch is a coild sping 10" sprun for max pressure. The clutch pedal is very stiff. There is a fabricated adapter on the bell housing that connects a overdrive unit. It is always in overdrive, making up for rear end gearing/small tires. The rear mounted Transmission/Axleis aSaginaw 4speed from amid-engine V8 Corvair. An adapter was made to provide a driveshaft input to the nose of the transmission. This was very common with mid-engine corvairs. The shift throw is very short. The radiator is1970s chevy truck. The gastank is stock but an additional 8.5 gallon tank was added below the trunk. They are connected together so the stock filler fills both tanks.
The front brakes are from aSpitfire GT and the rear are corvair drums with a pressure regulator. The rear hubs were redrilled to have the same bolt pattern as the front. The master cylinder was replaced a couple months.
Seats are from a later model Spitfire. They were re-upholstered with some thick shag like material but the color is wrong. The custom dashboardhas working gauges. The front parking lights are 60s chevy van, the tail lights are Mustang II.
Only therockers have rusted. the underbody, floors or frame are not rusted
I have only driven it only around the neighborhood under 40mph. But it has started and driven reliably around every few days for about 3 months now. The tires are too old and dryrotted from storage and the treads commonly separate and damage the wheel well, I have not been willing to risk that. At low speeds the car feels amazingly nimble and begs for throttle. Basically what it needs is to change all the fluids, rubber hoses,replace the tires, brake pads, shocks, door/window/top seals and get all the lights working and drive it as it is and figure out any bugs it has, thenlastly repair the body. I will be doing that slowly and the price will go up accordingly.
This is just abouteverything I know so far about the Triumph.
The title is clear and is 2ndissued titlefrom 1970, signed and notarized.
I have listed it a few times on Ebay once at a price higher than I would pay for it and what I think anyone else would pay for it simply to let people see it and see what they thought. A few social media pages and enthusiast pagesfeatured it and the response was overwhelmingly on the negative side to say the least. After that I listed it no reserve and decided to let it go for what ever it went to.In the end neither the high bidder no the 2nd high bidder followed through. The 2nd high bidder was local and backed out of at least coming out and and seeing it.
It is offered here at the same price it was bid to No-Reserve. I see the Triumph as a time machine window to an era when build it at home guys were building full custom wireframe fiberglass bodies inspired by the KUSTORAMA....incredible imaginations inspired by guys like Gene Winnfeild, Barris, Bill Cushenbery, and Ed Roth Steve Scott....the list goes on.Guys did this kinda stuff still maybe butthe majorityhave moved away from it in favor of18 speed IPOD controlled transmissions factory raceteam builtcrate super motors and 22" carbon fiber brakes anda hint of what car it used to be....such asthe legendary epic HOONIGANmustang. I love that creation. someday....if you buy this I will be closer to that someday. I just do not want to build it out of this Triumph.
Please ask any questions.Thanks.

• Make: Triumph
• Model: Spitfire
• Type: Convertible
• Trim: WideBody Targa 327c.i. V8 4Speed Trans/Axle IRS
• Year: 1967
• Mileage: 116,000
• Engine size: 327 Chevy
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Power options: Air Conditioning
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: 4 speed Saginaw Trans/Axle
• Drive type: RWD
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Vehicle Title: Clear
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