1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500 with OD in great condition

1975 Triumph Spitfire Electric overdrive

I bought this 1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500 (with electric overdrive) in May 2016 with 28,812 miles showing on the odometer.Less than 2 years later, it shows 31,724 miles. The last seller was a flipper; he bought the car from a gentleman in North Carolina but I don't know if he was the original owner. He said he thought it was original miles, but I suspect the odometer has turned over once, although condition-wise he may be right.I just can't state that for certain.I absolutely love this car, so why am I selling? Last fall I bought my brother-in-law's 1978 Porsche 911SC (pic in album), so much as it pains me, the Spit has got to go. I will be as specific as I can with the good (lots) and the bad (not much), but I am making the assumption that if you are reading this, you are well-versed in the idiosyncrasies of British sports cars in general and Triumphs in particular.

This is my 2nd Spitfire; my first was a '78 I bought in college.Loved that car and learned all about repairs and maintenance, as I spent just about every weekend wrenching on it to keep it running.I bought this one 30 years later nearly to the day, with the benefit of not having to rely on it as a daily driver.That being said, this has been a great car and has spent most of the past 2 years ready to drive.If you know these cars, you know that they can be the death of a thousand paper-cuts, so I'll list the current condition, what I've done and what still needs to be done.Like most Triumph owners, we have a long list of must-do's and nice-to-do's.I never got to all the nice-to-do's.

-The car was in great shape when I got it.Paint is not original.There are a couple places where you can see the original blue (like a spot under the bonnet).Paint is in decent condition and looks great from 5 feet and farther.A bit of orange-peel here and there. I think it looks just fine for driving.

-As rust-free as you will probably ever find for these cars (unlike my first Spit, where you could push a screwdriver through the frame).I have never found any soft spot or rust other than normal slight surface rust on some of the bottom surfaces.Have never had any reason to suspect any previous damage or accidents (also unlike my first).

-Runs and drives fantastic. Overdrive functions as it should.I have detected no leaks or issues with the transmission (unlike my first Spit, which had me crawling underneath monthly to top off the fluid).

-Engine runs strong. Oil, oil filter, air filter changed recently.New fuel pump and fuel filter. Replaced leaking clutch slave cylinder with new aluminum unit.

-Originally, the engine ran hot and I was unable to find the cause.Replaced the water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, fan belt, upper and lower coolant hose, overflow bottle and hose, radiator (replaced with aluminum radiator with more surface area), radiator cap, heater valve...and still ran hot.Then I removed the block drain plugs, flushed the block and cleared a blockage which brought the temperature back down to normal.Basically every component in the cooling system has been replaced.

-Other than the valve cover (which I believe is aftermarket), the engine appears to be unmolested.The air injection pump and manifold are still in place. I did pretty much nothing substantive to the engine other than the cooling system rebuild and new fuel pump.

-Last summer the hanger straps holding the Monza exhaust broke and I left my exhaust system in downtown Baltimore during rush hour.I didn't go back to get it.Brand new Pacesetter exhaust back to the downpipe...with new hangers.

-When the car arrived, the top was up.I put the top down and put the top cover over it. It's been down ever since.The only time I've ever taken the cover off was to take photos today. Also comes with a black tonneau cover in excellent shape. I've never installed that either.Convertible top appears to be new.Rear window is crystal clear.One of the snaps that holds the cover on is broken but doesn't affect anything. Simple fix.

-Had the front end aligned and 2 new tires installed. Replaced the bonnet struts with gas cylinders.Bonnet needs to be adjusted slightly; the passenger side is higher than the driver side. I never got around to doing this.

-Electrical - replaced dash dimmer rheostat, headlight dimmer switch, headlight switch, voltage stabilizer, and I believe I've replaced the turn signal switch as well but don't show that in my notes. Fresh battery.

-Installed JVC stereo head unit with Bluetooth and removable face and new Pioneer 3-way speakers on deck behind seats.

-Interior is in great condition.Previous owner replaced seat coverings, door and rear panels, and carpet.Original dash cover appears to be cracked and a dash pad was glued over it.I was planning to replace the dash cover completely.The wood dash needs to be refinished as well.I was planning to redo this in walnut but that never made it off my to-do list either. New steering wheel.Horn does not work. Replaced the driver side seat belt with a new shoulder harness version.The passenger side still needs to be done.The new belt is still in the box and will be included. Most of the rubber trim and weatherstripping throughout seems to be new or nearly new. Replaced the wipers and side mirrors.

-This car has been parked in my shed since October.It started right up on the first try this morning.It has not been washed or detailed, so pictures will show dust, grease, and anything else that happens when you actually drive.I just wanted to show how solid the body and undercarriage are.

-Comes with the Haynes manual and a box of various new parts as well as some of the original replaced parts. New horns, wipers, heater hoses, seat belt, etc.

-More pictures and some videos of the engine running and car driving at http://m1a.net:81/photo/?t=Albums/album_5370697466697265#Albums/album_5370697466697265

I am setting the reserve for this car at $6,500.That's less than I paid for it 2 years ago even before I put another couple thousand into it. If I can't get at least that for it, I'll have to convince my wife that I need to keep it (or maybe the 911 needs to finds a new home instead).I reserve the right to end this listing early as I will be listing this locally as well.Winning bidder responsible for all pickup and shipping costs.Car is garaged in Phoenix, Maryland 21131.Good luck!

• Condition: Used
• Make: Triumph
• Model: Spitfire
• Type: Convertible
• Trim: Electric overdrive
• Year: 1975
• Mileage: 31,724
• VIN: FM34265 UO
• Color: Red
• Engine size: 1500cc
• Number of cylinders: 4
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Manual
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Tan
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Options: CD Player, Convertible
• Vehicle Title: Clear
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