Description

1964 Triumph Spitfire-6 MkI

2.0-litre six-cylinder conversion driven 100 miles to the sale; looks well, sounds well and goes well - prettiest variant with some proper poke and massive history file

Supplied new by Hollingdrake Automobile Company Limited of Stockport, Cheshire in February 1964 this pretty Spitfire MkI has been treated to a body-off restoration during the mid to late 90s which may have been when the car was re-trimmed to include the lovely burgundy interior we see here with cream vinyl hood, tonneau and half tonneau covers included.

The car has also been treated to a GT6 engine conversion, likely using the 2.0-litre straight six engine from a Vitesse as referenced later. The Heritage Certificate on file confirms the car was built in February 1964 and finished in white, originally with black (Vynide) trim and black hood featuring disc wheels with a heater and windscreen washer fitted as extras. 

Recent spend includes £439 spent in February this year on an MOT inspection and repairs including a new thermal sensor and plug set, and new fan and switch and four new tyres in 2019 and purchase of a set of five 13” Le Mans style alloy wheels finished in Old English White from Jigsaw of Corby in March 2006 costing £582.50 and another dated July 2009 for engine (Vitesse HC engine no. 6726) rebuild parts including main bearings, big end bearings, pistons, exhaust valves, inlet valves, timing chain etc also from Jigsaw of Corby.

Other more historic parts bills on file (of which there is a huge ream) mostly date from the mid/late ‘90s and look to support the restorative works undertaken with many of them from supplied like Moss and RJ Car Spares Ltd along with a further selection of conventionally sized photographs of the work done along with some A4 sized images of the car pre-restoration when it looks to have been black too.

A newspaper cutting in the file from what looks like the mid-90s (given the style of mobile phones being advertised!) has an advert for the car circled again referencing the car having been stood since 1985 after some minor accident damage (OS door and rear wing) and also references it having a GT6 engine, the car in need of restoration on offer for just £350 ono.

The history file also includes the current V5C, and a selection of copy old log books from DVLA’s microfiche files from a request in 1994 (which details the car then as black, with 2000cc engine) which are largely illegible along with some owners club discs and old tax discs, agreed insurance valuation docs for £24,000 dated 2019 and 2020 plus 22 old MOTs dating back to 1985 at 51,370 miles.

The V5C correctly records the engine size as 2000cc, whilst the Experian report records two colour changes, one from white to black in 1998 and then from black to white again four days later in January 1998 - however, the first colour change may well not have been recorded correctly at the time given the car was noted as being black in 1994 - we are unable to advise or comment.

Although MOT exempt, the car boasts a current MOT recording no advisories and revealing the car to have covered only c.1,000 miles per year for the past few years.  Enthusiast owned, it looks like the car was also run in conjunction with an unnamed Classic Car magazine referenced on some of the more recent bills on file.

Driven some 100 miles to the sale from Somerset, the vendor informs us the car drives well, feeling exhilarating with the over-drive working as it should, the exhaust sounding throaty and car going well.  Undoubtedly the prettiest of the Spitfires, this example certainly packs rather a little more poke than the original 1,300cc lump and as a result offers the buyer something a bit different with a considerable history file and clean MOT.

For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com