now that i have the beast in a (somewhat) drivable condition i can start to put together a hit list...

for the record, everytime i drive the car my hit list gets longer and longer.

the first thing i notice is that the car has more rattles and hums than a U2 album
bonnet locating pins are shot so the bonnet is buzzing on the firewall, ashtray insert lid makes a rediculous buzzy rattle noise, rearview mirror glass rattles in the housing and there is something in the trunk that just won't quit...i thought it was the fuel line aginst the side of the tank but i put a piece of foam in between and I still have the noise...maybe it is the sliders in the prop rod...

i guess i shouldn't be compaining about the buzzing and rattling...it actually helps drown out the insesent buzz of the monza exhaust... item number 22 on the hit list.

the other thing i find is that every single piece of rubber in the front end is in sad shape... driving this car is almost like driving a remote controlled car...oh yeah...the breaks pull some as well...

so...the first order of business is the front suspension and breaks.

under all the grime was a fairly solid spitfire...it is going to need some work, make no mistake.
the first order of business is to get it going down the road so i can shake the rest of the problems out of it.

new tune up parts, coil, cap, rotor, wires....
the PO had installed a pertronix module, weber DGAV, and a monza exhaust so i guess he wasn't all bad.

i got the carb issue sorted...it seems that the mechanic i bought it from, who claimed to have rebuilt the carb in an attempt to fix the problem neglected to pop out the emulsion tubes and clean them or put a rebuild kit on it... so... a rebuild kit and a proper clenaing later and i am driving up the road.

first thing i notice is a lack of power (i know its only 60hp) and it still wants to stutter and fall if you get to far into the throttle.

as the rest of the ignition parts are new i decide to have a closer look at the dizzy... i get it apart and find that the thrust washer between the shaft and the main housing boss is supposed to be lubed and serviced...it hasen't been and as a result the rotor now is sitting low in the cap. i take the parts to my local british car guy (Mark Raspi) and he gets me set up with a proper thrust washer and some great advice. I clean and reassemble the parts and out for a test drive....

the power is better but i still have that problem with the upper end revs and power...

All good stories have a begining, weather or not this will be a good story will be revealed in the telling.

Back in the mid 70's a friend of my dad bought a yellow Spitfire and dropped by our house to show my dad. Dad was working on this guys 36 Plymouth coupe at the time and I was about 7 years old.

My dads friend took me for a ride in that little yellow car and I was hooked. Ever since I have been able to drive I have wanted one of these cars.
However, I understood that this car was not a "daily driver" for commuting to work everyday, hauling people, etc. If I was to have one I knew it would have to be my second car. Life carried on, the wife came, followed by the kids, the house, the car payments...
everytime I found myself with a bit of extra cash I found myself without the space and time for a second car...and whenever I had the space and time...well...I didn't have the extra money.

I have been watching pricing on these cars and reading blogs and doing research trying to prep myself for the day when I would have one.

About two years ago I saw a red Triumph Spitfire 1500 sitting in the lot of a small mechanic shop near my house. On a whim I stopped in and looked the car over and asked the price. The guy tells me $3000. That was too much for the car as it sat and well outside of the budget I had set for myslef.

Jump forward to two weeks ago. I notice that the little red Triumph is still there. I figure the guy may be willing to deal on the car two years later so I stop in again. I get the keys and the little 4 banger fires right up. Oil looks good, interior looks to be in decent shape under all the dirt and grime. The top is shot, there are a couple of dings, and some small rust spots... Tseller says that the car will not go down the road due to what he feels is a carb issue. It starts rolling but when you apply the gas to speed up it just bogs down and kinda falls on its face. I ask how much. he say he is asking $1400. i think to myself "now were getting someplace". I tell him I will get back to hime on it. Needless to say i didn't have $1400 just laying around...but i did have some "stuff" laying around. I sell some stuff and manage to gather up about $1000. I return with $900 in hand and $100 stashed in my pocket. I say $900 he says $1200, I say $950, he says $1100, I say $1000 is all I got. he accepts, I grab a trailer and my father-in-laws truck and bring it home.

I was able to drive it up on the trailer and up into the driveway but a test drive around the cul-de-sac confirms what the seller had said...it falls on its face if you try to give it any juice at all.

back up the drive for a good cleaning. The engine is covered with oil and the body has about 5 years worth of sun damage and road grime on it...engine brite for the engine...zip wax for the body... vacuum/shampoo/armoral for the interior. Now I can get close to it without getting covered in dirt... to be continued....