Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

| 29 Jan 2025
Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

I’ve loved classic cars for as long as I can remember.

While my friends had pictures of rock bands in their bedrooms, I would stare at my Series 1 Jaguar E-type poster for hours.

Over the past couple of years I’ve been on a journey that has demonstrated how to enjoy classic car ownership on a tight budget – yes, it can be done!

It hasn’t all been happiness and laughter – and, yes, managing the finances has been challenging.

But I believe the cost is justified when you take into account the increased value of the car, the joy of ownership and my own self-development.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

This Triumph Spitfire 1500 has been restored on a controlled budget

Before I started looking at suitable models, I made friends with my wonderful local old-car community – the Basingstoke Classic Car Club – who welcomed me with open arms and gave so much priceless advice.

Then, in June 2020, I took the plunge and bought a 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 for £3200. It was in need of some TLC, so I handed over the cash and crossed my fingers.

My new (old) car passed its MoT with only oil-leak advisories, and so my journey with ‘Bee’ began.

Quick, confidence-building wins followed: an £8 sensor fixed the temperature gauge, and an engine service had it running sweetly.

The plan was to return the Spitfire back to factory-fresh condition, so anything that could be stripped and refinished got the treatment, and I removed all of the black paint under which a previous owner had hidden all the chrome.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

The Triumph Spitfire 1500’s seat refurbishment was a top-notch job

A side project to find a set of original 5.5 x 13in steel wheels also began; little did I know this alone would take 18 months.

The first major job was to renew the soft-top, and The Motor Garage down the road in Netheravon did some first-class work.

Next was replacement of the chattering diff and rear leaf spring, which was completed in a long day with my amazing friend, Ralph.

On to another sizeable task: rebuilding the dilapidated seats.

I decided to stretch the budget and took them to Newton Commercial in Suffolk, who did a stunning job.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

Proud owner Grahame with his Triumph Spitfire 1500

With the dreaded ‘Spitfire rattle’ being heard during cold starting, I had to make a return trip to The Motor Garage for a diagnosis.

The remedy? An engine rebuild, and a new clutch to boot. It had to be done, but that one hurt a little.

Two years on and I had spent £8000. Clearly, Bee needed more than just TLC, but let’s break it down.

After the purchase price (the result of two years’ saving), repair costs amounted to £4800 over 22 months.

That’s less than £220 a month, and there are plenty of hobbies that may appear less expensive than owning a classic car but cost more than this.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Triumph Spitfire 1500

The Triumph Spitfire 1500’s soft-top was repaired by The Motor Garage in Netheravon

For that outlay, I now have a chair at the table: living my dream without having to remortgage the house.

My evenings and weekends are spent with my pride and joy, whether that’s maintaining, fixing, driving or meeting up with friends and fellow enthusiasts.

I spent more than planned, but the cost has been spread out.

If there was something to fix but the cash wasn’t there, I simply waited until payday.

One thing is certain: I wouldn’t have managed to save as much money as the Spitfire is now worth.

To summarise: you can follow your dream without bankrupting yourself.

Neither could I have done it without my wife and daughter being so understanding, or my great friend Ralph and other generous mentors.

Thanks, too, to all the fantastic BCCC members.


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Factfile

  • Owned by Grahame Farr
  • First classic MGB GT
  • Dream classic Jaguar E-type S1 3.8 fixed-head coupé

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