OK. Not really spotted, and to be fair, we didn’t spot an MX5 all day.
But, we got a belting wave as we overtook and tooted a Triumph Spitfire on Sunday afternoon.
On the A18 between Louth and Scunthorpe (I wonder if Scunthorpe will get through the obscene filters ?)
I once spent an hour waiting for a train at the station in Penistone. I wonder if that will get through as well. The word, I mean.
Ever been to Cockermouth ?
A friend of mine once had a Triumph Spitfire. In a questionable 1970’s bright green colour similar to these…
It sounded amazing and I liked the shape. But felt very flimsy inside, like you would come off worse if you drove into a pile of cardboard boxes. It felt like you were sat even lower than a MX-5. What I remember the most is it had an electrical switch on top of the gear stick for overdrive ( I couldn’t tell if it ever worked) and he seemed to spend a lot of time with the bonnet up, adjusting the carbs. It’s a shame it was not as fast as it looked.
Did you know that the early Spitfires were known as the Spitfire 4. This was because there were plans to make a Spitfire 6 with the same engine as the GT6. This idea was shelved when it was realised that the car would be as fast as the T.R.4 which was Triumph’s top of the range sports car at the time and that their main competitor would have been themselves !
Don’t knock Spitfire - had one (Mk3) 40 years ago (now MV5 NC) nearly copped it once with its vicious rear suspension - but - with OEM hardtop fitted could carry 3 people (2 x folksingers +2 guitars, mandolin and fiddle, 1 x slim driver (girlfriend ) + PA amp , speakers. mikes etc in boot. disembarking was not an elegant process!
I do like the GT6 ever since I set eyes on one at a filling station were I worked in my youth. Sadly there ain’t many around that I could afford now, I mean in very good rust free condition and also my heart is with my Mk3 sport now. I’ll keep dreaming
GT6…used to have one when I was but a boy …thought it was very cool, (I used to kid myself it was a mini E-type). However, a colleague at work had one and took me out for a drive (some 30+ years later)…and I thought it was absolute pants…would certainly not swap it for the MX…even with corroded sills…
Also had a Spitfire…that was crap to…rusted far worse than an MX, and always looked like the rear wheels were about to fall off…also a Midget (the car), which was my first car purchase…would not want to drive one now, (probably couldn’t fit anyway).
It was a work colleague’s spitfire that inspired me to get the mx-5, just as much fun with the roof down but usable every day rather than on special occasions
I had a couple of Spits in my teens before moving on to MGBs once the insurance premiums started coming down a bit.
One had an Ashley hardtop & i remember getting stopped a couple of times by the fuzz as they thought it was a GT6 & wondered how i could afford to insure it
Very nostalgic Dave.
I like my Spit, great British entry level classic sports car based on 1950’s technology. Loads of luggage space compared to the MX5.
My TR7 represents more modern classic 70’s sports car, bigger and more roomy than the MX5,but they are not that far apart in many respects.
The MX5 is what the TR could have become. It even rots like a true British sports car.
Hey, I love them all, they are from different periods in time.
“Also had a Spitfire…and always looked like the rear wheels were about to fall off”.
Ahead of it’s time then! Look at all the ‘stanced’ Five’s knocking around nowadays. A look clearly influenced by the Spitfire’s rear suspension
First attempt at posting a photo.
Should be the Spitfire and MX5 together.
Oh well back to the drawing board
And now success - thanks no1 daughter!!
Maidenhead is a nice place too
And now I learnt heres another.
