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Vehicle Description
I am offering a very clean 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 for sale at No Reserve with an opening bid quite a bit less than I have invested.
I purchased this car about 2 years ago, but have only driven it about 1,000 miles as this is 1 of 4 collector cars in my garage. ( Among them is a 1961 Nash Metropolitan and a 1971 Thunderbird, hence my user name.) The person I bought it from gave me a list of items that he performed in the year prior to my purchase. Although he did not supply documentation, I have to believe everything, as the car runs, drives, and stops great.
Improvements included are:
Upgraded cam
Weber 2bb carb w/ auto water choke
Header w/ custom exhaust
New brakes front/rear
U-Joints
Rear leaf spring
Crane electronic ignition
Valve cover gasket seals.
Right after I got the car, I added a new set of Superlite Alloy wheels mounted with new tires. I also got rid of the big black 1980 bumpers and replaced them with a used set of chrome bumpers from a 74 Spitfire, which I think look a lot nicer, even if they're 34 years old. I had the front bumper guards cut down and installed a new set of rubber bumperettes, also from the 74 model year.
The car runs fantastic and sounds great with the high performance cam and exhaust system. It starts right up even after being parked for weeks at a time on a battery trickle charger, and never overheats even in stop and go driving in South Florida traffic.
The paint is in decent condition with a few dings and scratches and a few minor rust bubbles below the bumper, but it is far from perfect. On a scale of 10, I'd give it a 7. The top is fairly new, with one half inch tear above the passenger side not all the way through and the rear windows have no fading or yellowing. The seats, door panels, and carpeting are like new, the top of the dash has some very minor cracks on the surface. A new dash overlay can be purchased for about $50.00. The car is 28 years old and although it has been refurbished, it has not been restored.
As far as drawbacks, there are a few things to mention:
2nd gear synchro sometimes grinds, especially if you shift hard as if you were running a drag race.
There is no convertible top boot or tonneau cover.
There is no key for the trunk
It has an AM/FM CD radio with a detachable face, but the speakers should be replaced for a decent sound, but I like listening to the sounds of the car. The radio also could be mounted better.
Some of the tail-light sockets are loose, so the lights work when they want. I almost never drive at night, so have not bothered to get replacements, but they are readily available for less than $10 each.
When the exhaust was changed, the catalytic convertor was lost, so if you live in a state that requires emission testing on cars this old, it may not pass.
There is some surface rust on the bumpers and chrome tail pipes.
All in all, this is a fun little sports car for not a lot of money.
Hopefully, my description and pictures will answer most of your questions, but if I overlooked something or you need additional information, I can be reached on my cell at 305-775-5060 or email through the eBay system. Once again, it is a 28 year old car that is being sold AS-IS.
The car is available for your pre-purchase inspection or test drive. It is for sale locally, so the auction may end early if there is not an opening bid, but I will remove it from my local market as soon as there is a bid
Please do not bid unless you have the funds available, as I do not offer any type of finance arrangements.
I have clear title in my name in my safe deposit box, so ownership transfer will have no delays. The car has a 14 digit VIN number, the last 3 xxx listed above are check digits as eBay requires a 17 digit VIN. I will be happy to work with the transporter of your choice in getting the car home to you. If necessary, I could store the car for you for a couple of weeks, but I will be unavailable from August 14th -20th.
I would like a $500.00 deposit to my PayPal account within 24 hours of auction end; the balance within 7days in the form of cash or cashier's check.
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