Triumph: The Low Cost Sports Car

Well, competition seems to be almost synonymous with survival in the modern world. Triumph, the sports car seems to be designed on the same idea. The low cost highly economical sports car is meant to give a tough competition to another affordable and highly popular sports car, Austin Healey Sprite.

Released in 1962, the Triumph Spitfire was designed by Giovanni Michelotti. The Spitfire borrowed the chassis, suspension and 1147cc engine from the Triumph Herald. The former, Spitfire was also lightweight (besides being low priced) and hence, carved a niche for itself in the market.

As the low overheads were employed in the construction of the car, it further helped to reduce its price for the sports car lovers. No wonder, even today, the sports car buyers opt for the Triumph Spitfire if they are going to purchase a classic sports car for the first time! It has come out with flying colors!

The Spitfire employed plastic steering wheel, rubber floor mats, and standard wind up windows. The last of these options was not offered by the rival Austin Healey car. A hard top and wire spoke wheels were also introduced in the coming few years. No doubt these changes made the already successful car even a greater success.

Mark II by the established car maker displayed a few more changes including the increase of 67bph to the engine. It resulted into a sports car that could perform excellently. Mark III Triumph Spitfire followed with improved interior and significant changes concerning the exterior as well. The technology also did not lag behind. The engine was based upon the one as in Triumph 1300. Now, Mark III Spitfire was not a highly good, but exceptionally good performing car. The year 1971 witnessed even a further reformed Triumph Mark III Spitfire!