I'll bet you were thinking "motorcycle".



I bought the Spitfire brand new in 1969. I wish I still had it.

Very nice,

I never owned a Spitfire but a friend of mine had one, great little cars. I recall we were out in a snow storm and his whippers didn't work, so I had to have my arm out the window to 'manual' work them so he could see. A miracle I didn't get frostbite.

Attached a pic of my first Triumph.

The Spitfire had wonderful lines I recall.

Cheerio,

Roy

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Mom had a TR4 before I was born. But no Triumph cars for me (positive ground......). I did however , get this beauty while still in my 20’s. Ordered it in late 99 (00 model) from my dealer and added the pieces you see here as I could afford to.
I think I’m a bit younger than most here , and like young guys do , traded it for the next best whatever. Wish I still had it. The guy that bought it from the dealer I traded it to still has it , although heavily modified , and it has over 100,000 miles on it now.

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I did a small amount of reading a bit ago, was interesting to read that Triumph cars and Triumph motorcycles, in so far as I could tell, had no affiliation with each other.

I can tell you that when I lived in England, saw a ton of Spitfires, and def loved the look and the sound.

I can also say that here in the US on the east cost, a well taken care of TR4 or TR6 can command some decent sale money. There is a TR4 for sale in the town I lived closest to and they want $35.5k in so-so condition!

They also have an older proper Austin Mini that they want a mess of money for aswell. I briefly thought, OK, go to the UK, buy a handful and bring them back, refurbish them, and sell them for a shiny coin...well, that Mini has been on the lot for a year....

I had a TR6 and traded it. I also had an old 911 and traded it. Oh well.

I think you are probably right about the motorcycle company and the car company not having any affiliation with each other. The car company was owned by British Leyland. I am not an authority on the car company or the bike company. I can tell you a lot about Porsche cars and BMW motorcycles.

I always wanted an old Mini. I used to be a Corner Captain for SCCA/IMSA. I loved to watch a Mini run a short track.

Love the bike!

I had forgotten about the positive ground. That almost got me fried several times.

I was "this close" to trading my 78 Ford Escort in turn for a gorgeous blue Spitfire, and then a TR7... Can't remember why I didn't in the end... But the Escort eventually went against a new Renault Fuego 1.6GTS in "Champagne" in 1983...

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There's your TBS! I have a lingering feeling I made a bad call selling mine haha.

I have two coffee table books on the history of Triumph motorcycles and yes, the car and motorcycle was indeed associated but split. I'll have to look it up and post the dates.


I too grew up with a TR4 in the family. That rear bench seat saw my brother and I on many long trips with the parents. Good times. Red with a black interior.

My TR4 was British Racing Green. Noisy (everywhere), loud but, fun. I wish I had a TR3 though. Rode a number of times in a friend’s and loved almost (but easily could have) filing my finger nails on the pavement as we rode because of those cut down doors. No windows either, just plastic versions you sort of snapped in.