Piglet Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Hi everyone! New to the forum but not new to the world of Spitfires having owned six many, many years ago. In fact my last Spit was about 30 years ago now and I've decided I need another in my life so I'm on the hunt for a MK3. In my opinion the prettiest of all the Spitfires. Prices clearly have sky rocketed since I last owned one but I think if I don't get one now they'll be priced out of my range. So any tips you can give me will be very helpful. I'm based in Shepperton Middx if there are any like minded Triumph nutters about! Many thanks, Alex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Welcome to the forum Alex. My brother is in Hemel with a Mk3 but I'm way down in deepest Wiltshire with a Sixfire (1977 Spit 1500 with a 2l engine of unknown origin) and a GT6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Welcome, and good luck. Have to say the Mk3 is my favourite Spitfire too, round rail styling and perky 1300 engine, what's not to like! Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Hi Alex, welcome aboard! The Mk3 is also my favourite, I had the same thought as you that I’d best get one before they’re out of my price range. That’s turned in to a long, expensive restoration though, so shop around a bit better than I did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted March 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Josef, your build thread was the first thing I read here. Amazing work and congats for saving a MK3! I have my eye on one at the moment, I'll let you all know how that pans out. Must remember to bring a torch and a magnet lol. Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Hi Alex ! Good luck with the search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 10 hours ago, Josef said: shop around a bit better than I did! My brother bought a "very tidy" Mk3 in 1986. Within two years it had turned out to be full of rust and mechanically worn out (although the non-working overdrive turned out to be down to a ham-fisted rebuild). Some thirty years later I finally got it back on the road. Welcome, Alex, to a great forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Hi Alex. Welcome to the fun factory. Any help that you need, just ask. I did, they helped, now everyone here is stuck with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Welcome to the forum , you could try the TSSC classified https://www.tssc.org.uk/tssc/classifieds_cfs.asp Theres a nice Mk3 Spitfire for sale Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Hi Alex, I`m in Egham so 10 mins away,i have a modified Herald and Vitesse. If anyone followed the Mike Charlton Spitfire saga on another site, i won`t be viewing any cars for other people, too risky. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted March 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Thanks again everyone! I'm winning a bid on a MK3 as we speak with 40 minutes to go. I shall report back... Alex ps I used to live in Egham! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted March 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Didn't win. Got spiked with 1 second remaining. ☹️ Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 well it went for more than you were prepared to pay so youve saved your money for a better deal👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted April 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 Still looking. A MK3 doesn't pop up that often on eBay and what is there are either resto projects or so called 'restored' that make me shiver just looking at the photos! But I am determined and the search will continue. If anyone here knows of one going please let me know. I expect to do some work of course but I'd like a car that is road legal! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 6 minutes ago, Piglet said: Still looking. A MK3 doesn't pop up that often on eBay and what is there are either resto projects or so called 'restored' that make me shiver just looking at the photos! But I am determined and the search will continue. If anyone here knows of one going please let me know. I expect to do some work of course but I'd like a car that is road legal! Alex I suspect the one I am selling is wrong budget, it has a club valuation of 18k, but I am more realistic about a sales value. It is also modified, and leaves GT6's for dead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 10 hours ago, clive said: leaves GT6's for dead Sounds like you`ve thrown down the challenge!. You`ll have a long line of GT6 owners outside your "Gaff". Wanting to prove the metal?.😁 Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 45 minutes ago, PeteH said: Sounds like you`ve thrown down the challenge!. You`ll have a long line of GT6 owners outside your "Gaff". Wanting to prove the metal?.😁 Pete As said, it is modified. More power than a (standard) GT6, lighter and handles better. Yes, it has CV rotaflex. And teh thing will return 40mpg on the motorway, which amazed me. I know a few locals with GT6s, and although they mostly have a few "performance mods" are not interested in trying a comparison.... Maybe I need to get a 1/4 mile time for it? (for comparison, my other spitfire did a 14.8 1/4 mile at santa pod, but will be quicker now as it went to the tuner the next day who did many improvements, but even that is about 4 seconds ahead of a GT6) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 1 hour ago, clive said: More power than a (standard) GT6, lighter and handles better. I was going to say - I'm not going to challenge you because I know that a well-sorted moderately standard Spitfire will actually outrun my GT6 around the bends, and it doesn't take a lot to tune up a Spitfire to the point where it will hold its own on the straight. One of our local members has a Hurricaine built on a Mk3 Spitfire chassis, with a Ford Zetec engine. That definitely leaves my GT6 for dead... until it breaks down, which (touch wood) my GT6 generally doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 10 minutes ago, NonMember said: One of our local members has a Hurricaine built on a Mk3 Spitfire chassis, with a Ford Zetec engine. That definitely leaves my GT6 for dead... until it breaks down, which (touch wood) my GT6 generally doesn't. Jeepers, mt Zetec spitfire (NOT the mk3) has very rarely had an issue. It has properly broken down twice, both times with 3 days. Prop uj, then a loom "fire" but neither down to inheriant faults. Well, the loom maybe, but the source was never found. But my Triumphs rarely have issues, once sorted and decent parts used, they are super reliable. The problem is usually poor quality new parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 1 minute ago, clive said: The problem is usually poor quality new parts +1 for that they are good reliable cars that have lasted all these years going on holidays or shopping trips etc there is no design reason to make them fail only lack of maintenance etc or the owner being the downfall Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 34 minutes ago, clive said: Jeepers, mt Zetec spitfire (NOT the mk3) has very rarely had an issue. Well, the Hurricaine in question hasn't yet destroyed this engine (although the previous Zetec got killed before he went injection) but it's had the type 9 gearbox fail, the diff fail, the (uprated, Caterham) front bearings fail, lots of previous blown engines... it's a bit of a standing joke that any time Cambridge area plan a significant outing, that particular car will return on a recovery truck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 22 hours ago, Piglet said: Still looking. A MK3 doesn't pop up that often on eBay and what is there are either resto projects or so called 'restored' that make me shiver just looking at the photos! But I am determined and the search will continue. If anyone here knows of one going please let me know. I expect to do some work of course but I'd like a car that is road legal! Alex A want ad in the Courier (and / or other magazines) might be worthwhile. That is actually how I got mine, though I’ll repeat myself to say don’t buy one like mine was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted April 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 I hear you Josef! Then again, look at what you've done to her...fantastic work. I may well have to join the club (again!) and plonk an ad in there. Still kicking myself about 'the one that got away' (and no, not the Hardy Kruger film...) Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piglet Posted April 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 23 hours ago, clive said: I suspect the one I am selling is wrong budget, it has a club valuation of 18k, but I am more realistic about a sales value. It is also modified, and leaves GT6's for dead I appreciate the offer! But 18k is way too much for my meagre budget... Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 5 minutes ago, Piglet said: I appreciate the offer! But 18k is way too much for my meagre budget... Alex We don't expect 18K, as said 2/3rd of insurance valuation is about right. But appreciate there are some good usable cars around for half that. Keep your eyes peeled and ear to teh ground. Ebay is probably not teh best place, but you never know. Plenty of people expect a figure, but eventually settle for rather less. A local chap bought a vitesse for a good deal less than the advertised price, and it is a pretty good car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now