DRIVING THE SPITFIRE MKIV
TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MkIV ENGINE 1296cc/4-cyl/OHV POWER 63bhp@6000rpm TORQUE 69lb ft@3500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 93mph 0-60MPH 16sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 28-35mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual ENGINE OIL Castrol Classic XL20w/50x, 4 litres GEARBOX OIL Castrol Classic ST90, 1.4 litres
The Spitfire MkIV throws contrasts and surprises from the second you look at the darn thing. To fully ‘get’ this car it needs to be looked at in isolation rather than as another chapter in the Spitfire’s long history.
We don’t need to say that the rear end is transformed from earlier cars with the look of a mini Triumph Stag. Triumph advertising suggested that owners could show their ‘sexy rear’ to an appreciative world at large. Not recommended in 2020, but it does give the car a classier look, perfectly complementing the rest of the car’s Michelotti-designed lines which never seem to age. The car really does look a small but elegant beast. But let’s drive rather than pontificate…
The first good news is that the doors are wide – useful when you lower yourself into the cabin, which is rather more spacious than you’d expect. Better still, the seat doesn’t feel as if you’re sitting on an upturned bucket – it’s really comfortable and supportive. There’s carpet everywhere, too. And proper wind up windows. And useful storage space behind the seats.
The steering wheel is quite large but not intrusive, so the rev counter and speedometer are easy to read.
Everything else on the wooden dash is logically placed and just where you want it to be, apart from the ignition switch, which takes some finding.
The 1296cc engine (shared with the Triumph Toledo) bursts instantly into action and is surprisingly quiet. The exhaust isn’t too loud, either.
Into first gear – synchromesh, of course – and away we go, slotting the lever through the charmingly notchy box. Third gear is quite high but you can cruise happily and fairly quietly even in this non-overdrive example.
Now comes the biggest surprise to anyone acquainted with early Spitfires – the handling is truly transformed. Personally I have never really agreed that the swing axle arrangement on early Spitfires was particularly lethal, providing you didn’t go mad and the road surface wasn’t slippery. But apparently, it is an issue for some.
However the MkIV handles like a very different animal, even though there’s still a swing axle. The car feels utterly stable in any situation. Even uneven surfaces, while not exactly welcomed by the car, don’t result in a wild frenzy of shaking. Allied with crisp acceleration, really good rackand-pinion steering, an excellent 24ft turning circle, a light clutch, effective disc brakes and all those luxury touches, you have an excellent package with real sports car appeal.
To be honest, with prices of the later 1500 model escalating, the more affordable MkIV really is the Spitfire to go for, and a real tonic in these soberingly harsh times.