The Spitfire
was designed by Giovanni Michelotti based upon the Triumph Herald
frame, drive train and suspension. First introduced in October,
1962, as Triumph's entry into the small British Sports Car market,
the car competed very favorably against the MG Midget and other
inexpensive sports cars. What was particularly attractive was
the independent suspension and the roll-up windows, giving the
Spitfire very nice handling characteristics and the comfort of
much higher priced English Sports Cars.
The original
design survived through three series and was updated by Michelotti
with the MkIV for the 1971 model year. The Spitfire's design remained
basically the same but was modernized in appearance and some modifications
were made to the rear suspension for cornering stability.
Additional
changes were made through the years in the form of upgraded engines.
Originally the Spitfire employed a 1147cc 4 cylinder upgrade of
the Herald engine. With the Mk3, the engine grew to 1296cc and
employed a re-designed head with 4 intake ports. After the MkIV
series ended, the basic 1296cc engine was increased to 1493 cc's
by lengthening the stroke with some additional head modifications.
Unfortunately, emissions controls on later model engines (particularly
US models) offset much of the performance gains that came with
the improvements
GT6
The GT6 began
when the Triumph planners, ignoring the plea for a "Spitfire-6,"
asked Michellotti to design a fastback body for the popular Spitfire.
His design added too much weight to the car so the idea was shelved.
The fastback body was in fact fitted onto a Spitfire chassis in
Turin, christened the Spitfire GT, and driven home where it joined
the small band of experimental one-offs used by a few members
of the company. The pleasure the car gave to those who drove it
worked an insidious magic and the Spitfire GT project became official
policy in 1964. The decision to turn it into a six-cylinder car
was the result of progress with the up-grading of the Vitesse
to a 1998cc. It was a bit of a squeeze getting the 1998cc six-cylinder
engine into the Spitfire's engine bay, but by creating a rather
complicated cooling system and a large hood bulge they managed
it. The GT6's debut was in 1966, a few months earlier than the
Vitesse 2 litre.
In 1968 the GT6 Mk2 was introduced. It was fitted with an advanced
lower-wishbone rear suspension layout; double-jointed shafts located
by a spring at the top. The effect on the handling of the GT6
was very positive. The Mk2 also acquired a new cylinder head,
borrowed from the TR5, (giving potential for the engine to become
a 2498cc, an advantage never utilized), but resulting in an increase
of bhp from 95 to 104.
Internal
facelifting of the seats, steering wheel and badging took place
prior to the official launch of the GT6 Mk3 (known at the GT6+
in the IS) in 1970. In line with the Spitfire MkIV, the tail was
"chopped-off" and the bonnet flattened out. The rear
roof line of the GT6 was altered and petrol cap and door handles
ceased to protrude creating a more svelte look. Optimism was high
in the sales department but in reality the bell was tolling. The
safety legislation meant a considerable increase in weight - the
exhaust emission regulations badly affected the power of the six-cylinder
engine and sales dropped...and dropped.
No official
death certificate was released but on the thirtieth of November
1973 the last two GT6s produced quietly left the factory.
