FLYING MACHINE

IN ASSOCIATION WITH LANCASTER INSURANCE

After the Austin-Healey Sprite kick-started the small sports car craze and MG threw its hat in the ring with the Midget, Standard-Triumph stepped up with the Spitfire. Penned by Michelotti, the pretty little Spitfire used the chassis and various mechanicals from its Herald sibling to save costs, but enough tweaks turned the family saloon into a sporty little number that won hearts for its style and fun drive. Over an 18-year life, the Spitfire benefited from extensive revisions to its styling, interior and performance, but even a late 1500 still has that same smileinducing sense of fun.

Ultimately ending production in the same year as the MGB, the Spitfire has always been loved by keen drivers and today is a popular classic sports car for those that don’t fancy the full-on experience of a Triumph TR. With over 315,000 cars sold in total, Spitfires are still common and affordable, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to look carefully and know your stuff. Do so and buy a good one, however, and few classics offer as much fun for the money.

ENGINE

For much of its life, the Spitfire used the