I am starting to suspect that Iowa City is the Eugene of the Midwest. Eclectic citizens, businesses and, thanks to the use of sand instead of salt in the winter, eclectic cars. Here’s a Spitfire 1500 my uncle recently spotted at the farmers’ market downtown.
Properly attired in British Racing Green, it looks to be a Mark IV 1500. Maybe a ’76? If anyone can pinpoint the year, inquiring minds want to know!
Update: David Saunders knows his British roadsters; our featured Spit has been identified as a 1975 1500 model. Thanks David!
My English teacher in Jr. High had one in the late 60s. The guy was about 6 ft 5 inches and he looked over the windshield. I never saw the car with the top up. Best teacher I had ever had. Saw him a couple of times in the rain with the top down and him with a rain coat and hood driving it.
It isn’t a MkIV. The model name is 1500 at this point so it is a 1974 or later. The MkIV was only used on 1970 to very early 1974 cars in North America. The center arm rest makes it a 1975 or newer. Those aren’t the 1976 only wheels (the holes were more square). There was a new steering wheel for 1977. I’d call this one a 1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500.
Looks like it has overdrive. Oh I wished I had overdrive on my Spitfire – revved like a bugger on the highway.
Thanks for the info. I’ll amend the text.
Very sweet. I notice the owner has removed those effing huge rubber bumper overriders although the mounting points remain.
Ah, the Spitfire – I notice your example is missing the bumperettes in the front. They stick out about 8″ or so. I remember them vividly as the cause of my first (and thankfully only) serious motorcycle accident, back in 1989 as a college Junior. I was going through an intersection and a Spitfire ran the red light, noticed me, slammed on his brakes and skidded into the intersection, I tried to avoid him but part of the bike hooked the bumperette and I went flying with my bike tumbling after me. My bike was a loss, the Spitfire needed a bumperette. had he removed them like the picture above I probably would have squeaked by. I hate Spitfires.