I did it again: added a 1968 Triumph Spitfire MK3 to the stable

[Cees Klumper]

Since totally restoring a 1972 Lancia Fulvia coupe isn't enough work already, yesterday I bought a '69 MK3 that needs a ton of work. I had one when I was 19 so it's nostalgia combined with satisfying the need for a second major project during the pandemic. It needs all new floors, a convertible top frame + canvas (used frames can be had for around $250), paint and some bodywork (other than the floors there's no rust to speak of), and tons more. The engine runs sweet, it drives, shifts and brakes but that's about it. Bought at $1,200 I figure it needs maybe $2-3K in parts, a couple hundred hours and she should be good as new again.

[MikeSimon]

When I was in High School, there was an ad about something that showed a red vintage military coat that had a large button on it which said - "I am a sucker for punishment".
You need that, Cees
I liked the Spitfires in their days. Better than their sister car, the MG Midget.

[kampala]

Cees

Don’t know how you do it - you got guts.  Might be a Dutch thing.

Have always loved those spitfires. 

Thought you were in the Marina - I now see Long Beach.  Very different. 

Enjoy

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Kampala - yes, we decided to move from our boat in the Marina to a more conventional living arrangement, which came with a 2-car garage which in turn tempted me to undertake these two restoration projects. We still have the boat and expect to move back in two or three years, when this pandemic has hopefully been sorted out. Let me know if you want to stop by anytime, I can show you how the Dutch (try to) tackle all-out restorations, haha.

[dirkbalter]

Cees,
was about the same age when I had one as well 30 some years ago. It was my whole pride.
Dirk 

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Dirk - fun little cars, even with 'Lucas - the Prince of Darkness' lurking beneath the hood ... I wonder how it will feel like driving a Spitfire after all these years. I first had a Mark 3, then I had a Mark 4. Supposedly the Mark 3 has a peppier engine.
My wife keeps saying how she will enjoy driving it a lot more than her BMW Z4 35i that we just sold a few hours ago, and I keep telling her she's in for a big surprise, comfort-wise, and how the manual gearbox is not all synchronized and all that, but we'll see.

Here's a few photos:

[66andBlue]

.... I figure it needs maybe $2-3K in parts, a couple hundred hours and she should be good as new again.

... says the professional fraud investigator or repo man!   
Happy welding Cees!

  {https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=31996.msg232182#msg232182}

[zak]

Looks like an easy resto job, Cees.....

[Peter van Es]

Ambitious...

[Mike Hughes]

Looks like a good solid project, and from the burnt paint it looks as if it has been a southern California car all its life.  As a dedicated M.G. guy (current count: six), I am reminded that back in the early 70's one of the north American Triumph clubs was selling bumper stickers that read:  "All parts falling off this car are of the finest British craftsmanship!"  ;^)

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Mike. As far as I know, it was indeed a CA car always, the second owner I bought it from said the first owner lived in the Valley (north of LA) and it has almost no rust except for the floors.
The 'me taxi' plates refer to the taxi-yellow color.
This is definitely not an economically viable project, but I will have fun (and no doubt frustration) with it all the same. At least parts prices are reasonable.

[Mike Hughes]

It will be fun to bring it back to snuff, and even more fun to drive when you're done.  My brother-in-law had a white one for a time, introducing me to the joys of changing plugs while sitting comfortably on a front tyre.  I have friends who have kept their Spits for decades, re-restoring them occasionally to keep them on the road.  In addition to Moss Motors up the coast from you (https://mossmotors.com) you may find that The Roadster Factory (https://www.the-roadster-factory.com) is a great resource for all things Triumph.  (No involvement with either business, other than buying parts to keep six M.G.s running 'til the road wears out!)

[Bonnyboy]

Congrats on the Spitfire - they are sure fun to drive.   

I just started working on my MGB again after it sat patiently while I got married, had kids, did the British Bike thing and then the Harley thing and then built up the Pagoda.  Very patient indeed.   

I can say working on small british cars is very refreshing  -  I'm cutting up panels, welding up things,  picking up parts off Craigslist and having a ball.   Working on the Mercedes was like it was asking me "are you completely certain that you have the correct tools and knowledge to do that?"  wheres the MG is saying "me too,  me too - I want to be pretty".

 

[mnahon]

Nice Cees, congratulations. One great thing about restoring a spitfire is that it's a super-easy car to work on. everything is basic and accessible.

I had one for 42 years, and learned to live with and love its ups and downs. Below is a picture of mine (in standard british car pose), around 5 years ago when I got it out of 15 years storage. I brought it back to life; drove it for a couple of years, and decided I didn't have the energy or garage space to maintain two old cars, and sold the spitfire last year. I opted for comfort (the Pagoda), but I do miss tearing around in the spitfire.

I admire your energy and courage, taking on these projects. I hope you'll keep us posted on the restoration.  Will you keep the original colour? I think you should. Those bright colours were period accessories.

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Meyer, for posting your own history with the Spitfire. Your story attests to the car's appeal. Yes, will keep the original yellow color,  my wife has claimed the car and offered to help with the restoration on condition that the yellow is retained. Will gladly post progress from time to time although the Spit will have to wait its turn until the Lancia is done unfortunately.  Not enough space in the garage to work on both at the same time.  But work on the Lancia is progressing well,  I am almost finished with the metalwork at the front (about 17 pieces fabricated and welded in place so far on the chassis, floors and sills) and hope to move to the rear after this weekend. Then it's onto the fender patch panels and all the interior, engine/other mechanical, and paintwork. Am sure learning a lot!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Wishing you much fun with the project Cees and not too many hidden problems.

Dieter

[JN]

good luck it looks like a nice project!

JN

[Cees Klumper]

I just bought a spare 4-speed transmission with an electric overdrive unit (that I always wanted in my old Spitfires), new transmission mount, bellhousing, together with a convertible soft top frame that I need. All for ... $400. Just more fun when parts are reasonably priced. For a Pagoda, I believe soft top frames go for upwards of $3,000.

[Merc_Girl]

I had two ‘Spittys’, a few years apart.

Always loved them and so easy to work on.

Would have loved a MK3 back in the day but out of my price range

Enjoy the resto’, are you going to put the GT6 engine in 😉😁

[zak]

Cees, there is a beauty blue Lancia Fulvia on sale on BAT right now.
Is it yours ??

jz

[Cees Klumper]

That is indeed a nice blue Fulvia. No, not mine, I am still working on it. But I am now 'on the way up' having finished the chassis and bodywork (must have created and welded in place over 30 metal repair sections plus welded in 4 new, and slightly wider HF spec, fenders). Detail work and very important to do just right, but I think I managed well. Have started to thoroughly clean, 2K prime and bodyshutz the underside and inner wheel wells. Hope to have the body back to bare metal in a couple of weeks time so I can paint it (filler, epoxy, primer then urethane single stage paint). Have done a ton of work on the loose bits, gas tank, exhaust system, rebuilt master brake cylinder, made new fuel lines, the list is endless. Have around $10K worth of new parts to go in, it's going to be a new car when done. The Spitfire is waiting patiently. Have also been side-tracked a bit by my son's '73 240Z -replacing exhaust system and worn suspension mounts, shifter mechanism, electricals- as well as my '90 Bronco II. That had started to drop its coolant into the oil so last weekend I took off the V6's intake plenum + manifold and heads. Found the likely cause: only hand-tight intake manifold bolts on one side. Refit it all with new gaskets, and reset the valve lashes - also found some small vacuum leaks here and there. Now engine is much smoother and quieter, and no more coolant loss.
Will be interesting to see what the Fulvia goes for. Prices are all over the place on BAT - yesterday I watched an Alfa Romeo spider go for something like $18K when a carbon copy of it is available on Craigslist LA for $6K.

[Cees Klumper]

Enjoy the resto’, are you going to put the GT6 engine in 😉😁

No, not a GT6 engine for this Spitfire. They are just fine in standard form. If I would want a 6 cylinder Triumph it would have to be a TR6 ...

[Cees Klumper]

I started on the Spitfire. Figured I would do the bodywork and paint now, while I am waiting for FEDEX to find my package of parts from France for the Lancia Fulvia. It was sent on December 17 and is still in transit someplace, they don't know where it is but it did clear customs last week (....).

I removed the windshield frame to replace the seal that goes in between the frame and the body, and found some rust at the bases. Today I spent a few hours removing the paint from the bonnet/hood, that was a bear. Tomorrow should be able to finish sanding and start applying epoy primer/sealer and then high-build urethane primer. The midnight blue single-stage urethane paint is already waiting. I am hoping that by Sunday evening it will have its new coat of color.

[mdsalemi]

Always loved the Spitfire! Are you planning on keeping it?

[BobH]

The second car i bought was a 1966 dark blue Spitfire, back in the 70's, it didn't have a straight panel anywhere, i think it must have been used for bumper cars, or a learner, i thought i was the bees knees driving around in that

Then i had a dark red TR6, and then a dark blue TR6, and then a Dolomite Sprint, i used to like the Triumphs

[Cees Klumper]

@ Michael - I haven't decided yet, it will depend a bit on how it drives . I had one (an MK III) when I was 19, then a year later I sold it to get an MK IV and enjoyed both a lot, but that's so long ago that I am not sure I will enjoy driving it around town in LA as much as 'back then'.

@ BobH - I have always wanted to own a TR6 and came close a few times. Maybe I will find one to restore in the coming years.

[BobH]

I'm not sure i could get in and out of a Spitfire now without a hoist

[Cees Klumper]

Haha! They are so low to the ground that, seated in the driver's seat, I was able to touch the ground with my arm over the door.

Meanwhile, in other news:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-volkswagen-411/

[Garry]

Some incentive, was at a car show today. Looked pristine.

[Cees Klumper]

Very nice Garry!

Just starting to paint mine, changing from taxi-yellow to midnight blue. One more coat and done for the evening. Tomorrow the hood and the body. The second picture is of the hood in primer, that I applied last night.

Kampala helped out hugely yesterday afternoon in the painting preparations - thanks again!

[Cees Klumper]

.... and just finished painting the hood + body. It came out great, getting better and better at a dead-flat finish straight out of the gun (as they say):

[mdsalemi]

Guess I'm not familiar with the structure of a Spitfire...the windshield frame is removable? Bolted in place?

[Cees Klumper]

Yes, windshield frame unbolts from the body, it's secured by a long pin on each side with a nut to secure it, then there are three more bolts along the bottom inside edge.
There is a stout rubber seal between the two parts that, on this car, had perished, so I had to remove the screen to be able to replace that. Handy for painting also!

[Pinder]

Really impressive. Love the fact you paint it yourself. any tips you can share on keep dust off the paint?  What paints have you  had best results with. I love the paint process myself. 

[Cees Klumper]

Yes I very much enjoy the paint process myself now, although it's still tricky to lay down the paint 'just right' meaning no runs but also no orange peel - the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle with factors like temperature, humidity, distance from the surface, speed of movement, amount of overlap, and of course how thin the paint is (how much reducer), the speed of the hardener, the inlet psi, how big a fan you dial in, the amount of paint vis-a-vis the amount of air, all go into this magic formula. But professionals have the same difficulties I have noticed and they too can't always get it right and will have to colorsand and polish like I have to on some areas - no big deal, just make sure to put on at least 3 coats, I do 4. The paint is very cheap, at around $230 a gallon + a quart of hardener.

As for dust, I found that my DIY booth, that I built up as per the photos that I posted here and in my other 'I did it again' threads every time with fresh 'walls' from 4 mil plastic sheeting, wall to wall and including the floor, coupled with careful wiping down just before spraying, with grease  wax remover but then of course also carefully wiping with a good tack cloth, would result in having maybe 4-10 specs of dust in the entire surface. I bought a de-nibbing tool from Festool to then take care of those (as well as any runs), it's pure carbide and scrapes the nibs right out. Bit of polish afterwards and voila.

For my booth I also used professional grade intake and exhaust filters. Less than $100 for quite a surface of each and I am sure that was also instrumental in keeping dust out of the booth, with my 36 inch mega-fan moving a good amount of air through the booth during spraying to carry away the overspray.

As for the paint, for each of the 4 cars I painted over the past year I bought gallon-kits from TCP Global in San Diego. Single stage urethane to match more closely the original paints on sixties/seventies cars, rather than the base/clear used nowadays on vehicles. If you get one of their many standard colors, they ship very quickly and it comes well-packaged. Low VOC for California, 'regular' for most other states I imagine, not sure if there is a difference in quality/durability etc but I am really happy with the paint quality.

I will certainly build a (more permanent) paintbooth in our place in France as well, looking forward to many more of these complete restorations in my not-too-distant retirement future there. I have found the work involved in rust repairs, welding, grinding and then all the work to prepare for and actually paint old cars oddly satisfying and fun, particularly now that I know I can get it to really top-notch quality. Shops regularly charge $10-15K for paint jobs and I know I can match that for $500 a piece, it's just fun!

[Pinder]

Cees thank you for sharing. I find it fascinating. you have a lot of skill and and its one area a lot of people may shy away from but its proof that you can do an awesome paint finish in a personal space.  i some times cut corners to save time but generally pay the price in the end and have to redo things.   Ive painted approx 5 cars in total and can share the following experience.

1. the Single stage top coat I also got from TCP Global (the Restoration shop brand 2 stage paint AU. they can mix it to MB colors and ship to your door).
2. I did single stage with hardener to work with than base coat clear but for non metallic even if you have issues with dust , can be wet sanded down and polishes very well.
3. For most primers (epoxy , high build I just order from eastwood online and now they also opened a store in my town only 15 mins away so they are a good local source for that)
4. Ive been using Maguires 105 and 205 for polish and it works well but its the only system ive used so cant compare.
5. I use a full face mask from 3M with the high quality filters and it does not fog up. It works very well.

you are right about temperature , humidity, fan width ,  pressure etc and closing down the paint flow etc. so many variables to adjust for depeding on situation.  Gun and tip size.

[Cees Klumper]

The Spitfire is almost done. Just have to replace u-joint in the rear and attach the front of the soft-top. Came out really nice, and it also drives quite well. I did a LOT of work to this car:

[Mike Hughes]

Amazing metamorphosis, now have fun with it!  ;^)

[Cees Klumper]

Have had tons of fun, here it goes ....

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/d/long-beach-triumph-spitfire-mk3-restored/7485433853.html

[Bonnyboy]

That looks like a bit of a deal.  Sweet car.  The Spitfire has to be one of the most smiles per mile of any car I have driven.    Way more fun than my MGB.

That overdrive transmission must be worth at least $750 for someone to put on their shelf even if they never use it.

Now time to find a cheap BMW 2002 with the round tail lights.  Get back into the German way of doing things.   

Good luck on the sale.

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Ian, it really is a great deal. One like it sold a few weeks ago on BAT for over $35K:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-triumph-spitfire-5/

That one was perfectly restored, like I have done with my Lancia Fulvia. I just want it to go to a good home and will always feel good about having 'brought it back from the brink'.

[Tom]

Cees,

I had a 1978 Spitfire in college with the 5-speed overdrive button in the gear shift.  White with a houndstooth tan interior and a split tonneau cover.  Attached is a picture with us by the car (I had hair back then).  Great memories but had to sell to free up the equity to buy our first house.

My recent addition is a 1988 110 Land Rover pickup truck with 33k miles.  Loving it but feeling every bump in the road.  Everyone should own a pickup truck once in their life.

Hope you are well.

Best,

Tom

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Tom, for sharing. You even wore the Dutch national color orange! Nice Spitfire, just like my best friend's at the time, a white MK4 with that overdrive button.
You and I both 'traded up' to same-period Pagodas since then, but the Spitfire keeps a special place in my memories. Thoroughly enjoyed driving it around again yesterday, as I was taking pictures for the ad. Several people coming to see it today.

[Cees Klumper]

The Spitfire was sold today, to an energetic young lady with a desire to learn to work on these older cars and a 'Triumph-experienced support network family' behind her, so I am very happy the car is going to a good new home.

[AndrewB]

Well done, it has been a treat to see all the progress updates on the VW Variant, Triumph Spitfire and Lancia Fulvia. Thanks for sharing

[mmizesko]

I learned to drive a stick on a 68 Spitfire.  Ground a pound of metal .

[Cees Klumper]

Maybe nobody told you 1st gear is not synchronized, until the MK IV ...

I feel really good about having saved one from almost certain extinction. It was a couple hundred hours beyond economical to resurrect, now it's ready for another 50 years. Got a lot of thumbs up and 'cool car' comments in just the couple spins I took around the block to field test it.