MORE POWERFUL SPITFIRE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 11

MORE POWERFUL SPITFIRE

MARK 111 version of the

Spitfire four-cylinder sports car has been announced by Triumph. Since the Spitfire was first announced in 1962 about 85,000

cars have been made,; and more than 65,000 of these have been exported. The new Spitfire retains the same chassis and four-wheel independent suspension as the Mark 11, and the rack and pinion steering and collapsible steering column are also retained. A bigger engine gives a top speed of 100 m.p.h. and better acceleration, and body design and accommodation have been changed. The frontal appearance of the Spitfire has been altered by repositioning the front bumper which is now mounted immediately in front of the new one-piece radiator grille. New over-riders with rubber inserts are also fitted. The wrap-round rear bumpers have also been raised and the over-riders have been dis- 1 carded. Reversing lights are : now fitted as standard and are mounted above the bump- j ers. j FOLDAWAY HOOD 1

On previous Spitfires it was necessary to stow the hood and frame in the boot, but the Mark 111 version folds away in seconds behind the seats. Two chromium catches secure the hood front to the windscreen top and four plastic press studs are fitted at each side to secure it to the bodywork.

The hood may be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds by one person and a neat vynide cover trims the hood and sticks in the folded position. A 15-inch three-spoke sprung-centre steering wheel

replaces the 16-inch wheel fitted to earlier models. The central instrument panel is now veneered and the fascia surround, passenger grab handle, parcel shelf and windscreen surround are trimmed in black vynide. Door waist rails are padded and trimmed, and the floor is covered in carpet. ENGINE

The 1296 c.c. engine fitted in the Triumph 1300 is used in modified form. It now produces 75 b.h.p. at 6000 r.p.m. —an increase of 8 b.h.p. over the 1147 c.c. engine in the

Mark 11. A stronger clutch has been fitted to transmit the extra torque. The additional power and torque of the 1296 c.c. engine gives the Spitfire the highest top speed—loo m.p.h.—of any sports car in its class; this is an increase of 4 ntp.h. over the earlier model. Acceleration is also improved—the 0-60 time is cut by 1.5 seconds to 12.5 seconds, and the standing quarter mile is now covered in 18.5 seconds—an improvement of 0.5 seconds. Different lining materials are used on front and rear

brakes, and larger calipers at the front give greater pad area. A large master cylinder is fitted.

Overdrive is an optional extra, as are wire wheels, radial-ply tyres and a variety of competition equipment. There is still no synchromesh on first gear. The ground clearance, laden is five inches, and the turning circle is 24ft. Maximum speed in first gear is 27 m.pJi., in second 47 m.p.h., in third 73 m.p.h., and in overdrive third 91 m.p.h., these speeds being equivalent to 6500 r.p.m.