1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 |

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1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£3,600

Mileage~100,059
TransmissionManual
Engine1.5L
LocationGurnard, Isle of Wight

SOLD

1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Photographer and Editor

The Spitfire is a sporting open-top British roadster in its purest form.

When released in 1962, Triumph were firmly established for making the best range of affordable sports cars in the world. Thanks to its cost-effective separate chassis design, the rakish and pretty Michelotti-styled open-top roadster would fulfil a role in providing a charismatic driving experience for a modest outlay. Backed up by an impressive specialist backup and excellent owners clubs, the Spitfire is remarkably refined and comfortable for such a small car. Its appealing driving position and driving agility win the car many points, and it's the engine access and ease of maintenance that offer a useful plus point for the practically minded. In its final 1980 guise, the Spitfire was one of the last compact open-top British roadsters, and its desirability remain as strong as ever. These later cars used a more forgiving rear suspension layout, offered plusher furnishings, improved brakes and were fitted with an energetic 1.5-litre engine mated to a stronger gearbox.

This 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 is one of the later cars to have been built, being amongst the last batch to have left the production line. Finished in "Carmine Red", with a tan interior, it has been with the current owner since 2014 and has had almost £2,000 worth of invoices in that time. It has been well maintained and presents well, with minor signs of age. It is road tax and MOT exempt, but has an MOT to June 2026 for good measure. After a successful sale there will be an option for the owner to bring the Spitfire to the mainland, either Gunwharf Quays, Southampton or Lymington.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Paul the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

One of several sports cars we've owned, the Spitfire's simplicity and charm are irresistible.

Having slowed down their pace of life by relocating to the Isle of Wight from London, the Spitfire has fulfilled a role as a leisure car for Paul and Catherine on sunny days.

Keeping on top of the maintenance, with annual MOTs, the car covers around 100-200 miles a year when not tucked away in the garage. An increasing lack of use, due to Paul's acquisition of a Jaguar F-Type, has relegated the Spitfire to a third car and so they bring the car to sale for a new owner to enjoy. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Paul and Catherine

Vehicle Owner

Paul and Catherine saved £0,540* when they
sold their Triumph with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

It has a decent chassis and finish, and a bit of attention to a few cosmetics will pay dividends.

Wheels and Tyres

The tyres are all 2010 Nexen branded and display even wear. Paul has pointed out a slow puncture on the nearside front tyre.

The steel wheels have age-related wear. Both of the front items have mild rim damage as pictured.

Bodywork

The exterior panels are in good shape, with minimal dent damage. The bonnet would benefit from an adjustment to shut flush, but it is secure. The rest of the door shut lines look good.

There are a few corrosion spots on the car, the most notable blemishes were spotted on the lower front and rear valance and base of both A-pillars. We also found a few bubbles on the driver's door, the underside edge of the boot lid and the lower nearside edge of the rear wing. The chassis looks in good shape, and the body appears to be well-aligned with the frame. The engine bay has signs of age around the battery box/bulkhead panel and front engine mounts. The floor pan looks solid, some corrosion on the outer sill lips and offside front corner sill where it meets the wheel well were observed. The inside of the boot floor also shows signs of age. The rest of the wheel wells and suspension mounts look decent.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Carmine Red" paint has a decent lustre and has benefited from garage storage. There are a few minor chips, loose paint and under-paint reactions on the bonnet, notably around the headlamps and nearside seam. There is also mild paint wear on the boot lid edge. We also saw a few surface scuffs on the boot lid and mild crazing on the bonnet.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen is in good order, but its rubber seal has perished somewhat. The driver's side glass has mild score marks. The lights and lenses are good as pictured.

The chrome is complete, but both bumpers have dulled somewhat, and the rear tail trim also shows its age.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Smartly furnished with comfy seats, the cabin also looks presentable.

Seats and Carpets

The tan vinyl/fabric houndstooth-check seats are in good condition; they have new memory foam padding and are comfortable as a result.

The carpets are in good condition, with age-related wear in the front foot wells/sill tops. The Triumph labelled mats are tidy.

Dashboard

The dashboard padding has lasted well with just a couple of minor fractures and the occasional repair. The veneer facia has mild age-related wear but presents well. The glovebox has been modified by the owner. The switches and instrument bezels are in line with the age of the car, and all are said to work as they should, and the dials are all legible.

The headlining is could clean up well we think but shows age. The door cards have distorted with time but are securely attached. The passenger side A-pillar door seal trim is a little loose. The tunnel vinyl covering/arm rest is in good shape. The rear trim has age-related wear but is free from rips.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel displays well, a simple 3 spoke affair.

The wooden gear knob is in good shape, the gear gaiter has a rip as pictured.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Always an engaging drive, this Spitfire has a good record of maintenance.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fires up immediately from cold, with no knocking or rumbling heard. It idles evenly as the oil pressure light went out straight away. There were no excessive exhaust fumes. During our visit, we didn’t see any evidence of fluid leaks. The engine shows positive signs of maintenance, the core components, wires and hoses look good with age-related wear noted on cast items. A new alternator has been recently fitted. The exhaust is in good condition, exhibiting evidence of body paint overspray.

The gearbox operates well, with no clunking heard. Paul has informed us that it engages gears with no significant issues, and the clutch operates smoothly.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension components have signs of age to the surfaces, but otherwise hold the road well with no unwanted noises at lower speeds.

The brakes slow and stop the car with no reports of unwanted feedback.

The Drive

The Spitfire charms lean heavily on its nimble driving characteristics, happy to be flung around corners, it encourages spirited driving thanks to its direct steering, decent performance and forgiving handling.

The engine reached temperature after a low-speed drive down to the seafront, becoming smoother and more responsive with every mile. It pulls well, and the engine showed a positive flexibility at urban speeds.

The ride is supple, and the steering is free of mechanical noises or significant wobbles. There was the usual cabin rattle, but nothing untoward was heard from the wheels. There is an occasional exhaust mount vibration which cuts in periodically. Paul's mechanic has confirmed that it's not a major issue, but it can sound a bit disconcerting.

Electrics and Other

The aftermarket USB/MP3/FM player works, but the head unit has some damage as pictured.

The hood is in good condition, with mild signs of age but free of damage. It raises and lowers without any issues. The poppers are in good shape, but might need a little encouragement to seal. The tan hood cover is in good order.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~11 year ownership, the car has seen seen almost £2k worth of work since 2014, with just ~2,000 miles covered in that time.

First registered in October 1980, the car was bought by Paul in 2014 as a fair-weather car to use on the island. During his ownership, he has spent almost £2,000 on the car, mostly for mechanical and welding work. The most recent spending has been for an alternator, along with carburettor and brake work. A new radiator, hoses, fuel lines and clutch slave cylinder have also been fitted. Some welding work was carried out in 2018.

Older invoices before Paul's ownership include an invoice for new door handles and a door lock. Paul also mentioned that the car had been resprayed during its time with the previous owner.

It comes with a good recent MOT history, Paul has MOT’d the car since 2014, and it has certificates back to 2010. He has told us that it comes with a Haynes manual, a box of spares, lead replacement solutions, a car cover and a tonneau cover. It has an MOT to June 2026, despite its age having a legible exemption for the annual test.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
10-06-2025	MOT	100,026
15-05-2024	MOT	99,989
17-05-2023	MOT	99,820
09-05-2022	MOT	99,741
13-05-2021	MOT	99,570
18-05-2020	MOT	99,432
25-04-2019	MOT	99,294
27-04-2018	MOT	99,027
13-04-2017	MOT	98,894
14-04-2016	MOT	98,631
22-04-2015	MOT	98,454
26-04-2014	MOT	97,893
08-11-2012	MOT	97,874
05-08-2010	MOT	97,671