MGB & GT Forum

I’m looking for some advice for my best friend who saw my recent MGB purchase and now has the bug for a small convertible. He is looking at a restored Triumph Spitfire located in central NC and he has a couple of questions about it. One is around reliability and cost of upkeep. The second is how well he would fit being 6’3” tall. I know he would fit in the MGB, but I’m not sure about the Spitfire… Thanks for any feedback you all might have around this one.

My main lbc is a 76 spitfire. Had it about 20 years. No major issues. Last one small fuel leak on carbs (twin su hs4 to uk specs).
Runs great and if you can get overdrive like mgb for cruising.
However may not be practical for anyone over 6ft. I have had a few tall guys try to fit and they have hard timegetting in and never wanted to drive.
Can't compare to my 67 gt as its just a shell at present.

I m 6'4", Had a GT6 many years ago. Loved the looks of the spitfire, but when I went looking for one same thing each time. They did not grow any wider or longer in the footwell, and I had a hard time fitting in one, even with the top down. As much as I like the looks, they are not for anyone much over 5'10". the B, even a Midget were much more tall person friendly.

David

I thought MG's were better built - were they?

I had a Spitfire for many years, I'm 6'1 and 220 lbs and I fit fine, even with the top up. This will be an unpopular opinion on this forum, but having owned both, I think the Spitfire is a lot easier to work on and is built every bit as good as an MG. I wish I hadn't sold mine but we had a new baby and a new house and it was time for the Spitfire to go. I think the people that bought it were moving to Virginia, but I keep hoping it will pop up for sale on the Triumph forum.

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1968/1972 Frankensteined MGB in progress
1979 Spitfire 1500 - Restored and Sold
1974 CB MGB - Money Pit - Sold
1965 Ford Mustang 289 - Rebuilt and Sold


"Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
Do you know that you can use it?" ... Clampdown by The Clash

I had a 74 Spitfire a number of years ago, I'm 6'2" and weight around 200#. It was a tight fit and more claustrophobic than the MGB with the top up. My opinion is that one drives an MGB but one wears a Spitfire, the cross body support ahead of the seats kind of traps you in and makes in/egress challenging for a bigger guy. Once you are in there it is tight but comfy until you have to get out. Easiest engine in the world to work on, just pop the hood and sit on the front tire while wrenching. Mine was an electrical mess but that was probably as much a DPO issue as the car's fault. It only stranded me once, when the fuel gauge stuck on 1/4 tank and I ran out of gas. The rubber donut flex couplings on the rear axles are an odd piece and I did have one of those separate when I was autocrossing, probably my fault on that one. Overall a decent car but the B is more substantial IMO.

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Chris AKA "Defender405"
1975 MGB
1979 Porsche 924
1999 Porsche 996
1987 Nissan 300ZX

I had a Spitfire in college. 6' even. Not an issue but for sure the MGB has more leg room. I get passenger comments all the time. 6'4" in any LBC is gonna be snug.

I loved the flip up bonnet for maintenance. From my casual reading the Spitfire has something like a tunnel at the back that all the rear gear mounts to. Rust in the tunnel is probably more severe than MGB sills and doglegs as it affects the whole rear end mounting structure and is a rotisserie fix.

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Question. Why are people voting down this person's question? Is it me or is this forum becoming even more hostile?

Thanks for all of the feedback. I shared it with him and he is going to start looking for a nice B with OD.

There's nothing wrong with a Spitfire, good little car and just as dependable as any other LBC if well maintained.

Your friend may find he's a bit tall of a Spitfire. One thing that I like better about a Spitfire over a B is that I look through the windshield without having to crouch down like I do in a B.

There are no rubber-couplings in the drive-train of a Spitfire, but there are in a GT6.

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MOWOG Garage serving the needs of all Post Abingdon MG owners in Lambton Co. since 2011.