I've been a bit frustrated with how the Spitfire's top folded into the back seat when down – it always seems a bit cumbersome and janky. I've tried a few times to put the "parade boot" over the folded top but could never get it to fit right. Heck, it never even came close to fitting right. My frustration won recently, forcing me to resign to the misguided belief that the leather had shrunk over time and it just wasn't going to fit on the car again.

Last night my faith in the Brits (surely they came up with something better than this!) had me wandering the web to figure this out.

And I did! This YouTube video explains the proper way to fold and store a Spitfire convertible top in great detail.

Turns out, there's a trick to it.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a convertible top designed in the 1960s operates a bit differently from more contemporary tops. In a not-so-obvious twist, you need to detach the top from the upper frame, on the inside of the car, while it's up and then pull the soft top back as the frame is folded back. This allows the bare frame to neatly and compactly drop into the back seat. With that properly stowed, the top can then be brought forward and folded over the frame.

I put my new found knowledge to work this morning before heading down to the office. It took a few minutes but was fairly easy.

And now the boot fits perfectly!

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Tuesday, August 27, 2024

I just took my dad for a ride in the Spitfire. His reaction was the same as everyone else that I've had in the car – exhilaration. I could see it in his face...just fun, joy, and excitement. I'm really glad I got to do that with him. Now I have to get my mom out for a drive!

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Saturday, August 17, 2024

I taught Jonathan how to drive the Spitfire today, putting him into the small percentage of young people who can drive a manual transmission. We talked afterwards about how much more fun it is to drive than an automatic. Yep - when you know, you know!

Now both boys can drive a car with a manual stick shift. I'm considering that a point of pride as a father!

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Sunday, August 11, 2024

We found a bit of time for some quick work on the car tonight before dinner. One of the tail lights was out. It wasn't a bulb issue, unfortunately. The wiring on the original fixtures is a little wonky. We got a temporary fix in place, we'll just have to see how it holds. We also got the car up in the air for the first time, letting us take a look from below. No surprises on the frame or body, which is nice. The transmission is definitely leaking, so we'll need to look into that. Overall, all good tough.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Sunday, July 28, 2024

Here's my view on the way home from the car show. Two Mark III Triumph Spitfires heading down the road, one after the other. It was a short ride, ten minutes or so to grandpa's house where we keep Jake's car, but it was great fun. The driving was nice, of course, but following Jake in his car was the perfect way to end a great afternoon. This photo really says a lot to me.

tags: cars

photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 27, 2024

Classic cars and conversation are the defining elements of a Good Car Show. After walking the lot to look at all the cars, Jake and I, along with his friend, sat alongside the Spitfires and talked about everything from social media to Smell-O-Vision. Add in the free t-shirts and this was definitely a Good Car Show. We'll definitely try to come again next year.

tags: cars carshow

photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 27, 2024

Side by side at the show, 1968 and 1970 Triumph Spitfires.

tags: cars spitfire

photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 27, 2024

Jake and I are taking both Spitfires to a car show in Perrysburg this morning. We went to the weekly show last week but didn't officially show the cars because we arrived a bit late (thanks, Crowd Strike!). So...technically, today is our first official car show with both Spitfires.

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Saturday, July 27, 2024

This is a great story of a 40-year restoration of a 1964 Porsche 356 (Wall Street Journal - probably paywalled). The car owner is 87 years old and finally got the car back on the road. He had to teach himself a lot of the skills needed to complete the restoration, which I find inspirational. I'm 54 and the Spitfire is already in great shape, but I'm going to think of Bill Romano and his Porsche 356 every time I get frustrated with a project on the car. Thinking of his 40-year effort should get me through anything! Thanks Bill!

tags: cars

postposted by matt in Sunday, July 21, 2024

Renee and I went to a great car show today with Jake. He called Denny after we walked through all the cars and asked him to come, so he did and we went through everything a second time! I really liked this Ford Falcon. It reminded me of my great-grandmother's Falcon. She died before I was able to drive, so I never drove that car, but I do remember riding in it. I have no idea what happened to it. Could be this one. Maybe.

tags: cars

photo posted by matt in Sunday, July 21, 2024

We tuned her up a bit today and she's already running better, although there's still room for improvement. It's nice having both cars sitting side-by-side, too, as it lets you quickly look back and forth at things.

tags: cars spitfire

photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 13, 2024

I've finally squirreled away a little bit of time to work on the Spitfire today. I'm taking it over to my father-in-law's this afternoon so we can start inspecting, tuning, and cleaning. I'll take plenty of pictures and video, too.

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Saturday, July 13, 2024

It's delivery day! Our 1968 Triumph Spitfire Mark III arrived today, fresh from Wisconsin. We won't be home for a week so all I can do is continue to admire it from afar for now. Great to see it in the garage, ready and waiting for us when we get home, though.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Saturday, June 29, 2024

I got some good news on the Spitfire this evening - the transport company is picking it up from the seller tomorrow. Hopefully that means they'll be scheduling a delivery date soon. It's possible they'll deliver it while we're on vacation.

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Update on the new Spitfire - title is on its way, but the car still sits in Wisconsin. We're waiting for the transport company to schedule a pickup. It's looking like we won't see it until mid July.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

postposted by matt in Tuesday, June 18, 2024

I saw a Cybertruck on the way to work this morning. In Perrysburg. Ohio.

That has to be the peak of that ridiculous thing. Right?

tags: tesla cars

postposted by matt in Wednesday, June 12, 2024

We're one step closer to getting the new Spitfire – booked the transport order today. It could take up to five weeks to arrive, so now we wait.

tags: cars spitfire

postposted by matt in Monday, June 10, 2024

Crossed-fingers worked. She's mine.

Now to get her here....

tags: triumph spitfire cars

photo posted by matt in Thursday, June 6, 2024

I love seeing the stickers reminding people that a car's electrical system is negative grounded. British cars were positive ground until the late 1960's (I think the conversion happened in 1968 but I'm not entirely sure). They must have been required by law to put these "reminder" stickers under the hood for some time afterward. Sort of funny.

tags: cars britain

photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 2024

I forget the make and model of this car (it's obviously not a Spitfire), but the I love the feel of the black and white treatment on this photo.

tags: cars

photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 2024

I guilted Renee into going to the show, but I think she was glad she did. She loves the Triumphs, too, and had a great time with Denny.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 2024

Denny had a lot of fun checking everything out with Jake and his friend Caleb. This was probably my favorite Triumph at the show - I think it's a Spitfire Mark IV, probably mid-1970s. The black exterior and tan interior looked great.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 2024

The Lake Erie British Car Club held its annual car show at Fort Meigs today. Looking at the forecast over the last few days, we were worried rain would delay or even cancel the show. It was cloudy and a bit cool, but that didn't seem to impact the show. They had a decent number of cars (probably less than the record but still a fair amount to look at) and what appeared to be great attendance.

There weren't many Spitfires, but they did have plenty of other Triumphs and several MGs.

tags: cars triumph mg

postposted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 2024

This just came to me as I sat on the back patio resting between cutting the front and back yards — Beautiful Loser by Bob Seger is the perfect song for today, as a tribute to the Kaiser Darrin. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, to me, the Darrin is a beautiful car. And it's a loser.

Seger's Detroit roots don't hurt, either.

tags: music cars

postposted by matt in Saturday, June 1, 2024

I researched Kaiser-Frazer and the Kaiser Darrin a bit this morning, still jazzed a bit after seeing a Darrin at the Perrysburg car show last night. I figured it would be featured in this book I have about the history of industrial design in Toledo.

Nope! It's not even mentioned in a footnote. Hard to believe, considering the unique appearance and features of the car, and its history and tight connection to other key aspects of Toledo history (Willys, Jeep, etc.).

I guess the bottom line is the Darrin was a failure (an epic one, apparently). I guess the phrase "history is written by the victors" applies to more than just war. That's a shame, of course, because, as the Darrin shows us, there's fascinating history in the tales of those who lost.

tags: cars history

postposted by matt in Saturday, June 1, 2024

First Perrysburg car show of the year. Jake took the Spitfire, and Renee, Jonathan, and I met him and his friends down there. They of course had a great turnout with many of the regulars, but also some cars I've never seen before.

This 1954 Kaiser Darrin was a highlight for me. Look at those lines! The headlight forms in the hood and the dip on the side remind me of the Spitfire lines. I wonder if the Darrin was a source of inspiration for the Triumph.

Denny, of course, had some great info on the Kaiser Company and its history in Toledo. It's fascinating, and he was spot on. Sounds like the Darrin was an early attempt to launch an American sports car to compete with the British cars coming into the country (which would include ancestors of the Spitfire). In its genesis, it was neck and neck with the Corvette.

Needless to say, the Darrin, and Kaiser, didn't survive. The Corvette, meanwhile, is thriving and, perhaps ironically, looking more like a European sports car lately.

tags: cars toledo

photo posted by matt in Friday, May 31, 2024

A roadtrip like this in the Spitfire might be a great goal for Jake.

Jake bought his Triumph Spitfire last year, at age 18, which would make him 68 on the 50th anniversary of that purchase (the same “purchase anniversary” of the Austin-Healey 3000 fetured in this WSJ article). The Triumph would be 100 (it’s an American market Mark III manufactured in January, 1970 — the month after I was born!). Maybe we’ll shoot for an earlier “purchase anniversary” to make a road trip with it. I’d like to be a part of it.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

postposted by matt in Saturday, January 6, 2024

Jake's been working on the Spitfire with Denny for the last couple days...getting it ready for summer. I think they're going to recruit Jonathan to help once he gets home.

tags: cars triumph spitfire

photo posted by matt in Thursday, May 2, 2024

"And it tried to stop us in no man's land. Insane. Anyone seeing this behavior would have thought I was drunk. So next time something like that happens if I'm in FSD mode, I'm going to cancel it by turning the steering wheel slightly and taking over fully."

I won't say this happens regularly, but it certainly has happened to me several times over nearly five years of Tesla ownership. You always have to be ready to take over control of the car in FSD in an instant. It is nowhere near being a license to ignore the road, traffic, and surroundings. I hope to see that someday, but we're not there just yet.

tags: tesla cars ai

posted by matt in Sunday, September 10, 2023

Seriously thinking about helping Jake buy this 1970 Triumph Spitfire as a project car.

tags: cars

photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 4, 2023

Renee and I spotted two Lambos on the way home from the grocery store tonight–a red/orange one and this yellow one. There must have been a car show somewhere.

tags: cars perrysburg

photo posted by matt in Sunday, April 9, 2023

Beautiful sunset with a not so beautiful view (Jake Buchanan/St Petersburg, FL)

People watching turned interesting when a distracted man hit his gas pedal instead of his brake. This resulted in a torn-off bumper and many shocked people. From 2021-3-27

tags: beach cars accident crash

photo posted by jake in Monday, March 29, 2021