Break time gives me a chance for a self portrait of sorts.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Saturday, May 31, 2025
Content about spitfire
Jake and I went to the storage unit and started both Spitfires. After putting some air in the tires and a few test laps around the lanes between buildings, I drove mine over to Denny’s for a pre-season tune-up. We cleaned the battery terminals and cables, checked the plugs, and Denny adjusted the carbs a bit. She’s running really nicely.
I took it for a spin afterwards, and Denny came along for the ride. He didn’t hesitate when I asked if he wanted to go, unworried about getting in and out of the car. He had a blast, as did I.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Sunday, May 25, 2025
The interior looked good, too. This is the first year we kept the cars in a storage unit, so I was a little worried about mice chewing on the seats…or wires! Luckily I didn't see any evidence of that.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Sunday, May 18, 2025
I love everything about this car. You can see the top of Jake's 1970 Spitfire in the background.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Sunday, May 18, 2025
I finally made it over to the storage facility to start the process of getting the Spitfires ready for the season. We're down a battery (Jake's died), so I used mine to start each car. Both started up just fine and ran well. We should be able to start spring maintenance next weekend. Can't wait to get them on the road.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Sunday, May 18, 2025
The Spitfires are mostly prepped for winter. I added stabilizer to the fuel tank and raised the tops and windows. I ran Jake's a for a few minutes to move the stabilizer through the fuel system then went to do the same on mine only to find a dead battery. I must have left the radio on or something during my last drive. I'll pull and test it tomorrow.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Saturday, November 9, 2024
We’ve decided to put the Spitfires in storage for the winter. I originally planned to just park my car on the driveway, but that got old as soon as the colder temperatures arrived last week. We drove mine over there today and will take Jake’s tomorrow. Winter is coming.
tags: spitfire
photo posted by matt in Saturday, October 19, 2024
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!
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!
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!
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.
photo posted by matt in Sunday, July 28, 2024
Side by side at the show, 1968 and 1970 Triumph Spitfires.
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.
postposted by matt in Saturday, July 27, 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.
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.
postposted by matt in Saturday, July 13, 2024
Jake kept me updated throughout the entire delivery, which took less than an hour. He sent photos when the truck arrived and then FaceTimed me after the car was tucked away in the garage. I basically watched the whole thing from the pool. I was worried about it being delivered while Renee and I were out of town, but, as things go, it worked out perfectly. Another point in my ongoing life lesson that I don't need to control every aspect of everything. Things generally tend to work out ok.
tags: stpetebeach spitfire
photo posted by matt in Saturday, June 29, 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.
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.
postposted by matt in Tuesday, June 25, 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.
postposted by matt in Monday, June 10, 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.
photo posted by matt in Sunday, June 2, 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.
postposted by matt in Saturday, January 6, 2024
Friday evening during the summer in Perrysburg means car show. Jake and his buddy took their cars - Jake the Spitfire and Caleb his Opel - to the show tonight. There aren't many older foreign cars at this particular show, but they had plenty of lookers. I think lots of people have fond memories of these cars from the seventies.
photo posted by matt in Friday, July 14, 2023