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

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

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

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

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 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

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