TriumphSpitfire

Triumph Spitfire Production Years

Five versions between 1962 and 1980, and two ways of dating them: Canley built by the calendar, while American cars were sold by model year. Each year in turn, with the version on the line, what changed and how the American cars differed.

A white Spitfire 1500 in front of dark green and bright blue Spitfires on a sunny show field.
Spitfires lined up at the Corbridge Classic Car Show, Northumberland, in July 2011: a white 1500 leads a dark green and a bright blue car.Draco2008, CC BY 2.0

Canley, in Coventry, began building the Spitfire 4 in October 1962 and built the last Spitfire, a 1500, in August 1980. Between those two months it made five versions, and kept changing each of them while it was in production.

The calendar tells only part of that story. Classic & Sports Car puts the US share of all Spitfires at 80%. American cars were sold by model year.⁠1​2​3​4​5​6

Calendar years and model years

Each year below is a calendar year at Canley: the version on the line, what changed, and then the American cars. According to triumphspitfire.com, an American model year usually began in about the September before the year it was named for, and cars of two model years could leave the line at the same time.

For the American 1500s, the same site's table, compiled from owners' Heritage look-ups, gives the first commission number of each model year. The Vintage Triumph Register starts two of them at the same numbers, FM1 and FM28001.

Model yearFirst commission numberBuilt from
1973FM1August 1972
1974FM10002October 1973
1975FM28001September 1974
1976FM40001September 1975
1977FM60006December 1976
1978FM70001October 1977
1978½FM90001June 1978
1979FM95001August or September 1978
1980FM110001June 1979

FM10002 and FM60006 are the lowest numbers those look-ups found, not known starts, and the table is not consistent with itself in places. A car's title can give yet another year: North American Spitfires explains why, and how to date a car by its number.

A yellow Spitfire 1500 with a black rubber bumper and a red, silver and blue side stripe, on grass.
A yellow Spitfire 1500 to North American specification, with black rubber bumpers, side-marker lamps and a side stripe, at a show in May 2010; its bumpers place it in the 1979 or 1980 model year, but nothing on it says which.dave_7, CC BY 2.0

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1962

Production began in October at commission number FC1, and the car made its debut at the London Motor Show at Earls Court the same month. Under its body by Giovanni Michelotti it was mostly a Triumph Herald, on a shortened chassis, and the 4 of its name counted its cylinders. The history tells how it came to be built.

In North America, Graham Robson wrote, Triumph's dealers had had only the TR3A to sell in 1961; within five or six years they had the Spitfire, the GT6 and the TR250.⁠1​4​2​3​6​10​11

A black-and-white photograph of a Spitfire 4 in profile, hood down, on a lit turntable lettered TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 4, with visitors and stand signs behind.
Plate I The Spitfire 4 on its turntable at the London Motor Show, Earls Court, in October 1962, the month Canley began building it.Geoff Charles, CC BY-SA 4.0

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1963

The first full year. Bill Boddy tried two press cars for Motor Sport's April issue and liked them, though the frame of the second car's passenger seat broke. The price Boddy quoted was lower than the launch price, after a cut in purchase tax; the specifications give both prices. In July, Motor Assemblies in Durban began building Spitfire 4s from kits for South Africa, and in October overdrive joined the extras, for the 1964 model year.

In the United States, Robson notes, the Spitfire cost less than Triumph's TR4.⁠12​13​3​9​14​11

A Spitfire 4, hood up, beside a Herald under a hanging Triumph sign, with workers setting up the hall.
Plate II A Spitfire 4, hood (soft top) up and seen from behind, on Triumph's stand beside a Herald as the Amsterdam motor show was being set up, 5 February 1963.Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0

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1964

Wire wheels and a steel hardtop joined the options; Classic & Sports Car's buyer's guide dates them to February. It was the works team's first season. At Le Mans in June one of three works cars finished, 21st overall; in September Rob Slotemaker and Terry Hunter took the Tour de France's GT class for cars up to 1,300 cc; and on the Geneva Rally Hunter finished second overall. Racing covers both works seasons. In December the Spitfire 4 Mk II took the Spitfire 4's place on the line, from FC50001.

In the United States, Kas Kastner set up Standard-Triumph's competition department in 1963–64, the first of any foreign maker there, he said. In November Ed Barker won the national G Production title in a Spitfire at the first American Road Race of Champions, at Riverside.⁠14​6​15​16​17​18​1​4​19​20​8

A green Le Mans Spitfire fastback replica with a red nose and race number 50 on a museum floor.
A copy with no works parts, in the No. 50 livery of one of the 1964 Le Mans cars, at the Coventry Transport Museum in February 2011: the shape, not the car.kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0

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1965

The Mk II was launched in March. Most of its changes were mechanical or inside the car: more power from a new camshaft and exhaust manifold, a lighter clutch pedal, and thicker-padded seats and moulded carpets in place of rubber mats. Outside, a grille of horizontal bars and the letters "Mk II" on the boot (trunk) lid marked it.

In June two works cars finished first and second in their class at Le Mans, and in July works cars were first and second in the Prototype category of the Coupe des Alpes.

In the United States, three of the Le Mans cars ran in the Sebring 12 Hours in March for Standard-Triumph's American company, prepared under Kastner; two finished, second and third in their class.⁠9​3​14​21​4​22​19​23​24​25​26​27​28

A dark blue Spitfire 4 Mk II with wire wheels and its hood stowed, on a grassy show field.
A dark blue Spitfire 4 Mk II on wire wheels, its grille of horizontal bars in two halves, at a village classic car show in 2026.kitmasterbloke, CC BY 4.0

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1966

The Mk II stayed in production all year. In July production of the GT6 began on the same chassis: a fastback coupé with the six-cylinder engine of the Triumph Vitesse, sold as a model of its own. In South Africa the Mk II was announced the same month, to be assembled at Durban.

The Vintage Triumph Register, whose list is labelled by American model year, files the Mk II under the 1965 and 1966 model years.⁠1​11​3​4

A pale blue fastback coupé with wire wheels and a low chrome bumper, parked at a kerb beside a dark modern car.
A Triumph GT6, the fastback built on the Spitfire's chassis from July 1966, in its first form with the bumper below the grille, parked at a kerb in January 2024.Calreyn88, CC BY 4.0

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1967

The Mk II ended in January, and the Mk III began at FD1, to be introduced in March. It changed more than any version before it. Its engine was bored out and given an eight-port cylinder head; its front bumper was raised to cross the grille, and the overriders (bumper guards) at the back were dropped; a folding hood (soft top) now stayed on the car; and a wood-veneer panel held the instruments. Motor Sport's Mike Cotton drove one to the Monaco Grand Prix by way of Milan, and wrote it up in June. In South Africa, Motor Assemblies built its last Spitfires at Durban in September.

Classic Car Africa and the Triumph Sports Six Club both put the higher bumper down to American safety rules.⁠1​4​14​6​29​9​3

A red Spitfire Mk III with wing mirrors and steel wheels, its hood folded, on a sunny show field.
A red Spitfire Mk III, its front bumper raised across the grille, at Dunsfold Wheels and Wings, Surrey, in August 2007.allen watkin, CC BY-SA 2.0

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1968

According to a report in Autocar (15 February 1968), as cited by Wikipedia, Standard-Triumph's general manager, George Turnbull, drove the 100,000th Spitfire off the Canley line on 8 February, by which time more than three-quarters of them had been exported. Leyland became British Leyland the same year, and in September Leykor announced that it would assemble the Mk III in South Africa.

The same report put the American share of those first 100,000 at 45%. In November, at Riverside, Don Devendorf won the G Production title of the American Road Race of Champions in a Spitfire.⁠30​11​3​20

A pale blue Spitfire Mk III with white-painted wheels and its hood folded, parked on block paving.
A pale blue Spitfire Mk III on white-painted wheels at High Legh Garden Centre, Cheshire, in September 2011.allen watkin, CC BY-SA 2.0

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1969

American cars of the 1969 model year had the first "federal" dashboard, with the speedometer and rev counter (tachometer) in front of the driver; other cars kept their instruments in the centre.

From about FD75000, in October by triumphspitfire.com's log, the Mk III changed again. In the United States these were the cars of the 1970 model year.⁠4​7

ChangeRecorded by
Wider wheelstriumphspitfire.com; the Vintage Triumph Register, for American cars
A SPITFIRE name plate on the bonnet (hood) in place of the TRIUMPH letterstriumphspitfire.com; the Vintage Triumph Register, for American cars
A black grille and windscreen (windshield) frametriumphspitfire.com
A zip-out rear windowtriumphspitfire.com
One reversing lamp, above the number plate (license plate)triumphspitfire.com
A dark green Spitfire Mk III with its hood up and bonnet raised, seen from behind on a show-field lawn.
A dark green Mk III with the red side reflector of a North American car, given by its photographer as one of the 1969 model year, at the Vancouver All British Field Meet in May 2007.SqueakyMarmot, CC BY 2.0

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1970

American cars of the 1970 model year are told by their bonnet badge, SPITFIRE over an RAF roundel, which the Vintage Triumph Register calls a one-year badge; Wikipedia has it on a limited number of cars only. The Register adds side-marker lamps, a steering-column lock and a cut-out in the boot for an evaporative-emissions canister, and says most had a single carburettor in place of the twin SUs.

The Mk IV was announced in October and built from November. Michelotti had restyled it, with a cut-off tail in the manner of the Triumph Stag, and it had a "swing spring" rear suspension, synchromesh on first gear and its instruments in front of the driver. Motor Sport tried one at Silverstone for its November issue. The last Mk IIIs were built in December.

In the United States, the Register's list starts the Mk IV with the 1971 model year.⁠4​30​6​1​31​9​32

A red US-market Spitfire with its black hood up, wire wheels and a roundel badge, parked on grass.
A red American-market Mk III at New Castle, Pennsylvania, in September 2021, with the amber side-marker lamps and the one-year roundel badge on its bonnet that tell a car of the 1970 model year.MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0

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1971

The Mk IV's first full year. Bill Boddy, who tested one for Motor Sport's January issue, liked it, though it still had no oil-pressure gauge. Its optional overdrive was switched by a slide on the gear-lever knob.

American cars of the 1971 and 1972 model years were Mk IVs with emission controls, which, by Classic & Sports Car's account, cost them power. The Vintage Triumph Register lists the swing spring and a larger front anti-roll (sway) bar against them, and triumphspitfire.com lists an FK prefix for their commission numbers.⁠31​6​7​4

A dark green Spitfire Mk IV with the hood down, square on from the front on park grass under trees.
A green Mk IV, the version built in 1971, seen square on at a Triumph car event in Wallace Park, Lisburn, County Antrim, its "Spitfire IV" badge on a smooth bonnet.Notafly, CC BY-SA 4.0

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1972

triumphspitfire.com's log dates a milder camshaft to this year, from about FH25000, and puts a smaller fuel tank a little later, from about FH28430, though the French brochure of November 1973 still lists the earlier tank.

In August, by the same site's account, Canley built FM1, the first American car of the 1973 model year. Cars of that model year paired the Mk IV body with the larger engine that every Spitfire would have from late 1974, and were sold in America as the Spitfire 1500. British Leyland's American advertising for that model year listed a bigger engine, a wider track, a higher axle ratio and a larger clutch.⁠7​33​4​8​34​35

A red Spitfire in the Mk IV body with its black hood up, seen from behind on a wet street between parked cars.
A red Spitfire that its photographer names as a Mk IV, the version built in 1972, hood up on a wet street in January 2015, with TRIUMPH lettered on its rear bumper.Charlie from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0

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1973

Early in the year the Mk IV was revised; triumphspitfire.com dates the changes to February, from FH50000 outside North America.

ChangeRecorded by
A wider rear track, from longer drive shafts and a longer rear springMotor Sport, March 1975
A wood-veneer dashboard with green instrument lightingThe French Mk IV brochure, November 1973
Reclining seatstriumphspitfire.com
A larger clutchtriumphspitfire.com

The year's milestone rests on one source: triumphspitfire.com records that the 200,000th Spitfire, a US-market car, was built on 9 July 1973.

American cars of the 1974 model year, from October by the same site's table, added a front spoiler, rubber overriders front and rear on stronger bumpers, and a seat-belt interlock: their brochure says the engine would not start until both belts were fastened.⁠7​35​33​8

A red Spitfire cockpit from above, with a wood fascia, instruments ahead of the driver and black seats with headrests.
The wood-veneer fascia used from 1973, its instruments ahead of the driver, in a red Spitfire in the Mk IV body in September 2012; the radio and gear knob are later fittings.Akela NDE, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr

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1974

The Mk IV wore a front spoiler for its last year, as Motor Sport later recorded. triumphspitfire.com says a tonneau cover became standard in January, though the American brochure for the 1974 model year lists it as an option, probably a difference between markets. The same site dates a changed front chassis, made for impact rules, to about FH60000, and a new type of overdrive, which Canley Classics also dates to that number.

Late in the year (Canley: December) the Spitfire 1500 replaced the Mk IV, from FH75001 by triumphspitfire.com's log, and every Spitfire now had the longer-stroke engine that American cars already had.

In September, by triumphspitfire.com's table, Canley began building the American cars of the 1975 model year, from FM28001.⁠35​8​7​32​1​4

A cream Spitfire with its black hood up, 'Spitfire IV' bonnet badge, amber side lamps and black rubber overriders, on wet grass.
A cream Spitfire in the Mk IV body with North American side-marker lamps and black rubber overriders, like those American cars were given for the 1974 model year, at Kissimmee, Florida, in January 2024.Pokemonprime, CC BY 4.0

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1975

The 1500's first full year. Its engine kept the Mk IV's bore, with a longer stroke and bigger SU carburettors; outside North America it had a taller final drive, and it had a single-rail gearbox (transmission) and "Spitfire 1500" transfers (decals) on the bonnet and boot. Clive Richardson, who drove one for Motor Sport in March, found it steady and predictable, with seemingly less roll and a better ride than before, though the long-stroke engine grew harsh at high revs.

triumphspitfire.com dates the first Californian cars to the 1975 model year, with a catalytic converter and the UC suffix, their engines numbered from FM34714UCE.⁠35​36​6​7

A pale blue Spitfire 1500 with its black hood up, parked on a sunny lawn by a hedge.
A pale blue Spitfire 1500 with its hood up and the "Spitfire 1500" transfer on its bonnet, at the East Anglian Railway Museum's Transport Extravaganza in 2025.kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0

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1976

From about FH80000, in January by triumphspitfire.com's log, the option pack became standard outside North America: head restraints, inertia-reel seat belts, a centre armrest, a dipping (day/night) mirror, a driver's door mirror and a map light, items Motor Sport's 1975 test car had carried as an extra.

For American cars of the 1976 model year, triumphspitfire.com gives a higher compression ratio for that model year alone; Moss Motors' data keep it on federal cars to the 1978 model year.⁠7​35​36​37

A bright green Spitfire 1500 with tan seats and its hood folded, on a busy show field.
A bright green Spitfire 1500, the version built in 1976, at a classic car show in England in May 2024.Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0

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1977

Early in the year the 1500 was given TR7-type stalks on the steering column for its lights, wipers and horn, electric screen washers and seats faced in houndstooth cloth. triumphspitfire.com dates them to March, from about FH100020, and Wikipedia cites a report in Motor of 5 March 1977; the British brochure of December 1978 lists all three. triumphspitfire.com dates the change from number to letter paint codes to March 1977; colours explains both kinds of code.

triumphspitfire.com says every American car of the 1977 model year had a catalytic converter.⁠36​7​30

A blue Spitfire 1500 with a matching hardtop at a kerb, older saloons parked before white stucco houses.
Plate III A blue Spitfire 1500 with a matching hardtop among other cars of the day in a London street, believed to be in Pimlico, in about April 1977.Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0

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1978

A laminated windscreen became standard, and the British brochure dated December listed overdrive as the only option.

In America, cars built from June, from FM90001, were sold as "1978½" models, and may be listed under the 1979 model year, according to triumphspitfire.com's table, compiled from owners' Heritage look-ups. The 1979 model year itself began in August or September.⁠36​7

A dark green Spitfire 1500 with its hood folded and tan seats, on a grass show field among other cars.
A dark green Spitfire 1500, the version built in 1978, its hood folded behind tan seats, at the Aldham Old Time Rally in June 2026.kitmasterbloke, CC BY 4.0

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1979

Cars outside North America gained dual-circuit brakes with a failure warning lamp, already listed in the British brochure of December 1978, and wider wheels; triumphspitfire.com dates both to January, from FH130000. In October, the same site says, plates with a VIN (vehicle identification number) replaced the commission plates. Identification reads both kinds of number.

American cars of the 1979 and 1980 model years had black rubber bumpers, Wikipedia and triumphspitfire.com agree, though the second contradicts itself on when in the 1979 model year they began.⁠36​7​30

A dark green Spitfire 1500 with its hood up and black rubber bumpers, parked on wet grass.
Black rubber bumpers, the mark of the American cars of the 1979 and 1980 model years, on a dark green 1500 at Kissimmee, Florida, in January 2024.Pokemonprime, CC BY 4.0

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1980

Production ended in August. triumphspitfire.com says American cars of the 1980 model year, the last, had side-impact bars in their doors, and by its key the third letter of their VIN, V or Z, marks a car for the United States or for California. A Spitfire still won a national title there that year: Jerry Barker took F Production at the Sports Car Club of America's Runoffs.

The last car built is a yellow 1500 with a hardtop. Its paint is Inca Yellow and its VIN TFADW5AT009898, both as triumphspitfire.com records them. It is in the British Motor Museum's collection at Gaydon, catalogued as the last of the line.⁠1​4​7​38​5

A yellow Spitfire 1500 with a matching hardtop and black over-riders on a museum floor among other cars.
The last car off the line in August 1980, a yellow 1500 with a hardtop, at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, in July 2009.Mark Brown from Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0

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Sources

Sources are given as plain text; their addresses are on the sources page.

  • Primarymade at the time, by the maker or by people who were there
  • Referenceserious later work: clubs, specialists, magazines, books
  • Databaseresults and listings, entry by entry
  • Uncheckedencyclopaedias and enthusiast sites: cited beside a good source, named in the sentence, or marked Unchecked
  1. Canley Classics, "Production Figures", Spitfire 4 and Spitfire 1500 rows; Spitfire rows; Spitfire 4, October 1962–December 1964; Spitfire 4 MK II, December 1964–January 1967; GT6 Mk I row; Spitfire 4 MK II and Spitfire MK III rows; Spitfire MK III and MK IV rows; Spitfire MK IV and Spitfire 1500 rows; Spitfire 1500, December 1974–August 1980. Reference
  2. Lancaster Insurance, "The Triumph Spitfire: a celebration", 29 Dec 2021, the 1962 Motor Show. Reference
  3. Classic Car Africa, "The Wallflower", Mk I section; Mk II section; Mk II and Mk III sections; Mk III section. Reference
  4. Vintage Triumph Register, "Spitfire" (production history, production dates and numbers, buyer's guide tabs), production history; end of production; production dates and numbers: 1973–1974 and 1975–1980; production dates and numbers: FC1; production dates and numbers: FC50001; Mk II: "Emblem on rear deck lid"; production dates and numbers: Mk II, 1965–1966; production dates and numbers: FD1; 1969 federal dashboard; 1970 identification; 1970 identification; 1971–1972; production dates and numbers: 1971–1972; production dates and numbers: 1973–1974; production dates and numbers: 1975–1980; end of production. Reference
  5. British Motor Museum, "Spitfire 1500 (last of line), 1980", accession 1980-1-190, object record; object record and title. Primary
  6. Malcolm McKay, "Triumph Spitfire buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for", Classic & Sports Car, 10 May 2019, US section; introduction; timeline, February 1964; timeline, March 1967; timeline, October 1970; 1500 section. Reference
  7. triumphspitfire.com ("Spitfire & GT6 Magazine and Information Warehouse"), Reference pages (group): models and options; Mk I–1500 options-and-changes logs; engine numbers; 1979–80 VINs; what year is my car; final drive; general specification data; stock tyres; wheel alignment; lubrication; tuning; fuses; paint and trim codes; side stripes; decal and badge placements; wire wheels; head swaps; substitute parts; suppliers; new owner; pre-purchase checklist; spotters guide, pages modified 2023, "What year is my car?"; 1500 half-year table; Mk III options-and-changes log; models page; engine numbers; Mk IV options-and-changes log; 1500 half-year table; Mk IV and 1500 options-and-changes logs; 1500 half-year table; 1500 options-and-changes log; 1500 options-and-changes log; general specification data; 1500 options-and-changes log; paint and trim codes; 1500 options-and-changes log; 1500 half-year table; 1500 options-and-changes log; 1979–80 VINs; 1500 options-and-changes log; 1979–80 VINs; 1500 page. Unchecked
  8. British Leyland Motors Inc., Spitfire 1500 (sales brochure), USA, 1974 model year, SP741, 1973, cover, 1974 model year; competition page, the first American Road Race of Champions; cover and p. USA-5; "New for 1974"; "New for 1974"; options. Primary
  9. Triumph Sports Six Club, Model pages: Spitfire 4/Mark II (model_ID=24), Mark III (23), Mark IV (25), 1500 (26), quantities, Spitfire 4/Mark II and 1500 pages; Spitfire 4/Mark II page, transmission; Spitfire 4/Mark II page; Mark III page; Mark IV page. Reference
  10. Graham Robson, "Harry Webster – My Technical Mentor", Moss Motoring (Moss Motors), 12 Jun 2019, Michelotti and the Herald sports car. Reference
  11. Graham Robson, "One Design, Many Derivatives", Moss Motoring, 26 Oct 2022, North American dealers; US prices, 1963; the GT6; British Leyland. Reference
  12. Bill Boddy ("W.B."), "Sports cars under £700: the £641 Triumph Spitfire 4", with data panel "The Triumph Spitfire 4", Motor Sport, Apr 1963, pp. 20, 26. Primary
  13. Standard-Triumph, "New Triumph Spitfire" (Standard-Triumph advertisement), Motor Sport, Nov 1962, p. 32. Primary
  14. Classic & Sports Car, A–Z of classics: Triumph Spitfire I, II, III, MkIV, 1500, Spitfire I; Spitfire II; Spitfire III. Reference
  15. racingsportscars.com, Le Mans 24 Hours 1964, results, results, No. 50. Database
  16. Denis Jenkinson, "The 24 Hours of Le Mans", Motor Sport, Jul 1964, p. 22. Primary
  17. racingsportscars.com, Tour de France Automobile 1964, results, results, No. 131. Database
  18. John Davenport, "Geneva Rally", Motor Sport, Dec 1964, p. 45. Primary
  19. Moss Motoring, "Kas Kastner – The legend and the legacy", 30 Nov 2011, the competition department; Sebring. Reference
  20. racingsportscars.com, "Triumph Spitfire – All Results" (9 pages, 880 entries, 1962–87), ARRC Riverside, 14 November 1964; ARRC Riverside, November 1968. Database
  21. Standard-Triumph, Spitfire Mk. II (sales brochure), Italy, Ref. 352/666/IT-DUC, 1966, interior. Primary
  22. racingsportscars.com, Sebring 12 Hours 1965, results, results, Nos 65–67. Database
  23. Canley Classics, "Spitfire ADU 1B Le Mans", Sebring 1965. Reference
  24. Canley Classics, "Spitfire ADU 2B Le Mans", Sebring 1965. Reference
  25. Canley Classics, "Spitfire ADU 4B Le Mans", Sebring 1965. Reference
  26. racingsportscars.com, Le Mans 24 Hours 1965, results, results, Nos 60 and 54. Database
  27. Denis Jenkinson, "Le Mans 24-hour race", Motor Sport, Jul 1965, p. 11. Primary
  28. John Davenport, "Coupe des Alpes", Motor Sport, Sep 1965, p. 30. Primary
  29. Mike Cotton ("M.L.C."), "Triumph Spitfire to Monaco", Motor Sport, Jun 1967, pp. 26–27. Primary
  30. Wikipedia (EN), "Triumph Spitfire", 2026, Mk III section, citing Autocar, 15 February 1968; Mk III section; 1500 section, citing Motor, 5 March 1977; 1500 section. Unchecked
  31. Bill Boddy ("W.B."), "Road test: The Triumph Spitfire Mk. IV", Motor Sport, Jan 1971, p. 59. Primary
  32. John Kipping (overdrive articles), Technical articles (group): "Swing Springs", "Rear End Noises", "Propshaft Problems", "Oil Consumption", "Unleaded Engines", "The D-Type Overdrive", "The J-Type Overdrive", "Different Differentials", "Close Ratio Gearboxes For Spitfire MkIV/1500", "Chrome Bumpers", "Spitfire Tuning Kits", "Fitting Le Mans Style Bonnet Vents", Canley Classics, "Swing Springs"; "The J-Type Overdrive". Reference
  33. British Leyland (France), Triumph Spitfire Mk4 (sales brochure), France, 11/1973, T.919, "Capacités"; description: rear track and dashboard. Primary
  34. British Leyland Motors Inc., Leonia NJ, "You not only get a car and a girl but a piece of history." (advertisement, Triumph Spitfire 1500), US, 1973 model year, 1972, advertisement copy. Primary
  35. Clive Richardson ("C.R."), "Road Impressions – The Triumph Spitfire 1500", Motor Sport, Mar 1975, p. 25, the engine; p. 25, the rear track; p. 25, the front spoiler; pp. 25–26; p. 25, the option pack. Primary
  36. BL Cars / Jaguar Rover Triumph Ltd, Triumph Spitfire 1500 (sales brochure), UK, 12/1978, Publication No. 3254/D, "Specifications"; standard equipment; standard equipment; options; "Specifications", brakes. Primary
  37. Moss Motors, "Car Specifications – Triumph Spitfire Mk IV 1971–1974"; "…Spitfire 1500 (1975–1980)", Spitfire 1500 (1975–1980), compression ratio. Reference
  38. zoompics.com, "1980 Runoffs" photo report, F Production. Reference

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