No reserve

French title

Chassis no. FD25485 Engine no. FD42272HE

- Complete, chassis-up restoration

- Fitted with one of the 200 APAL body kits produced

- Racing-style modifications

- No reserve

 

This Triumph Spitfire is an interesting Mark III version which underwent a full, chassis-up restoration from 2020–2024. As can be seen from a file of photographs, the car was completely stripped down and the chassis taken back to bare metal, treated and painted, as were the body and running gear. In 2014, its proud owner, a connoisseur of the model, tracked down one of the 200 APAL body kits produced from an enthusiast who had owned it for 30 years but never got round to fitting it. This fibreglass kit, sold from 1967, comprised a fixed roof which extended around the boot at the rear and a streamlined bonnet that literally transformed the car’s styling. The car was then given a ‘Gulf’ livery, as a tribute to the Ford GT40s that raced at Le Mans at the time the Spitfire left the factory. The 1300 engine and gearbox were sent to the specialist Alain Mevel at Spit Shop to be completely restored. The set-up has remained original, with the exception of the air filters and the stainless-steel exhaust, which were installed to improve the sound the car made. The electrical system was also rebuilt as new and the car was kitted out with a ‘racing-style’ interior, with bucket seats, a cut-out switch, rev counter and aluminium door panels. The car has covered little more than 100km since this full restoration and it will therefore fall to its new owner to finish running it in. This Spitfire APAL is sure to keep turning heads and arousing curiosity as it drives past.

Photos © Alexis Ruben