This Triumph Spitfire was my dreamcar when I was a teenager in the late 80ies. Originally the car was painted in a typically 70ies style chocolate brown and was parked with its UK number plates next to a friends garage in the Swiss midlands (in Wangen an der Aare, between Bern and Zurich). My friend knew how to bring back to life old cars. Often after school, I’ve spent long hours at his garage watching him working on some Jaguar, Citroën or Studebaker and talking about cars with him. So one day this brown Spitfire appeared on his premises. It was in a rather dire condition. Today I wonder if my old friend believed me or not when I as a 14 year old told him “one day I’m going to buy this car from you”. He worked on the Spitfire for some years and my desire to own the car became more and more serious.
Triumph Spitfire – the first ride
We agreed on the new colour “British Racing Green” and in May 1994, on the day of my 20th birthday, I took it for a ride for the very first time. It was a warm and sunny day and I didn’t know that you’d better put some sun protection on your face, when driving for hours in an open top car …. now I know! In the summer of 2009 it was time so say goodbye as my Spitfire found a new owner.
