Class of 62: Triumph Spitfire
De Triumph Spitfire is as old as the MG B. But not so many people know that. I was somewhat surprised to read that myself. I must honestly admit that I have never looked at the Spitfire so much.
I was in love with the MG B and love makes blind. Still I have very nice memories of the open Triumph. When in 1991 I was allowed to participate in the TV program with the title "The highest gear", the editors of that program made a comparison between the Triumph Spitfire and the MG BGT on the one hand and the Mazda MX5 and the Mazda MX6 on the other. The Spitfire was the first to arrive.
After that I was supposed to drive with the borrowed MG BGT and switch off the engine. Presenter Ric van Kempen said while zooming in on the cars: “these used to be two desirable sports cars that you would have liked for Sinterklaas. Cars that unfortunately have not been made for a long time. Nowadays you can choose from the Mazda MX5 or MX6. " I remember that the recordings were made live and that things went wrong quite a number of times because the image and sound were incorrect. Once a plane came over, the BGT was diesling a couple of times and Ric lost his text once. Eventually the recording succeeded and we could go in for a cup of coffee. Then it was settled.
The reward consisted of a mileage allowance of approximately 50 cents per kilometer and a writing pad with calculator with AVRO logo. That was not impressive for the three days of work it had cost. But those were the rules.
Text and photo: Jacques van den Bergh www.jbfreelancejournalistiek.nl
that man is quite right
the spitfire mk2 is much nicer to see