Here you can find all the helpful hints and tips when buying a Spit, If there are things missing please let me know.
on the other tabs/pages you can find more info about the Spitfire like engine numbers / technical details and a checklist when you vised a Spitfire for sale.
Identification:
First of all identification, its always nice to know you have the right car in front of you.
The comm or Commission number is found on the identification plate, it looks like this
| Triumph Spitfire Mk IV Commission Numbers |
|
November 1970 - December 1974 |
|
|
Year |
|
|
All except USA |
|
|
|
USA |
|
|
1971 |
|
|
FH3 |
|
|
|
FK1 |
|
|
1972 |
|
|
FH25001 |
|
|
|
FK25001 - FK28000 |
|
|
1973 |
|
|
FH50001 |
|
|
|
FM1 |
|
|
1974 |
|
|
FH60000 - FH64995 |
|
|
|
FM10001 - FM28000 |
|
| Triumph Spitfire 1500 Commission Numbers |
|
December 1974 - October 1979 |
|
|
Year |
|
|
All except USA |
|
|
|
USA |
|
|
1975 |
|
|
FH75001 |
|
|
|
FM28001 |
|
|
1976 |
|
|
FH80001 |
|
|
|
FM40001 |
|
|
1977 |
|
|
FH100020 |
|
|
|
FM60006 |
|
|
1978 |
|
|
FH105734 |
|
|
|
FM70001 |
|
|
1979 |
|
|
FH133501 |
|
|
|
FM110001 |
|
After October 1979 Triumph switched from Commision Number to VIN (Vehicle identification number) These were composed of five letters, one digit, two letters and six digits. The meaning of this combination can be found here:
| First Letter |
T - for Triumph |
| Second Letter |
F - for Spitfire |
| Third letter |
A - for Europe |
|
L - for Canada |
|
V - USA except California
|
|
Z - for California |
| Fourth letter |
D - for drophead |
| Fifth letter |
W - for 1,493 cc engine |
| First number |
1 - RHD no overdrive |
|
2 - LHD no overdrive |
|
5 - RHD with overdrive |
|
6 - LHD with overdrive |
| Sixst letter |
A - for 1979 and 1980 |
| Seventh letter |
T - assembled in Canley |
| Last six digits |
Productionnumber: last number is 009898 |
|
|
RHD = Right hand drive
LHD = Left hand drive
| Prefix and suffix Commission Numbers |
|
Prefix |
|
|
Suffix |
|
|
FH - All markets not Sweden and USA |
|
|
C - USA California |
|
|
FK - USA 1300cc |
|
|
U - USA Federal |
|
|
FM - USA 1500cc |
|
|
L - Left Hand Drive |
|
|
FL - Sweden |
|
|
O - Overdrive |
|
|
|
