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My 2 Spitfires came with two
different luggage racks differing in width and
number of slats. A 4 slat version came on my daily
driver. When this car was originally purchased by
me it had very few original items from the factory
on it. The six slat version came off my parts car,
a very original car (it still had original Lucus
brand headlamps). All this in mind, I have to
assume that the 6 slat was factory and the 4 slat
was not. Shown are photos of my rack and other
Spitfires of differing years with the 6 slat rack.
I have been told TR6's used this rack also in the
mid 70's.
6 Slats (factory/dealer option)
     
4 Slats (probably a after-market
option)
 (shown
without mounting hardware)
5 Slats (probably a after-market
option)
 Looks
to be the same as the above rack with one more slat
(Tim Clark, Washington, 78 1500)
Chrome After-market (AMCO brand)
rack
   This
rack, made by AMCO was a popular after-market rack
fitted by owners in 1970-80. (Robert Corbishley on
1971 MkIV)
Chrome After-market Rack (possibly AMCO
also)
  Another
chrome tubular rack (unknown Canadian owner)
 Same
rack on Angelo Guarasci's 75 Spitfire. Has slightly
different mounting hardware.
Chrome After-market Rack (4 bar)
  A
similar chrome tubular rack on Kevin Wildner's 76
Spitfire.
Chrome/Wood After-market (Paddy Hopkirk
brand) rack
 This
Paddy Hopkirk (of MG racing fame) rack is for sale
(£20 or exchange for parts for a 1966 MkII).
Contact John
Zissler for more information.
 Another
Paddy Hopkirk rack with black mounting hardware
(unknown British owner).
 This
rack is very similar to the Paddy Hopkirk rack but
has slightly different mounting hardware and the
vertical bar is welded on not attached on top.
Black After-market Rack
  A
nice streamlined after-market rack (unknown
owner)
Chrome/Wood After-market Rack
  "This
is a luggage rack that I picked up for my 76
Spitfire. I replaced the wood with Teak and it
turned out real nice. The frame is aluminum that I
polished up."
Peter Lind
Other Options
 An
interesting solution to not being able find a
factory rack: a Honda ATV rack. This one came is
shown on Christophe Legasse's Spitfire.
Mounting Location
From what I understand may luggage racks were
installed by the dealer. Knowing this they could be
just about anywhere on the deck lid.
I did some measurements of my "6 Slat" model.
Again, the locations are approximate.
Readers' Info...
Hi John,
I'm a Belgian Spitfire owner and I followed your luggage rack link and I have the following remark. My rack is mounted the other way round. I know its looks silly but the upright bar serves as a luggage stop in case of an accident and the straps snap. If you look at it that way it seems logical. And as I regularly carry luggage I'm glad to know it's mounted the 'right way'.Greetings
Jorge Biltris
Brugge, Belgium
Hello John,
I have curious about racks for several
years. During that time I have been doing a
little informal research on them and thought I'd
bounce this off of you.
There appears (to me) to be four variations on
the "factory" luggage rack, at least on Federal
model Spitfires. I believe many were
indiscriminately fitted to various MG and
Triumph cars because the same dealers often sold
both marques and the racks were similar.
Two are relatively flat, two are arched. They
are:
a) "Wide & Flat" - has 6 slats (like
yours), but is 40" wide. Probably intended for
TR6, but I have one on my '78 Spit that I bought
new.
b) "Medium & Flat" - Your 6
slat. Probably intended only for
Spitfires.
c) "Medium & Arched" - About 30" inches
wide, but with five slats and has more of an
arch. Probably intended for MGB. I have one of
these on my other Spitfire.
d) "Narrow & Arched" - 4 slats, like your
picture with pronounced arch to it. I can't tell
if the one pictured on your site has as much
arch as some I have seen at car shows. This one
was probably intended for MG Midgets.
Bob Sykes
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