Spitfire Mk 3 Options and Changes
| Mk 3 | year | changes from previous model | number made | com # | body # | engine # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 67 | Engine: 1300 cc engine with 8 port cylinder head, negitive ground, PCV valve, water heated intake, quieter exhaust, cast exhaust manifold, new airbox with air entry slots on top, narrower radiator with fan guard, 4 bladed fan (aluminium early, yellow painted steel later), fusebox now mounted to bulkhead, larger clutch, Body: front bumpers raised by 9″, rear bumpers raised and overriders deleted, rear gas shocks, larger front brakes, larger rear turn signal lenses now plastic, back-up lights now standard, redesigned convertible top frame, BLMC affiliation added to commission plate, exhaust pipe now exits right side of car, thicker/larger brake pads, stiffer front springs Interior: extra cockpit padding, upgraded carpet, smaller wire spoked steering wheel, wood veneered instrument panel, 120 mph speedometer, positions of ignition switch and light switchs swapped, windscreen fixing plates go from silver to black, indicator stick cowls go from metal to plastic, shift knob now has numbers, breakaway mirror, seatbelt anchors added | 65320 | FD1 | 422FD | FD | |
| 68 | – | – | approx. FD20000 | – | – | |
| 69 | new wheel covers, new seats with adjustable backs, US cars moved instruments in front of driver | – | FD39454- FD51969 | 20001FG | – | |
| 70 (to December) | TRIUMPH letters on bonnet were replaced with Spitfire name plate (US Spits received “RAF” plate, zippered rear window, one Stromberg, side markers, new full-wheel hub caps, black grill, black vinyl dash, key-in-ignition buzzer | – | FD75000-FD99203 | – | – |
| Spitfire Mk 3 changes | after commission # | |
|---|---|---|
| FD 2789 | fitting of “perfect circle” scraper piston rings to reduce oil consumption | |
| FD 7301 | running lights under front bumper changed to all-in-one unit from a lamp on a aluminium plinth | |
| FD 11732 | optional wire wheels changed “winged” to hexagonal knock offs | |
| FD 13980 | hood catch changed to lever arrangement from clamp style catches, hole introduced to the chrome windscreen cap to accept the lever | |
| FD 16351 | engine valances became optional again (standard on Mk2’s) | |
| FD 16482 | handbrake changed from “fly off” to ratchet variety | |
| FD 21967 | larger diameter cooling fins added to dynamo | |
| FD 24043 | “anti-burst” doorlock made more “anti-burst” | |
| FD 29587 | hood’s cloth underside and frame now black from the previous beige | |
| FD 30784 | Windshield wipers moved farther apart (left side moved outside washer spout) | |
| FD 48653 | new radiator and cap running at 13lbs/in2 (up from 7) this change required heavier hoses, waterpump seal, and different temp sending unit | |
| FD 75000 | aluminium grill painted black, zip out rear window, wider 13 x 4.5″ wheels, windscreen frame painted black, rear treatment simplified with reverse light moved to above license plate, TRIUMPH letters on bonnet were replaced with Spitfire name plate, script Spitfire was replaced with Triumph plate on rear, rocker cover now painted silver from gold, airbox goes from black to silver, US cars received round Spitfire emblem on the bonnet. | |
| FD 80521 | aluminium grill replaced with black plastic | |
| FD 81056 | redesigned rear tail lens (flat area at bottom taller) | |
| FD 89096 | rear brake cyliner diameter reduced from 3/4″ to 5/8″ |
| Spitfire Mk 3 changes | after date | |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1968 | new intake manifold with metal plate that holds carb return carb springs |
| *Options (dealer) | option | price (1967) |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | £582 1968-$1630 | |
| Seat belts-three point fixing | ? | |
| Seat belts-Kangol automatic | ? | |
| Wood-rimmed steering wheel | £7 10s 0d | |
| Boot (luggage) rack-fixed | 1968-$38 (chrome) | |
| Boot rack-removeable | ? | |
| Continental touring kit | ? | |
| Bonnet lock | £1 15s 0d | |
| Wing mirror-thirteen types available | 19s 0d | |
| Wing mirror extension for towing | ? | |
| Wooden gear lever knob | ? | |
| Wheel trim | ? | |
| Hub cap medallion | ? | |
| Hub cap removal tool | ? | |
| Fuel pipe filter | ? | |
| Fog lamp-iodine quartz | £13 9s 0d | |
| Spot lamp-iodine quartz | £13 9s 0d | |
| Wire wheels-“winged” up to FD 11732 -hex after FD 11732 | £36 17s 6d 1968-$71 | |
| Emergency windscreen | ? | |
| Spark plug-Champion UN-12Y | ? | |
| Steering wheel glove-brown leather | £1 4s 6d | |
| Steering wheel glove-simulated leather | 9s 11d | |
| Sun visors- swing type after FD 13981, black only after FD 29587 | ? | |
| Hard-top kit | ? | |
| Tow bar kit | £5 10s 0d | |
| Brake servo-Girling ‘Powerstop’ | £13 0s 0d | |
| Hard-top to soft-top conversion kit | ? | |
| Mud flap kit | £1 7s 6d | |
| Anti-mist panel-hard-top | ? | |
| Electric defroster | £1 15s 0d | |
| Cigarette lighter | 10s 8d | |
| Exhaust tail pipe finisher | ? | |
| Oil cooler kit | ? | |
| Instrument mounting panel-single gauge | ? | |
| Instrument mounting panel-double gauge | ? | |
| Safety warning triangle | £1 17s 6d | |
| ‘Plugmaster’ spark plug spanner | ? | |
| ‘Level Master’ wheelbrace | ? | |
| Tow rope and luggage rack strap | £1 9s 6d | |
| Door buffer with reflector | ? | |
| Headlamp converter mask-for continental driving | ? | |
| Rubber floor mat | ? | |
| Sill protectors | ? | |
| Locking petrol filler cap | £1 11s 9d | |
| Touch-in paints | 5s 0d | |
| Competition front springs | ? | |
| Competition rear springs | ? |
| *Options (special order) | option | price (1967) |
|---|---|---|
| Overdrive | £58 7s 8d 1968-$121 | |
| Alternator conversion kit | ? | |
| Laminated windscreen | £8 12s 1d | |
| Sun visors | £1 4s 7d | |
| Tonneau cover and fittings- black or white | £11 4s 4d | |
| Skid plate | ? | |
| Front upper ball joint with grease nipple | ? | |
| Track rod end with grease nipple | ? | |
| Leather seats | ? | |
| Heater kit | ? | |
| Engine valance kit-from FD 16351 only | ? | |
| Driver’s door mirror | ? | |
| Steering column lock | ? | |
| Whitewall tires-5.20X13 | £6 2s 11d 1968-$12 | |
| Dunlop Gold Seal SP41 145X13 radial tires | £19 16s 8d |
FYI: The 100,000th Spitfire produced in Feb 68 (jasmine yellow)