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Triumph Spitfire 1500 code 225. Size 840mm x 595mm - 33 x 23½ (A1).
Two years before the end of the Mk IV production, Triumph introduced
the 1,493cc engine for the US market. British Leyland originally
planned to keep the Spitfire in production until 1982 but in 1980,
realised that the old Triumph 1,500cc engine wouldn't meet new
Californian emissions regulations. Half Spitfire sales were to
California, so production halved and became uneconomical. The last
Spitfire 1500, an Inca Yellow model, rolled off the assembly line at
Canley, Coventry in August 1980. It was never sold and is now in the
British Motor Heritage museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire.
The name Spitfire was first used for the famous WW2 fighter plane; it’s
unknown whether Standard-Triumph originally obtained permission to use
the name. However, as Leyland used images of the fighter plane for
advertising their sports car, it’s highly likely that permission was
granted especially as Standard-Triumph actually produced Spitfire
aircraft parts in WW2.
In June 1936, the British government placed an order for 310 Spitfire
aircraft to be constructed. The Mk 1 had a top speed of 362 mph and
became known as the ‘Defender of the Skies’. One of the finest fighter
aircraft of all time, a total of 20,531 were built and is credited as
having a major impact in winning WW2. The last Spitfire was built in
1947.
Note Be sure to view our other fabulous Spitfire posters, product code Nos. 214 & 232.
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