On Sat, 17 Aug 1996, Michael Burdick wrote:
> I have FDU86843L in my garage - built a couple of weeks before yours.
> You are right about the dash etc... in these cars. For the 1970 model
> year only, I have noted these differences from early Mk3 Spits:
>
> * - Black vinyl dash with speedo and tach in front of driver.
> * - Black bezels on guages instead of chrome
> * - High back seats (which interfere with lowering the hood sticks)
> - TR-6 style steering wheel, but black spokes instead of silver
> - black plastic grille, instead of metal
> - "Bullseye" badge on the bonnet instead of "T-R-I-U-M-P-H" letters
> ** - Side marker lights at the four corners
> - Single ZS-carb instead of twin SUs
> - "TRIUMPH" badge on boot lid instead of "Spitfire Mk3" script
> - Single reverse light in place of old license plate light
> - Two small licence plate lights flanking reverse light
> - Amber turn signal lamps at rear, with red reflectors next to them
> - Unique to '70 lens for the tail/brake lights (I don't have these :-( )
> - Windscreen frame is painted satin black instead of body color
> - Zipper rear window added in hood
> ** - Unique to '70 hub caps (I don't have these either - my car came
with > K-Mart "aero-look" plastic 'caps. Coooool!
The features marked with [*] above were also present on 1969 model year,
U.S. spec. Spitfires (FDU series). As for those marked [**], the 1969s
had small, rectangular Lucas reflectors on the "four corners" of the
car. The 1969 U.S. cars also had unique wheel covers, a design adapted
from a mid-1960s Dodge Dart. The 1970 U.S. spec. wheel covers were, I
think, UK sourced, as they show in pictures of home market 1970 GT6
Mk.2 and 2000 saloon models.
The 1970 U.S. Spitfire Mk.3 also sported a front side/flasher lamp more
similar to that of the later Mk. IV Spitfire, as opposed to the two-bulb
unit on the earlier Mk.3s. FWIW, earlier Mk.3s in the U.S. usually were
equipped with a white side lamp lens and amber flasher lens in front,
but the 1969s more often had amber lenses for both side and flasher
lamps in front.
>
> Two things present on my car but I don't know if original:
> - Three point seat belts
The mounts were there, but the shoulder belts were optional.
> - Alternator instead of generator (Control box for generator was still
> in the car though...)
I've seen both, but I believe that an alternator was commonly installed
in the 1970 models for the U.S.
> There might be other differences but these are all that I can think of
> off of the top of my head.
I think that's most of the important ones, Mike.
-- Andy Mace
FDU44306L -- 1969 Mk.3 "Federal" Spitfire
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