Triumph Spitfire / Vincent Hurricane kit car, GT6, MGB, TVR, Elan alternative

The Vincent Hurricane was a complete replacement body-shell for the Triumph Spitfire or GT6 and was produced and marketed by the Vincent brothers back in the 1980s.   It was manufactured to a very high standard for a car of that type and at the time soon garnered a very good reputation.   The body-shell replaced all the rust-prone Spitfire bits (including the floors) with no modifications needed to the chassis or running gear. it also kept all the civilising bits such as a proper hood. winding windows. proper doors. big boot and a heater etc.   The basic design was that good that the kit is still available today. albeit a price of around £3500.   There is a small but enthusiastic following for these superior kit cars and a large percentage of them are still in existence as a testament to their build quality and the general ruggedness and simplicity of the original donor Triumphs.    

 http://vincenthurricane. org/Vincent_Hurricane_Register/Welcome. html 

My car was built in the mid eighties on a Spitfire Mk4 1300 and at the time must have had a huge amount of money spent on it.   I bought it about ten years ago from Robin Vincent who had just re-commissioned it.   It's a well known example having been out and about a bit and also as I was Specials Consultant for Club Triumph for a few years.   It is a great fun car that will not rot away before your eyes (unlike the original Spitfire) and being much stiffer and sat on a few nice bits and bobs is much more of a driver's car than the donor would have been.   It has been almost 100% reliable over the last ten years but has benefitted from general servicing/maintenance and various injections of cash and time - see the spec' list below.   It is safe to say it is unique but there are others with "similarish" specifications.  

When built it would have had the most amazing TVR like chromaflair paint that changes shade in the sunlight. however the paint has suffered over the last quarter of a century and like many old fibreglass cars has blistered and lifted.   I have tried to show this in picture 9.   It does not stop this car looking stunning tho' - when Robin sold this to me he said then that it would benefit from a re-spray but I have never had the heart to strip it and redo it.

I am not going to try and detail every nuance of a twenty five year old kit built on a forty year old donor so I will just list the pertinent points - interested parties will. no doubt. contact me for more specifics.

This is a rare car in a good useable condition. it drives superbly. handles extremely well (given its origins). sounds wonderful. looks fantastic and costs practically nothing to own and run (40 m. p. g. . free tax. £50 p. a. insurance and cheap spares). and no spares issues as except for the body-shell it is all Spitfire.   It does. however. need a little love in places - mainly the paintwork. the chassis is as far as I know solid but has been patched previously. so I would advise any one interested to get in touch and/or view the car in the flesh - there are plenty of areas that could be improved but very little that "needs" doing.   Also. this is still registered as a Spitfire; I have contacted the relevant offices on several occasions and been told that it is merely a re-shell.   My intention for the last few years was to force the issue and get it re-registered as a Vincent Hurricane - this should be purely a formality as there are no chassis modifications and it should be treated as nothing more than a re-body -  been too busy just enjoying driving it.

The price?  Well. a thoroughbred like an Elan or a weighty old MGB will cost you several times this much. a good Spitfire will be similar - you pay your money and take your choice but I have had this car a long time. love it to bits and will not be giving it away.   It is only for sale as I have had to accept that I do not have the money or time to enjoy all my vehicles and I am concentrating on my hot rod. if this one doesn't sell I shall list one of the others.

Specifications.

Vincent Hurricane

Donor car = 1971 Spitfire Mk4 1300

1296cc engine. fully rebuilt approx. 5000 miles ago with unleaded head. nbsp;new clutch etc.

Big radiator

Oil cooler

Alloy rocker box

Twin S. U. carbs with K&N filters

Full stainless steel exhaust comprising four branch manifold. central silencer and twin rear boxes

Overdrive. all synchro' four speed gearbox. fully rebuilt 5000 miles ago.

Lightweight bell-housing

Drilled discs with Aeroquip hoses

Lowered springs on Spax adjustables all round

Poly-bushed suspension etc.

Yokohama 195*50*15 tyres on Superlight split rim alloys

Mota Lita steering wheel

Green Gauge electronic instruments

Colour matched bucket seats

Securon harnesses

Alternator

Alloy Aston filler cap

Halogen headlights

Expensive tonneau (never used and may need poppers adjusting)

Trunnions. steering rack and various other bits replaced recently and obviously slave cylinders. wheel bearings etc. have all been maintained/replaced as necessary but further maintenance/improving will be needed by the new owner.

Any interest please message me first via Ebay as I do not "do" mobile 'phones. texting etc.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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