#rnzaf #rnzafpastandpresent #spitfire #triumphspitfire #LiberatedFromFB
URGENT CLARIFICATION: We’ve been made aware of widespread confusion between the Triumph Spitfire and the Supermarine Spitfire, which we wanted to move quickly to clear up.
This is not surprising. As well as having the same name, these doppelgangers share rakish good looks, stunning performances, and both Spitfires were plucky battlers that took the world by storm.
However, there are a few subtle differences that the untrained eye might not spot, so we’ve put together a handy guide so you can tell them apart at a glance.
The first major difference is under their graceful bonnets.
The Triumph Spitfire was powered by a gutsy 1.1 litre inline four producing 63 horsepower, and had a top speed of 148 km/h. This little beauty went from 0 to an infringement notice in a brisk 16.4 seconds and drank its fuel at a thrifty rate of 7.41 litres per 100km.
By contrast the Supermarine Spitfire was powered by a slightly more powerful 27-litre V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin engine capable of producing up to 1860 horsepower, depending on its supercharger.
This little sportster would earn you a fine by the time you took off and could exceed 700km/h when you decided to give it the jandal. However, this performance came at a price: The Supermarine Spitfire consumed up to 409 litres of fuel per hour when in a hurry so it paid to have a service station nearby when you were out buzzing about.
The second major difference to look for is in armament. Triumph did not provide its Spitfire owners with gun choice as a factory option. By contrast Supermarine gave its owners variety, with an early choice of eight machine guns and, in later models, four 20 mm cannons. Bombs were also an option for some models. Of course, disappointed Triumph owners could always go for retrofit options.
Finally, the biggest, and probably most easy-to-spot giveaway, is in colour choices.
The Triumph Spitfire came in a huge range of colours, ranging from Leyland White to some 1970s stunners such as Carmin, Burgundy, Scarlet, Mimosa and, of course, British Racing Green.
Spitfires came in shades of green, brown and sometimes with a two-tone pattern to distinguish their undersides. Later models came with black and white racing stripes but they were mostly variations of green and brown, and it was a dull range compared to the Triumphs.
So, there you go – hopefully you will never be confused again and we won’t have Spitfire fans arriving at our museum hoping to see a Triumph, when we only have a Supermarine Spitfire on show.
This urgent clarification has been brought to you by Optrex.
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