1970 Triumph Vitesse Mk2 Convertible

Long-time lurkers, bidders or browsers of The Market may have a strange feeling they recognise this car. Well, that’s because we’ve already sold it once before, to the current owner, no less.

During their ownership, the vendor has kept this car in absolutely tip-top condition, and has applied a set of period-correct black number plates which are in-keeping with the aesthetic of the car, but otherwise has simply enjoyed this Vitesse for its wonderful driving characteristics.

Having used the car for occasional weekend jaunts, along with a long-distance road trip from Durham to Brighton upon having purchased the car, our vendor has realised this gem of a Vitesse MK2 simply doesn’t see the use it deserves, on account of them spending a large majority of time in Sunny Portugal, meaning we once again have the honour of selling this classic British sporting number.

Originally delivered in Brown, the car was comprehensively restored and fettled prior to coming into our vendor’s ownership, including a full bare-metal respray into the red you see here before you.

Evidently, not only does the colour suit the aggressive lines of the car far better than brown, but the work was clearly carried out to an incredibly high standard, with the paintwork still appearing fresh and crisp to this day.

There are, of course, some marks and minor wear to the front end, bumpers and patina showing on the chrome details scattered around the car, but this is to be expected and is all shown in the gallery below.

The bodywork, too, is all lovely and straight, though we did note that there appears to be alignment issues with both doors, with the passenger side in particular proving tricky to close unless you ‘lift’ the door as you close it, though this should be easily remedied by a home mechanic with an hour to spare.

Up top, the folding soft-top roof is in excellent condition, and folds back with a smooth action and no resistance. There are some marks to the edges of the top which are more noticeable when folded, though these has also been shown in the gallery below, and certainly shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for anyone considering a cheeky bid or two.

Truth be told, you’d find it tricky to tell this is an older restoration, such is the condition of the bodywork and paint - a truly fabulous example!

Inside, the vinyl seat covers are all in great shape and show only minor signs of use, in keeping with the low mileage accumulated by the car and the sparing use by the current owner.

The carpets, door cards and mats are all also in excellent shape, with no signs of major staining or scuffs that we noted during our inspection and photography session.

As was the case when we last marketed the car, the wooden dashboard trim does have a few marks here-and-there, whilst chrome details such as the door pulls, instrument binnacles and the Moto-Lita steering wheel all display a light patina, though this only adds to the history of the car, rather than detracting from the overall condition.

In fact, other than the mis-aligned doors and minor patina, the only real issue we noted was that the driver’s door card appeared to be missing a trim tab or two, as the rear lower corner kept popping out when opening and closing the door - nothing major, and a nice easy five-minute fix for the next owner.

Having been the subject of an extensive program of sandblasting and repairs where necessary during the aforementioned restoration, the chassis remains in absolutely astounding condition throughout.

Many classic car connoisseurs like when owners waxoyl/dinitrol/under-seal their vehicles, as it protects against rust and other nasty resulted of salted roads and typically British weather.

However, we think it’s pretty safe to say the fact that this particular Vitesse isn’t treated as such is a bonus, as it means nothing can hide from prying eyes, and no botch jobs can be covered up.

Just take a look at the extensive gallery of underside photos we’ve provided below - the underside of the car is practically as clean as the top half, with no concerning signs as far as we can see, and no unsightly underbody protection ruining the extensive work that has clearly been put in to this Vitesse MK2’s chassis.

The latest MOT exam would also back up our suggestion that there are no issues underneath, as the test - dated 05 July 2021 - resulted in a clean pass, with no advisory items, though it did initially fail on two light-related issues which were quickly rectified.

During our short test drive, the car started with ease, drove well and steered/braked exactly as a period-correct Triumph should.

There were no untoward noises, knocks or squeaks that we noted, though being super picky we’d suggest that some of the bushes or linkages in the gearbox may be in need of renewal, as the action was somewhat sloppy compared to the rest of the car feeling very ‘tight’ and ‘dialled in’ for its age.

Included with the car is the extensive Triumph workshop manual, which is a veritable bible for any owners who aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty working on their own cars.

In addition to this, there is a small mountain of invoices from marque specialist James Paddock Ltd, several historic invoices, and the V5 ownership document showing six prior owners, and a DVD showing the restoration process in great detail, which was stated as being “comprehensive, and showing a methodical approach [to the process] from the strip down, through restoration and final assembly” during our last tenure with this Vitesse MK2.

Offering improved power and drivability over the early MK1 and 2.0-litre cars, many enthusiasts would argue the MK2 Vitesse is the one to have, and from our experience, we can see why.

Presented in outstanding condition throughout and with a low recorded mileage and older restoration, this 1970 Triumph Vitesse MK2 convertible is an absolute gem, and is certain to take pride-of-place in any classic car collection.

Given the excellent condition and nature of this Vitesse MK2 Convertible, we estimate the hammer to fall for this auction in the region of £10,000 to £15,000, with the winning bidder having a wonderfully usable and enjoyable Vitesse just in time for plenty of summer evening driving.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00pm. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.