1967 Triumph Vitesse Convertible

First registered on the 17th of February 1967 and showing just two previous keepers, this delightful Triumph Vitesse Convertible has been in the care of the vendor since the 6th of August 2018.

Finished in Conifer Green over red, it features freshly refurbished cream wheels and a very good black folding roof; the vendor had one in exactly the same specification many years ago and always regretted selling it, so when this one came up he couldn’t resist the chance to recreate his youth.

Now reluctantly for sale due to an unforeseen change in his circumstances, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid, no matter how derisory that sum might be.

The Conifer Green coachwork is in good shape with a fine shine to the paintwork and decent panels. Good alignment too, and while there is the odd small dink and wobble, it all still looks terrific.

The chrome bumpers are in a decent condition with only light pitting and just a couple of deep scuffs marring the front bumper. We also love the way the rear overriders merge into the light lenses, a detail we’ve never noticed before.

The fabric roof looks to be fairly recent. Regardless of however old it turns out to be, there are no rips, tears, or other damage that we can see. It also raises and lowers easily and seals well.

The freshly refurbished 13-inch steel wheels are still in a very good condition, and they’re shod with 155/80R13 Constancy tyres, all of which have good tread. Oh, and the factory hubcaps and trims do come with the car but the owner didn’t want to risk scratching the wheels by fitting them.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching tyres like this are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, aside from the sort of stonechips and marks that any car accumulates over the years, there’s a bit of an orange peel finish to some panels. A decent machine polish might help but given that it presents well if it were ours we’d be tempted to leave well alone otherwise as there simply isn’t any need for anything more intrusive.

The seats look wonderful; red is a great choice for a car like this anyway, and their wonderful condition adds a further dimension to what would be a great interior anyway. The seats still look like new (they look to have been recovered at some point in the recent past) and are as springy and comfortable as they’ve ever been.

The matching door cards are great too, as are the black carpets; the Triumph also still features a period-correct twin-spindle radio and that huge, semi-vintage steering wheel that adds so much to the way it drives; the overall look and feel is fabulous.

Not that it is perfect, of course. Aside from needing a damned good vacuum, the wooden veneer is a little jaded but because it is made from actual trees; remedying its appearance could be undertaken with sandpaper and varnish in the traditional way.

The hood frame could do with repainting too, but while the interior chromework is a little pitted what patination there is is consistent with the car’s age and use and doesn’t worry us at all as we think it’s all part and parcel of the Vitesse’s history and could be left as it is without leaving you feeling short-changed.

The boot is, if we’re being honest, a bit scruffy and could do with tidying up and the surface corrosion catching before it moves from unsightly to problematic.

There’s an invoice in the files from May 2019 for more than £2,500. The work that was carried out includes a major service plus new ignition consumables, fresh sparkplugs, fettling the carburettors, rectifying some minor oil leaks and the heater, and powdercoating the wheels.

There are also many, many more invoices and bills for work that has been carried out on it over the years; this is clearly a very well looked after example.

We are told that the engine is “smooth and silky” and that it “drives well”. Please take a look at the video to see and hear it for yourselves, or please feel free to contact the vendor to make an appointment to see it.

The engine bay is purposeful and utilitarian rather than pretty. Still, that forward-hinging bonnet gives amazing access to the whole area, so detailing it over the forthcoming winter lockdown would be a joy rather than a pain.

The Triumph’s MOT certificate is valid until the 26th of October 2021.

It also has a large number of expired MOT certificates plus lots of old paperwork including a Motor Fuel Ration Book, the original VE60 Registration Book, an old insurance certificate from 1973, and the stamped service history booklet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Having been the recipient of a considerable amount of recent work, this Vitesse is only being offered for sale as a result of a change in the vendor’s circumstances.

And, while it might be being only reluctantly offered for sale, the vendor is nonetheless confident enough in its condition to offer it with no reserve, trusting you lot to recognize a good ‘un when you see it – and to bid accordingly. As a result we estimate this Triumph between £7,000 - £10,000 

It does seem to be a good example of the breed too, and well worth popping along to see it in person. This particular car is located with the vendor’s agent near Larkill in Wiltshire; 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’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.