Welcome back! Today we’re taking a look at the two extremes of convertible sizes, with a great big American cruiser and a zippy little British roadster. Neither one is in great shape, but the name of the game is Shitbox Showdown, after all.
Yesterday’s cars were in decent condition, though I knew going in which one was going to win. Sometimes you can just tell. And yeah, I would choose that Esteem wagon over a sketchy early Hyundai too, but you understand why I had to feature it, right? It’s a Hyundai Scoupe. Stuff like that just doesn’t come up for sale very often.
It’s nothing official, or even written down, but I do have a sort of “hit list” in mind of cars I’m keeping an eye out for to feature, and the Hyundai Scoupe was actually one of them. If you ever see a Sterling 825 or 827, Renault 18i, Fiat Strada, or Mitsubishi Tredia or Cordia here, you’ll know I’ve crossed another one off the list.
For today, however, we’ll stick to the merely uncommon: a couple of old convertibles. Years ago, the only really “sporty” American convertible was the Corvette. You could get Camaro and Mustang and Cuda convertibles, but they usually weren’t the hardcore performance models, and even those weren’t really sporty. If you wanted a sports car with no top, you turned to Europe, where any number of tiny topless wonders stood at the ready to obey your every command on a twisty road. American convertibles mostly did what American cars did best: cruise along smoothly making V8 noises, only with more fresh air. I’ve got one of each for your perusal.
1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 350 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: San Diego, CA
Odometer reading: 64,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well, current registration
The malaise era hadn’t really started by 1974, but the writing was on the wall. Horsepower ratings had switched from gross (just the engine) to net (as installed in the car), making everything look a lot less powerful. Skyrocketing insurance rates and a fuel crisis had taken the fun out of muscle cars. And a whole list of impending new Federal regulations, including a rollover standard that would have all but outlawed convertibles, threatened to suck what little joy was left out of cars. A car like this Oldsmobile was a dinosaur, a remnant of an earlier time that was about to become extinct.
And really, the GM B-body, as well as other full-size American cars, had swelled to cartoonishly fat proportions. Just look at how much wasted space there is around this car’s 350 Rocket V8. You could practically climb in there with it to work on it. Not that this one needs much work; the seller says it runs and drives just fine, and it comes with a bunch of service records.
It’s a good thing this car is in sunny southern California, though; it’s permanently stuck in open-air mode at the moment. Neither the power-operated top nor the rear windows will raise. And something tells me the top isn’t much good even if you did put it up. What the hell; park it in the garage (if yours is big enough) and leave the top down. Drive something else when it’s rainy. The seats could use some upholstery, or pop down to Tijuana and get a couple of cheap wool blankets to throw over them.
It does have some significant rust in the rear wheel wells. The trouble with convertibles is that you can never really keep the water out; you just have to make sure it goes through where it’s supposed to. I get the feeling the rust on this car is the result of clogged drains or water collecting somewhere. Or maybe it’s just lousy mid-’70s GM paint prep.
1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Lancaster, CA
Odometer reading: 44,000 miles
Operational status: Hasn’t run since 1988, engine won’t turn
There were no American convertibles between 1976, when the last drop-top Cadillac Eldorado rolled off the line, and 1982, when the first Chrysler LeBaron convertibles arrived. But British and Italian makers never did stop building convertibles; you could still walk into an MG or Fiat or Alfa Romeo or Triumph dealership and drive off with the wind in your hair – at least until British Leyland started killing off its cool cars one by one. This little Triumph Spitfire comes from the second-to-last year of its production, and only a couple of years before Triumph stopped building cars altogether.
The “1500” in this car’s name refers to its engine size; technically it’s 1493 cubic centimeters, but that would look weird on a badge. Like its MGB cousin, the Spitfire suffered mightily from US emissions regulations towards the end of its run. This car was rated at only 53 horsepower when it was new, hardly a respectable sports car number even then. This one can’t even do that now; it was parked in 1988 in favor of a kid-friendly ride, and hasn’t run since. The engine is now stuck and won’t turn over by hand. With patience and some Marvel Mystery Oil, you might be able to get it unstuck, or you might not. Luckily, engine swaps on Spitfires are common and well-documented.
The rest of it looks pretty good, as it should, having been parked in a garage for three and a half decades. The interior looks nice, even that wonderful wooden dashboard – real wood, mind you; none of that fake Ford LTD crap here. There is a blemish on the passenger’s seat, but it might just be gunk that could be cleaned off.
Outside, it’s shiny and rust-free, just how you’d like it to be. It includes both the soft top and a factory removable hard top, as well as the cardboard boxes full of spare parts you’d expect to come with an old British roadster.
These days, we’ve got a whole new list of regulations that are sucking some of the fun out of cars. Horsepower is no longer a worry, of course; today’s cars have plenty of that, but what they lack is charm and personality, which these two have in spades. One is tailor-made for rolling along down the highway, or Sunset Boulevard, while the other is more suited for zipping along the canyon roads or between cones in a parking lot. But they’ll both give you that connected feeling that you can’t quite get with anything other than an open-top car. Which one is more your style?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I’ll take the Cali Spit even with a stuck engine. In a just and fair world, SAAB’s version of Triumph’s slant 4 would bolt right up to one of these, and I was most annoyed to be disabused of this notion. But there’s a loooot of room in that engine bay…
Fun matchup today. Each would appeal to me depending on my mood at the time.
And it’s currently a bit of a stressful time, which calls for some laid-back cruising during the last warm days of the year, so Olds it is today.
Easy the Olds by a mile. When we were considering getting out current convertible the last of the real B’s were definitely on the list though I’d prefer a Buick and of course the 455 instead of the little 350, but I could have probably got on board with an Olds if it had the 455.
The 350 had plenty of power – and throttle tip-in that was more like an on/off switch
Olds. Because when you need a stupid little part that is keeping the car from starting/stopping/running, you’ll be able to go to your local auto parts store and get it.
Parts are probably available for the Triumph, but you’re going to have to go on line to get them…
Delta Delta Delta, can I help ya help ya help ya?
No brainer. Give me the Oldsmobile.
Reverse opening hoods make anything cooler.
Voted Spitfire because smol>dinosaur.
Question, what would people put in the engine bay that would keep the ‘1500’ still accurate as a trim name?
My pick would be the 1.5l from a ND Miata given it’s the right size and rwd setup.
Kawasaki 1441cc from a ZX-14 maybe?
The 1498 cc version of the Taunus V4, of course.
Triumph, please!
I don’t have an aircraft hangar handy for storing the Olds, so Spitfire it is.
Close to the top of the task list is doing something, anything, with those bumpers. They are quite bad, and I say that as someone who owned a rubber-bumper MGBugger.
The stuck engine might be loosened with a 50-50 mix of acetone (available at Lowes and likely elsewhere) and ATF. I’ve read that it’s quite effective but haven’t tried it.
I had a friend (now passed away) that had an 88 convertible of similar vintage. At one point he worked with Child Protection Services and was tasked with delivering a child to another state. It was going to be a beautiful day, so he took the 88 instead of a state vehicle, but when he picked up the child (5 or 6ish) it was still a bit chilly so the top was up. The kid fell asleep during the drive, and it warmed up so he put the top down. When they arrived, the child woke up and exclaimed “what happened to your roof?!”
Hopefully that was the biggest trauma the child suffered that day.
Hadn’t thought about that story for quite awhile, so thanks for the memory.
As for the cars, Spitfire all the way. The engine is trash, so time to experiment with an EV conversion.
I wanted to go for the Spitfire until I saw that it hasn’t run since the Reagan Administration. If I had to make a choice I’d get the Olds and live with the fact that even a chance of rain in the forecast will force me to keep it in the garage.
I would Shop Smart and shop S Mart here. The Delta is iconic Raimi stuff but a better color and convertible to boot. Also running and likely easier to keep running.
Came here for this. If this was good enough for Ash it is good enough for me.
I’d rather have the inoperable Spitfire just to look at (minus those terrible bumpers), than to be seen driving that hideous, hulking hunk of Olds. Shouldn’t be too difficult to turn the Triumph into something Cobra-esque, right?
I NEED that Delta!!
Going with the Spitfire. My days of chauffeuring the queen in Homecoming parades are long gone and that’s all this Olds was ever suited to do.
Drive ins as well.
—though, depending on your date, you may well want a functional top
Spit6 time!
Always liked the looks of the Spitfire but ended up buying a TR-6 for the 6 cyl.
I’m a patient man. I’d keep throwing the Mystery Oil or whatever solvents I have down the cylinders until it starts turning.
I love me a Spitty, but 3 large for a 1500 with a locked up engine is bonkers. The rust-free status is nice, so it would make a great engine swap candidate. Perfect for a Spit6 conversion.
Even so, I’ll take the running car at that price. A more realistic price for the 1500 is… $1500.
Well, I don’t look all that ragged
For all the time it’s been
But I’m weakened underneath me
Where my frame is rusted thin
And this year’s state inspection
I just barely passed
Won’t you drive me ‘cross the country, boy
This year could be my last
I’m a tail-fin road locomotive
From the days of cheap gasoline
And I’m for sale by the side of the road going nowhere
A rusty old American dream
…
This car needs
A young man to own him
One who will
Polish the chrome
I will give you
The rest of my lifetime
But don’t let me
Die here alone
Give me the rusty old American dream, please.
Almost a “why not both” day, but the rust on the Olds would make me avoid it.
My very first car was a Triumph Spitfire. It was not ready to obey one of my commands when weaving through a windy road in my hometown and, at an early age, I learned the cruelty of snap oversteer. I also suffered my first and only concussion when my head hit the ground as the Spitfire performed a barrel-roll off the side of the road.
Nevertheless, I would love to get a second chance with these otherwise charming machines. That clamshell hood affords unobstructed access to the entire engine, making repairs/replacement that much easier.
I’m not sure if it exists, but the spitfire with the drivetrain from an NA Miata would be the right combination of cheap hotrod with a dash of reliability tossed in. For that alone, I’m going Spitfire
Yes, it exists. I’ve even seen a turbo’ed 1.8 in one. It’s insane. There’s also one out there with an NC motor, which is equally stupid/awesome.
That sounds incredible. The one thing I adored most about my ’90 Miata I had was the 1.6, it wasn’t torquey, but it was so happy to rev and surprisingly vocal. A turbo 1.8 in a spitfire sounds terrifying, but now I want one.
My buddy in Victoria had an MGB with an rx-7 motor, I’d bet you could do this with the Spitfire.
Those 5 mph bumpers on the Triumph are indescribably awful.
I know from experience i cannot fit into a Spitfire, so I’ll take your father’s Oldsmobile.
I already have a land yacht. so I’ll take the little British car.
used running gear is plentiful and usually cheap, and I’ve already sorted wiring on British cars previously, so the Prince of Darkness doesn’t scare me.
Initially, I wanted to go with the Olds. I’ve owned many convertibles over the years, but never a convertible land yacht. But if the choice is between rust and other cosmetic repair vs. mechanical, I’ll go with mechanical.
I like land yachts so I’m predisposed to choosing the Blue Whale. The Olds isn’t perfect, but it could be a fun cruiser with some seat covers, a good cleaning, and a few drain holes drilled into the floorboards.
This might be more of a competition if the Triumph worked, but it is far less interesting to me knowing it hasn’t run since the Reagan administration. I will definitely choose a Delta 88 over a car that hasn’t run since ’88.
Alan Davies approves.