Anybody who has relocated from the UK to Australia has a story, and at Autoshippers we are very lucky to be a part of many of those happy stories of our customers being reunited with their prized vehicles once they have made the move themselves.
One of these occasions was when we were contacted to help a UK expat in Perth, Western Australia, who wanted us to ship his Triumph Spitfire from a shed in Cumbria to his new home.
The Triumph Car Company
The Triumph Car Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1885 by Siegfried Bettmann, becoming the Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd, two years later. As the name suggests, the company started out as a bicycle manufacturer and gradually expanded into the production of motorcycles and cars. Throughout its history, Triumph was known for producing high-quality, innovative, and stylish vehicles that were popular both in Britain and around the world.
During the early 20th century, Triumph became one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world and gained a reputation for producing high-performance bikes that were popular with racers and riders alike. In 1923, the company introduced its first car, the Triumph 10/20, and followed this with the Triumph Super 7 in 1928, which quickly established itself as a popular and affordable alternative to more expensive British sports cars. In 1930 another name change beckoned, and the company then became the Triumph Car Company.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Triumph continued to expand its product range and developed a reputation for producing stylish and high-performance vehicles. The company was particularly successful with its line of sports cars, including the TR2, TR3, and TR4, which were popular with driving enthusiasts and racers alike.
However, despite its success, Triumph struggled financially and was eventually acquired by Leyland Motors in 1960, which became the British Leyland Motor Corporation. Despite the acquisition, Triumph continued to produce a range of popular vehicles, including the Dolomite sedan, the Stag convertible, and the 2000 saloon.
The last Triumph model introduced was the Acclaim, which was first produced in 1981, and sadly the Triumph name disappeared in 1984 when this was replaced by the Rover 200. The Triumph trademark is currently owned by BMW, after it bought the Rover Group in the mid 90’s, after they held onto it as part of the deal, although Rover tried to buy the brand.
The Triumph Spitfire
The Triumph Spitfire was manufactured from 1962 to 1980 and was known for its nimble handling, stylish design, and affordable price. The first model of the Triumph Spitfire was powered by a 1,147cc inline-four engine and had a top speed of around 90 mph. Over the years, the Spitfire underwent several updates and improvements, including a larger engine and improved suspension.
In 1967, the Triumph Spitfire received a major upgrade with the introduction of the Mark III model. This model was powered by a 1,296cc inline-four engine that produced 63 horsepower, which gave it a top speed of around 95 mph. The Mark III also featured an updated interior, improved suspension, and a more refined driving experience.
The final iteration of the Triumph Spitfire, the 1500 model, was introduced in 1974 and featured a 1,493cc inline-four engine that produced 71 horsepower. This engine was capable of propelling the Spitfire to a top speed of around 100 mph. The 1500 model also featured a number of cosmetic updates, including a new front grille, updated bumpers, and a revised interior.
In total, over 310,000 Triumph Spitfires were produced, making it one of the most popular sports cars of its time. Today, the Triumph Spitfire is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, and its classic design, nimble handling, and affordability make it a popular choice for those looking to own a piece of automotive history.
Safe and Secure Transport for Classic Cars: Shipping Jack’s Triumph Spitfire 1500
It was a 1978 Triumph 1500 that our customer, Jack, bought in 2010 that he contacted us to ship to his home in Perth. After finishing his apprenticeship as a panel beater/spray painter he wanted to follow his dream of restoring an old car. It took him every weekend for a year, but finally she was like new again.
However, in 2012 he decided to backpack around Australia with his then girlfriend, now wife. Their intention was to remain in Australia making it a permanent move, and settled in Perth, with his prized Triumph Spitfire 1500 safe and secure, albeit over 9,000 miles away in a shed in Cumbria.
Life went on, they bought a house, had three beautiful children, and became citizens of Australia. But he always had in mind to be reunited with his car, once funds allowed, and in 2021 the time had come.
Jack flew back to Cumbria, and rescued her from the shed that had been her home for so many years. He managed to get her working again “with a little love and a few swear words” so the next step was shipping to Australia.
This is where Autoshippers come into the story, we are experts at classic car shipping, and Australia is one of our main markets. We arranged to collect Jack’s Triumph 1500, and he drove her onto the tow truck himself, waving goodbye, or on this occasion “bon voyage” and “au revoir”.
We shipped using our Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) service from Southampton to Perth, Fremantle. This service utilises specially built shipping vessels with ramps enabling vehicles to be driven on and off, making loading a quick and easy process.
Jack was reunited with his Triumph Spitfire 1500, once again, in Australia, and he was so pleased to see her and introduce her to the new life he had found there;
“It was quite surreal to see it on my drive when I got back from work, having something from my previous life in my new life, like the last piece of puzzle to my Australian life.
Now we’re living the dream and driving the dream!!!! Wahhooo!!!!”
Autoshippers – The Car Shipping Experts
If you have a beloved car, motorbike or any other vehicle, that you had to leave behind when you moved overseas, or one that you have found since relocating that you want to join you in your new home, then Autoshippers are the company that you need to help you with the shipping.
We have nationwide collection services, full coverage marine insurance and various shipping options that suit the needs of every shape, size and style of vehicle (and budget!)
For more details of the services we offer, our marine insurance, and some valuable information on Customs and registration formalities for key markets, take a look at our website www.autoshippers.co.uk
If you would like a quotation, then simply complete our online quote form and our sales team will come back to you with pricing and other relevant information, or you can call us on +44 117 982 8123 / 0800 389 0784 and we will be happy to help.
Just because you have made a new life elsewhere, it doesn’t mean that you want to break all ties with your old life, and if that includes your classic car, then Autoshippers can make the shipping process as stress-free and simple as possible.
