Editing Triumph Spitfire (section)

==Origins==
The Spitfire was conceived of by [[Standard Motor Company|Standard-Triumph]] to compete in the small sports car market against the [[Austin-Healey Sprite]]. The Sprite used the drive train of the [[Austin A30|Austin A30/A35]] in a new lightweight body, while the Spitfire used mechanicals from the Herald saloon. Where the Austin A30 used [[Vehicle frame#Unibody|unitary construction]], the Herald used a separate [[Backbone chassis#Hybrid backbone-ladder chassis|backbone chassis]] &mdash; which Triumph was able to downsize, saving the cost of developing a completely new chassis-body unit.

[[Giovanni Michelotti]], who had designed the Herald, styled the bodywork, which featured wind-down windows (in contrast to the Sprite and [[MG Midget|Midget]], which used side curtains) and a cowl composed of the bonnet and wings that opened forward for engine access. The Spitfire's introduction was delayed by its company's financial troubles in the early 1960's and was subsequently announced shortly after Standard Triumph was taken over by [[Leyland Motors]]. While taking stock of their new acquisition, Leyland officials found Michelotti's prototype under a dust sheet in a factory corner, and quickly approved it for production.<ref name="traction-aprmay2023">{{cite magazine |editor-last=Madigan |editor-first=Fran |date=April–May 2023 |title=Giovanni Michelotti |url=https://www.tsoasa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TRaction-April-May-2023_Web.pdf |magazine=TRaction |pages=24–28 |location= |publisher=Triumph Sports Owners Association Victoria Incorporated |access-date=}}</ref>