Inspirational Museum Volunteer Rebuilt Her Triumph Spitfire from the Ground Up

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating one of our fantastic volunteers, Maggie. Like many of our dedicated volunteers, she helps visitors get more from their time at the Museum, from sharing stories about the Collection to helping create engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. Maggie is also part of our team of educational volunteers, supporting school visits and helping bring motoring history to life for young learners. 

Outside the Museum, Maggie has taken on an extraordinary challenge: over three years, she completely rebuilt her own Triumph Spitfire, applying her skills, learning new ones and overcoming every obstacle along the way. Her story is a testament to the passion, knowledge and dedication that help preserve classic vehicles and the history of motoring for future generations. 

Why did you decide to restore a Spitfire? 

“I used to own a Mk2 Triumph Spitfire which I was very attached to but had to sell it on as a restoration project after it had sat in a barn for too long.  Later I tried to locate it to buy it back only to find out that it had been scrapped. I decided that I wanted another ‘roundtail’ Spitfire!” 

How did you choose which car to restore? 

“Mk2 Spitfires have gone up significantly in price in the intervening years, Mk1 examples even more so. So a Mk3 Spitfire it was. My next decision was then either: To buy a really good example, or To buy a rough but cheap car and restore it. I chose the latter because, Ian apparently ‘good’ car can hide a multitude of sins and ending up costing more.  

The other reason for choosing a ‘project’ car was that I could use existing skills and learn some new ones, I’d know every detail of the work that had that been done and have some fun with it along the way.” 

How much of the restoration did you complete yourself? 

“I did much of the work myself, but had to outsource some things, primarily bodywork and final paint.  

Some panels and parts were easy to source, others were more difficult. There is nothing quite like the challenge of being told that a part is impossible to find to spur you on to do just that. A bit of lateral thinking helped sometimes. 

On another occasion a fellow volunteer came to my rescue by manufacturing the items I needed.” 

When did you start the project and how long did it take? 

“I bought my ‘project’ car in March 2016 and ‘completed’ it in December 2019.” 

Where did the restoration take place? 

“The initial strip down (and careful labelling and storing of parts) I did in a friend’s barn and yard. The body was separated from the chassis with the help of my husband and a good friend (and inquisitive Springer Spaniel).  

My welding skills are best described as ‘agricultural’ so I moved the body to a lovely supportive garage in Westbury. They agreed to do the bodywork, and they were happy for me to continue to strip the body and work on the car on their premises. 

Meanwhile the chassis received a protective coat of paint I used the same paint product used by the RNLI on their launch trailers and after some reassembly in our garage at home the car got to the rolling chassis stage.” 

Were there any modifications you decided to make? 

“Gradually the component parts of the car came together, and I had more decisions to make. Do I fit electronic ignition? Yes. Original radiator or a wider new one? Dynamo or alternator? Original single bonnet strut or a pair of gas struts- 

The pair of gas struts won out and are brilliant as they prevent the potential damage caused by the rotational force on that large bonnet assembly when you lift it from just one side.” 

What was the scariest part of the project?  

Watching the rising total cost on the spreadsheet I had set up! 

Was it worth it and what was your best moment?  

“Definitely! The best moment was the very first drive from home to Nunney Catch and back.” 

Stories like Maggie’s highlight the passion, knowledge and practical skills that help preserve classic vehicles and the history of motoring for future generations. As a woman who rebuilt her own car from the ground up, Maggie’s story is a powerful reminder that these skills and interests are for everyone, and she is sure to inspire other women and girls to get involved in engineering and motoring. 

Best moment? That first drive - from home to Nunney Catch and back!

Where did the restoration take place? 

“The initial strip down, and careful labelling and storing of parts, I did in a friend’s barn and yard. The body was separated from the chassis with the help of my husband and a good friend, and an inquisitive Springer Spaniel. 

My welding is best described as ‘agricultural’, so I moved the body to a supportive garage in Westbury. They agreed to do the bodywork and were happy for me to continue working on the car on their premises.” 

What other work did you carry out on the car? 

“The chassis received a protective coat of paint using the same product used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on their launch trailers. After some reassembly in our garage at home the car reached the rolling chassis stage.” 

Were there any modifications you decided to make? 

“Gradually the component parts of the car came together and I had more decisions to make. Do I fit electronic ignition? Original radiator or a wider new one? Dynamo or alternator? 

One choice I’m particularly pleased with was fitting a pair of gas struts rather than the original single bonnet strut. They prevent the rotational force on that large bonnet assembly when you lift it from just one side.”

What was the scariest part of the project? 

“Watching the rising total cost on the spreadsheet I had set up!” 

Was it worth it? 

“Definitely.” 

And the best moment? 

“That first drive from home to Nunney Catch and back.” 

Stories like Maggie’s highlight the passion, knowledge and practical skills that help preserve classic vehicles and the history of motoring for future generations. 

For International Women's Day, we are celebrating the women helping to keep motoring heritage alive. At the Museum, volunteers play an important role in sharing the story of the motor car with visitors of all ages, including supporting school visits and education sessions that inspire future generations to engage with engineering and automotive history. 

One of those volunteers is Maggie, who helps with our education programme. Away from the classroom, she has also undertaken an impressive personal challenge, restoring her own Triumph Spitfire. Over three years, Maggie carried out much of the restoration herself, learning new skills and overcoming plenty of challenges along the way.