Triumph Motor Company
Encyclopedia
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque (trade-name) is owned currently by BMW
. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann
(1863–1951) of Nuremberg
initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycle
s from Europe and selling them with his own trade-name in London
. The trade-name became "Triumph" the year next, and in 1887 Bettmann was joined by a partner, Moritz (Maurice) Schulte, also from Germany
. Beginning in 1889 the businessmen started producing their own bicycles in Coventry
, England
.
In 1921, Bettmann was persuaded by his general manager Claude Holbrook (1886–1979), who had joined the company in 1919, to acquire the assets and Clay Lane premises of the Dawson Car Company
and start producing a car and 1.4 litre engine type named the Triumph 10/20
which was actually designed for them by Lea-Francis
to whom they paid a royalty for every car sold. Production of this car and its immediate successors was moderate, but this changed with the introduction in 1927 of the Triumph Super 7
which sold in large numbers through 1934.
In 1930 the company's name was changed to Triumph Motor Company. Holbrook realized he could not compete with the larger car companies for the mass market, so he decided to produce expensive cars, and introduced the models Southern Cross and Gloria. At first these used engines made by Triumph but designed by Coventry Climax
, but from 1937 they started to produce them to their own designs by Donald Healey
who had become the company’s Experimental Manager in 1934.
The company encountered financial problems however and in 1936 the Triumph bicycle and motorcycle businesses were sold, the latter to Jack Sangster
of Ariel
to become Triumph Engineering Co Ltd. Healey purchased an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300
and developed a new car model with an Alfa inspired straight-8
engine type named the Triumph Dolomite. However the eight-cylinder engine was not used in the production car with the same name.
In July 1939, the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership and the factory, equipment and goodwill were offered for sale. T.W. Ward purchased the company and placed Healey in charge as general manager, but the effects of World War II
again stopped the production of cars and the Priory Street works was completely destroyed by bombing in 1940.
and a subsidiary "Triumph Motor Company (1945) Limited" was formed with production transferred to Standard's factory at Canley
, on the outskirts of Coventry. Triumph's new owners had been supplying engines to Jaguar and its predecessor company since 1938. After a "considerable argument" between Standard-Triumph Managing Director, Sir John Black
, and William Lyons
, the creator and owner of Jaguar, Black's objective in acquiring the rights to the name and the remnants of the bankrupt Triumph business was to build a car to compete with the soon-to-be-launched post-war Jaguars.
The pre-war Triumph models were not revived and in 1946 a new range of Triumphs starting with the Triumph Roadster was announced. Because of steel shortages these were bodied with aluminium which was plentiful because of its use for aircraft production. The same engine was used for the 1800 Town and Country
saloon, later named the Triumph Renown
, which was notable for the styling chosen by Standard-Triumph's managing director Sir John Black
. A similar style was also used for the subsequent Triumph Mayflower
light saloon. All three of these models prominently sported the "globe" badge that had been used on pre-war models. When Sir John was forced to retire from the company this range of cars was discontinued without being replaced directly, sheet aluminium having by now become a prohibitively expensive alternative to sheet steel for most auto-industry purposes.
In the early 1950s it was decided to use the Triumph name for sporting cars and the Standard name for saloons and in 1953 the Triumph TR2
was initiated, the first of a series that would be produced until 1981. Curiously the TR2 had a Standard badge on its front and the Triumph globe on its hubcaps.
Standard had been making a range of small saloons named the Standard Eight
and Ten and had been working on a replacement for these. The success of the TR range meant that Triumph was considered as a more marketable name than Standard and the new car was introduced in 1959 as the Triumph Herald
; the last Standard car to be made in the UK was replaced in 1963 by the Triumph 2000
.
In December 1960 the company was bought by Leyland Motors Ltd
with Donald Stokes becoming chairman of the Standard Triumph division in 1963. Further mergers resulted in the formation of British Leyland Motor Corporation
in 1968.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Triumph sold a succession of Michelotti-styled saloons and sports cars, including the advanced Dolomite Sprint
, which, in 1973, already had a 16-valve four cylinder engine. It is alleged that many Triumphs of this era were unreliable, especially the 2.5 PI (petrol injection) with its fuel injection problems. In Australia, the summer heat caused petrol in the electric fuel pump to vapourise, resulting in frequent malfunctions of the 2.5 PI and TR6 models. While the injection system had proved itself in international competition, it did lack altitude compensation for the adjustment of mixture at altitudes greater than 3000 feet (1000 meters) above sea level. The Lucas system proved unpopular: Lucas did not want to develop it further, and the Standard-Triumph dealers were unwilling to attend factory and field-based training courses dedicated to this propulsion method.
For most of its time under Leyland or BL ownership, the Triumph marque belonged in the Specialist Division of the company which went by the names of Rover Triumph and later Jaguar Rover Triumph other than a brief period during the mid 1970s when all BL's car marques or brands were grouped together under the name of Leyland Cars.
The only all-new Triumph model initiated as Rover Triumph was the TR7
, which had the misfortune to be in production successively at three factories that were closed: Speke
, the strike-prone Leyland-era Standard-Triumph works in Liverpool
, the original Standard works at Canley
, Coventry
and finally the Rover works in Solihull
. Plans for an extended range based on the TR7, including a fastback variant codenamed "Lynx", were ended when the Speke factory closed. The four-cylinder TR7 and its short-lived eight-cylindered derivative the TR8
were terminated when the road car section of the Solihull plant was closed (the plant continues to build Land Rover
s.)
which was introduced in 1981 and was essentially a rebadged Honda Ballade
built by licence from Japan
ese company Honda
at the former Morris Motor Company
works in Cowley
, Oxford
. The Triumph name disappeared in 1984, when the Acclaim was replaced by the Rover 200, which was a rebadged version of Honda's next generation Civic/Ballade
model. The BL car division was by then named Austin Rover Group
which also ended the Morris marque as well as Triumph.
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The trademark
is owned currently by BMW
, which acquired Triumph when it bought the Rover Group
in 1994. When it sold Rover
, it kept the Triumph marque. The Phoenix Consortium, which bought Rover, tried to buy the Triumph brand, but BMW refused, saying that if Phoenix insisted, it would break the deal. The Standard marque was transferred to British Motor Heritage Limited, along with Austin, Morris, and Wolseley marques. The Austin, Morris and Wolseley marques were later sold to MG Rover Group Ltd, on 10 December 2003. The Standard marque is still retained by British Motor Heritage who also have the licence to use the Triumph marque in relation to the sale of spares and service of the existing 'park' of Triumph cars.
The MG marque was sold to Phoenix along with the sale of the Rover brand images and a licence to use the Rover name. The Rover name was later sold to Ford, then later to Tata Motors (current owners of Jaguar-Land Rover). The Triumph name has been retained by BMW along with Riley, Rolls-Royce
and Mini
. In late 2007, the magazine Auto Express, after continued rumours that Triumph be revived with BMW ownership, featured a story showing an image of what a new version of the TR4 might look like. BMW has not commented officially on this.
Pre-war Triumphs carried a stylised Globe badge, usually on the radiator grille, and this was also used on the first three models produced under Standard's control.
The Griffin
Standard had introduced a new badge in 1947 for their own models, first seen on the Vanguard
, a highly-stylised motif based on the wings of a Griffin
. With the introduction of the TR2, a version of this badge appeared for the first time on the bonnet of a production Triumph, while the Globe continued to appear on the hubcaps. This same double-badging also appeared on the TR3 and TR4, the 2000 and the 1300.
However, the original Herald, Spitfire, Vitesse and GT6 models all carried only the Griffin badge on their bonnets/radiator grilles, with unadorned hubcaps.
The TR4A appeared with a Globe badge on the bonnet, apparently signifying a return to the original Triumph badging. This was short-lived, as a policy of Leylandisation mean that neither Globe nor Griffin appeared on subsequent models from the TR5 onwards, or on later versions of the Spitfire, GT6 and 2000.
Leyland
Leyland's corporate badge, a design based on the spokes of a wheel, appeared on the hubcaps of the 1500FWD, and next to the Triumph name on the metal identification labels fitted to the bootlids of various models. It was also used for the oil filler cap on the Dolomite Sprint engine. However it was never used as a bonnet badge, with models of that era such as the TR6 and the second generation 2000 carrying a badge simply stating the name "Triumph".
The Stag
The Stag model carried a unique grille badge showing a highly-stylised stag.
The Laurel Wreath
The last versions of the TR7 and Dolomite ranges received an all-new badge with the word Triumph surrounded by laurel wreaths, and this was also used for the Acclaim. It was carried on the bonnet and the steering wheel boss.
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann
Siegfried Bettmann
Siegfried Bettmann was a bicycle, motorcycle and car manufacturer and initiator of the Triumph Motorcycle Company. In 1914 he established the Annie Bettmann Foundation to help young people start businesses Triumph became one of the most famous motorcycle trade-names of the world.-Early life:Born in...
(1863–1951) of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s from Europe and selling them with his own trade-name in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The trade-name became "Triumph" the year next, and in 1887 Bettmann was joined by a partner, Moritz (Maurice) Schulte, also from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Beginning in 1889 the businessmen started producing their own bicycles in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The Triumph Cycle Company
The company was renamed the Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd. in 1897. In 1902 it began producing Triumph motor cycles at their works in Coventry on Much Park Street. At first these used engines purchased from another company, but the business prospered and they soon started making their own engines. In 1907 they purchased the premises of a spinning mill on Priory Street to develop a new factory. Major orders for the 550 cc Model H were made by the British Army during World War 1 and by 1918 they were Britain's largest maker of motorcycles.In 1921, Bettmann was persuaded by his general manager Claude Holbrook (1886–1979), who had joined the company in 1919, to acquire the assets and Clay Lane premises of the Dawson Car Company
Dawson Car Company
Dawson Car Company was created in June 1918 by AJ Dawson, previously works manager at Hillman and designer of the 1913 Hillman Nine car and launched in 1919....
and start producing a car and 1.4 litre engine type named the Triumph 10/20
Triumph 10/20
The Triumph 10/20 was a car manufactured from 1923 to 1926 by the Triumph Motor Company.This was the first Triumph automobile and was named the 10/20 for the Royal Automobile Club's taxation class of 10 horsepower rating and its actual output of 20 brake horsepower...
which was actually designed for them by Lea-Francis
Lea-Francis
Lea-Francis was a motor manufacturing company that began life building bicycles.- History :Richard Henry Lea and Graham Inglesby Francis started the business in Coventry in 1895. They branched out into car manufacture in 1903 and motor cycles in 1911. Lea-Francis built cars, under licence, for the...
to whom they paid a royalty for every car sold. Production of this car and its immediate successors was moderate, but this changed with the introduction in 1927 of the Triumph Super 7
Triumph Super 7
The Triumph Super 7 was a car manufactured from 1927 to 1934 by the Triumph Motor Company. It was produced as a response to the success of the Austin 7 and was Triumph's first car to be made in large numbers...
which sold in large numbers through 1934.
The Triumph Motor Company
Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
, but from 1937 they started to produce them to their own designs by Donald Healey
Donald Healey
Donald Mitchell Healey CBE was a noted English rally driver, automobile engineer, and speed record holder.- Early life :...
who had become the company’s Experimental Manager in 1934.
The company encountered financial problems however and in 1936 the Triumph bicycle and motorcycle businesses were sold, the latter to Jack Sangster
Jack Sangster
John Young Sangster was an industrialist who became an important figure in the history of the British motorcycle industry. He is more commonly known as Jack Sangster.-Early life:...
of Ariel
Ariel (vehicle)
Ariel was a bicycle, motorcycle and automobile marque manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham, England. Car production moved to Coventry in 1911. The company name was reused in 1999 for the formation of Ariel Ltd, a sports car producer.-History:...
to become Triumph Engineering Co Ltd. Healey purchased an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300
Alfa Romeo 8C
-1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from...
and developed a new car model with an Alfa inspired straight-8
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
engine type named the Triumph Dolomite. However the eight-cylinder engine was not used in the production car with the same name.
In July 1939, the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership and the factory, equipment and goodwill were offered for sale. T.W. Ward purchased the company and placed Healey in charge as general manager, but the effects of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
again stopped the production of cars and the Priory Street works was completely destroyed by bombing in 1940.
Standard Triumph
In November 1944 what was left of the Triumph Motor Company and the Triumph trade-name were bought by the Standard Motor CompanyStandard Motor Company
The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay . The Standard name was last used in Britain in 1963, and in India in 1987.-1903–1914:...
and a subsidiary "Triumph Motor Company (1945) Limited" was formed with production transferred to Standard's factory at Canley
Canley
Canley is a suburban neighbourhood located in southwest Coventry, England. Canley became part of Coventry as a result of successive encroachment of the latter's boundaries between 1928 and 1932, having historically been part of the Stoneleigh parish....
, on the outskirts of Coventry. Triumph's new owners had been supplying engines to Jaguar and its predecessor company since 1938. After a "considerable argument" between Standard-Triumph Managing Director, Sir John Black
John Black (Motor industry)
Sir John Paul Black held several senior positions in the British motor industry including chairman of Standard-Triumph....
, and William Lyons
William Lyons
Sir William Lyons , known as "Mr. Jaguar", was with fellow motorcycle enthusiast William Walmsley, the co-founder in 1922 of the Swallow Sidecar Company, which became Jaguar Cars Limited after the Second World War....
, the creator and owner of Jaguar, Black's objective in acquiring the rights to the name and the remnants of the bankrupt Triumph business was to build a car to compete with the soon-to-be-launched post-war Jaguars.
The pre-war Triumph models were not revived and in 1946 a new range of Triumphs starting with the Triumph Roadster was announced. Because of steel shortages these were bodied with aluminium which was plentiful because of its use for aircraft production. The same engine was used for the 1800 Town and Country
Triumph Renown
The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models...
saloon, later named the Triumph Renown
Triumph Renown
The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models...
, which was notable for the styling chosen by Standard-Triumph's managing director Sir John Black
John Black (Motor industry)
Sir John Paul Black held several senior positions in the British motor industry including chairman of Standard-Triumph....
. A similar style was also used for the subsequent Triumph Mayflower
Triumph Mayflower
The Triumph Mayflower is a small car which was produced by Britain's Triumph Motor Company from 1949 until 1953.It was the first small car to be built by Triumph under new owners, the Standard Motor Company. It used a version of the pre-war Standard 10 side-valve engine updated by having an...
light saloon. All three of these models prominently sported the "globe" badge that had been used on pre-war models. When Sir John was forced to retire from the company this range of cars was discontinued without being replaced directly, sheet aluminium having by now become a prohibitively expensive alternative to sheet steel for most auto-industry purposes.
Triumph TR2
The Triumph TR2 is a sports car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in the United Kingdom between 1953 and 1955, during which time 8,636 cars were produced....
was initiated, the first of a series that would be produced until 1981. Curiously the TR2 had a Standard badge on its front and the Triumph globe on its hubcaps.
Standard had been making a range of small saloons named the Standard Eight
Standard Eight
The Flying Eight was the smallest member of the Standard Flying family.Introduced in 1938 or 1939 , the Flying Eight featured, in its saloon form, the "streamlined" body of the little Standard Flying Nine which had appeared in 1937...
and Ten and had been working on a replacement for these. The success of the TR range meant that Triumph was considered as a more marketable name than Standard and the new car was introduced in 1959 as the Triumph Herald
Triumph Herald
The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models....
; the last Standard car to be made in the UK was replaced in 1963 by the Triumph 2000
Triumph 2000
The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:...
.
Leyland and beyond
Leyland Motors Ltd
Leyland Motors Limited was a British vehicle manufacturer of lorries, buses and trolleybuses. It gave its name to the British Leyland Motor Corporation formed when it merged with British Motor Holdings, later to become British Leyland after being nationalised...
with Donald Stokes becoming chairman of the Standard Triumph division in 1963. Further mergers resulted in the formation of British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . It was partly nationalised in 1975 with the government creating a new holding company called British Leyland Ltd which became BL Ltd in 1978...
in 1968.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Triumph sold a succession of Michelotti-styled saloons and sports cars, including the advanced Dolomite Sprint
Triumph Dolomite
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:...
, which, in 1973, already had a 16-valve four cylinder engine. It is alleged that many Triumphs of this era were unreliable, especially the 2.5 PI (petrol injection) with its fuel injection problems. In Australia, the summer heat caused petrol in the electric fuel pump to vapourise, resulting in frequent malfunctions of the 2.5 PI and TR6 models. While the injection system had proved itself in international competition, it did lack altitude compensation for the adjustment of mixture at altitudes greater than 3000 feet (1000 meters) above sea level. The Lucas system proved unpopular: Lucas did not want to develop it further, and the Standard-Triumph dealers were unwilling to attend factory and field-based training courses dedicated to this propulsion method.
For most of its time under Leyland or BL ownership, the Triumph marque belonged in the Specialist Division of the company which went by the names of Rover Triumph and later Jaguar Rover Triumph other than a brief period during the mid 1970s when all BL's car marques or brands were grouped together under the name of Leyland Cars.
The only all-new Triumph model initiated as Rover Triumph was the TR7
Triumph TR7
The Triumph TR7 is a sports car manufactured from September 1974 to October 1981 by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom. It was initially produced at the Speke, Liverpool factory, moving to Canley, Coventry in 1978 and then finally to the Rover plant in Solihull in 1980...
, which had the misfortune to be in production successively at three factories that were closed: Speke
Speke
Speke is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes....
, the strike-prone Leyland-era Standard-Triumph works in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the original Standard works at Canley
Canley
Canley is a suburban neighbourhood located in southwest Coventry, England. Canley became part of Coventry as a result of successive encroachment of the latter's boundaries between 1928 and 1932, having historically been part of the Stoneleigh parish....
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and finally the Rover works in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
. Plans for an extended range based on the TR7, including a fastback variant codenamed "Lynx", were ended when the Speke factory closed. The four-cylinder TR7 and its short-lived eight-cylindered derivative the TR8
Triumph TR8
The Triumph TR8 is an eight-cylinder version of the "wedge-shaped" Triumph TR7 sports car, designed by Harris Mann, and manufactured by British Leyland , through its Jaguar/Rover/Triumph division. Because of its outstanding performance, the TR8 was often dubbed the "English Corvette"...
were terminated when the road car section of the Solihull plant was closed (the plant continues to build Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
s.)
The end of Triumph cars
The last Triumph model was the AcclaimTriumph Acclaim
The Triumph Acclaim was a front-wheel drive medium-sized family car made by British Leyland from 1981 to 1984. It was based on the Honda Ballade and used a Honda-designed engine, but met United Kingdom component-content requirements...
which was introduced in 1981 and was essentially a rebadged Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
built by licence from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese company Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
at the former Morris Motor Company
Morris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
works in Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. The Triumph name disappeared in 1984, when the Acclaim was replaced by the Rover 200, which was a rebadged version of Honda's next generation Civic/Ballade
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
model. The BL car division was by then named Austin Rover Group
Austin Rover Group
The Austin Rover Group was a British motor manufacturer. It was formed in 1981 as the mass-market car manufacturing subsidiary of British Leyland...
which also ended the Morris marque as well as Triumph.
Current ownership
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
is owned currently by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, which acquired Triumph when it bought the Rover Group
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
in 1994. When it sold Rover
MG Rover Group
MG Rover was the last domestically owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed when BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets of the original Rover Group to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000....
, it kept the Triumph marque. The Phoenix Consortium, which bought Rover, tried to buy the Triumph brand, but BMW refused, saying that if Phoenix insisted, it would break the deal. The Standard marque was transferred to British Motor Heritage Limited, along with Austin, Morris, and Wolseley marques. The Austin, Morris and Wolseley marques were later sold to MG Rover Group Ltd, on 10 December 2003. The Standard marque is still retained by British Motor Heritage who also have the licence to use the Triumph marque in relation to the sale of spares and service of the existing 'park' of Triumph cars.
The MG marque was sold to Phoenix along with the sale of the Rover brand images and a licence to use the Rover name. The Rover name was later sold to Ford, then later to Tata Motors (current owners of Jaguar-Land Rover). The Triumph name has been retained by BMW along with Riley, Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles based at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England. It is the current producer of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles, whose historical production dates back to 1904. The factory is located across from the historic Goodwood Circuit...
and Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
. In late 2007, the magazine Auto Express, after continued rumours that Triumph be revived with BMW ownership, featured a story showing an image of what a new version of the TR4 might look like. BMW has not commented officially on this.
Pre-war
| Model Name | Engine | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Triumph 10/20 Triumph 10/20 The Triumph 10/20 was a car manufactured from 1923 to 1926 by the Triumph Motor Company.This was the first Triumph automobile and was named the 10/20 for the Royal Automobile Club's taxation class of 10 horsepower rating and its actual output of 20 brake horsepower... |
1393 cc inline 4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
(1923–1925) |
| Triumph 13/35 or 12.8 Triumph 13/35 The Triumph 13/35 or 12.8 was a car manufactured from 1924 to 1926 by the Triumph Motor Company in the UK.It was powered by a four cylinder 1872 cc engine of 72 mm bore and 115 mm stroke with single Zenith carburettor which produced 36 bhp.... |
1872 cc inline 4 | (1927–1927) |
| Triumph 15/50 or Fifteen | 2169 cc inline 4 | (1926–1930) |
| Triumph Super 7 Triumph Super 7 The Triumph Super 7 was a car manufactured from 1927 to 1934 by the Triumph Motor Company. It was produced as a response to the success of the Austin 7 and was Triumph's first car to be made in large numbers... |
747 cc inline 4 | (1928) |
| Triumph Super 8 | 832 cc inline 4 | (1930) |
| Triumph Super 9 Triumph Super 9 The Triumph Super 9 was first introduced by the Triumph Motor Company in 1931 at a price of £185. It continued through into 1933. It had an RAC rating of 8.9 hp.... |
1018 cc inline 4 | (1931) |
| Triumph Gloria Triumph Gloria The Triumph Gloria was a popular car made by the Triumph Motor Company in, Coventry in the 1930s.-History:Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and confusing range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupés, tourers, 2-seater sports cars, drophead coupés and golfer’s coupés... 10 |
1087 cc inline 4 | (1933) |
| Triumph 12-6 Scorpion | 1203 cc inline 6 | (1931–1933) |
| Triumph Southern Cross | 1087/1232 cc inline 4 | (1932) |
| Triumph Gloria Triumph Gloria The Triumph Gloria was a popular car made by the Triumph Motor Company in, Coventry in the 1930s.-History:Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and confusing range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupés, tourers, 2-seater sports cars, drophead coupés and golfer’s coupés... ('12' / '12') Four |
1232/1496 cc inline 4 | (1934–1937) |
| Triumph Gloria Triumph Gloria The Triumph Gloria was a popular car made by the Triumph Motor Company in, Coventry in the 1930s.-History:Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and confusing range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupés, tourers, 2-seater sports cars, drophead coupés and golfer’s coupés... ('6' / '6/16') Six |
1476/1991 cc inline 6 | (1934–1935) |
| Triumph Gloria Triumph Gloria The Triumph Gloria was a popular car made by the Triumph Motor Company in, Coventry in the 1930s.-History:Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and confusing range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupés, tourers, 2-seater sports cars, drophead coupés and golfer’s coupés... 14 |
1496/1767 cc inline 4 | (1937–1938) |
| Triumph Dolomite 8 Triumph Dolomite (pre-1940) The Triumph Dolomite was a car that first appeared in 1934 as a sports car and reused on a series of sporting saloons and open cars until at least 1939 when the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership. A number were still sold and registered in 1940, though it is uncertain whether the receiver... |
1990 cc inline 8 (DOHC) | (1934) |
| Triumph Dolomite Vitesse 14 Triumph Dolomite (pre-1940) The Triumph Dolomite was a car that first appeared in 1934 as a sports car and reused on a series of sporting saloons and open cars until at least 1939 when the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership. A number were still sold and registered in 1940, though it is uncertain whether the receiver... |
1767/1991 cc inline 4/6 | (1937–1938) |
| Triumph Dolomite 14/60 Triumph Dolomite (pre-1940) The Triumph Dolomite was a car that first appeared in 1934 as a sports car and reused on a series of sporting saloons and open cars until at least 1939 when the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership. A number were still sold and registered in 1940, though it is uncertain whether the receiver... |
1767/1991 cc inline 4/6 | (1937–1939) |
| Triumph Dolomite Roadster Triumph Dolomite (pre-1940) The Triumph Dolomite was a car that first appeared in 1934 as a sports car and reused on a series of sporting saloons and open cars until at least 1939 when the Triumph Motor Company went into receivership. A number were still sold and registered in 1940, though it is uncertain whether the receiver... |
1767/1991 cc inline 4/6 | (1937–1939) |
| Triumph 12 | 1496 cc inline 4 | (1939–1940) |
Post war
| Model name | Engine | Year | Number built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph 1800 Saloon Triumph Renown The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models... |
1776 cc inline 4 | 1946–1949 | |
| Triumph 1800 Roadster | 1776 cc inline 4 | 1946–1948 | |
| Triumph 2000 Saloon Triumph Renown The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models... |
2088 cc inline 4 | 1949 | |
| Triumph 2000 Roadster | 2088 cc inline 4 | 1948–1949 | |
| Triumph Renown Triumph Renown The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models... |
2088 cc inline 4 | 1949–1954 | |
| Triumph Mayflower Triumph Mayflower The Triumph Mayflower is a small car which was produced by Britain's Triumph Motor Company from 1949 until 1953.It was the first small car to be built by Triumph under new owners, the Standard Motor Company. It used a version of the pre-war Standard 10 side-valve engine updated by having an... |
1247 cc inline 4 | 1949–1953 | |
| Triumph TR1 / 20TS Triumph TR1 / 20TS Only one example of this car was ever made by Triumph. The Triumph TR1 prototype was unveiled in October 1952 at the London Motor Show. The TR1 name was never officially used.... |
2208 cc inline 4 | 1950 | |
| Triumph TR2 Triumph TR2 The Triumph TR2 is a sports car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in the United Kingdom between 1953 and 1955, during which time 8,636 cars were produced.... |
1991 cc inline 4 | 1953–1955 | 8,636 |
| Triumph TR3 Triumph TR3 The Triumph TR3 is a sports car which was produced between 1955 and 1962 by Standard-Triumph in the United Kingdom. The facelifted variant, unofficially known as the "TR3A", entered production in 1957 and the final version, unofficially the "TR3B", was produced in 1962.-TR3:Although the car was... |
1991 cc inline 4 | 1956–1958 | |
| Triumph TR3A | 1991 cc inline 4 | 1958–1962 | |
| Triumph TR3B | 2138 cc inline 4 | 1962 | |
| Triumph Italia Triumph Italia The Triumph Italia 2000 Coupé was built between 1959 and 1962, during which time 329 cars were produced. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the TR3 chassis and mechanical components were supplied by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom, and built by Alfredo Vignale in Turin, Italy.-... |
1991 cc inline 4 | 1959–1962 | |
| Triumph TR4 Triumph TR4 The Triumph TR4 was a sports car built in the United Kingdom by the Standard Triumph Motor Company and introduced in 1961. Code named "Zest" during development, the car was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the previous TR sports cars, but with a modern Michelotti styled body. 40,253 cars... |
2138 cc inline 4 | 1961–1965 | |
| Triumph TR4A Triumph TR4A The Triumph TR4A was built between 1965 and 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom.The TR4A was an evolution of the TR4, updated with a new chassis. It was hoped the new, but more complex independent rear suspension would address the buying publics' desire for more comfortable... |
2138 cc inline 4 | 1965–1967 | |
| Triumph TR5 Triumph TR5 The Triumph TR5 was built for a 13 month period between August 1967 and September 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry, England.... |
2498 cc inline 6 | 1967–1969 | |
| Triumph TR250 Triumph TR250 The Triumph TR250 was built between 1967 and 1968 for 15 months by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom, during which time approximately 8,480 cars were built, all of which were for the American market. Many can now be found outside the United States, primarily in Europe... |
2498 cc inline 6 | 1967–1969 | |
| Triumph GT6 Triumph GT6 The GT6 was a 6-cylinder sports coupé built by Standard-Triumph and based on their popular Triumph Spitfire convertible. Production ran from 1966 to 1973.- Development history :... |
1998 cc inline 6 | 1966–1971 | |
| Triumph Dove GTR4 Triumph TR4 The Triumph TR4 was a sports car built in the United Kingdom by the Standard Triumph Motor Company and introduced in 1961. Code named "Zest" during development, the car was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the previous TR sports cars, but with a modern Michelotti styled body. 40,253 cars... |
2138 cc inline 4 | 1961–1964 | |
| Triumph TR6 Triumph TR6 The Triumph TR6 is a British six-cylinder sports car and the best-seller of the TR range built by Triumph when production ended in July 1976. This record was then surpassed by the TR7... |
2498 cc inline 6 | 1969–1976 | |
| Triumph TR7 Triumph TR7 The Triumph TR7 is a sports car manufactured from September 1974 to October 1981 by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom. It was initially produced at the Speke, Liverpool factory, moving to Canley, Coventry in 1978 and then finally to the Rover plant in Solihull in 1980... |
1998 cc inline 4 | 1974–1981 | |
| Triumph TR8 Triumph TR8 The Triumph TR8 is an eight-cylinder version of the "wedge-shaped" Triumph TR7 sports car, designed by Harris Mann, and manufactured by British Leyland , through its Jaguar/Rover/Triumph division. Because of its outstanding performance, the TR8 was often dubbed the "English Corvette"... |
3528 cc V8 | 1979–1981 | |
| Triumph Spitfire 4 (Spitfire Mk I) Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti... |
1147 cc inline 4 | 1962–1965 | 45,763 |
| Triumph Spitfire Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti... Mk II |
1147 cc inline 4 | 1965–1967 | 37,409 |
| Triumph Spitfire Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti... Mk III |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1967–1970 | 65,320 |
| Triumph Spitfire Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti... Mk IV |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1970–1974 | 70,021 |
| Triumph Spitfire Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti... 1500 |
1493 cc inline 4 | 1974–1980 | 95,829 |
| Triumph GT6 Triumph GT6 The GT6 was a 6-cylinder sports coupé built by Standard-Triumph and based on their popular Triumph Spitfire convertible. Production ran from 1966 to 1973.- Development history :... |
1998 cc inline 6 | 1966–1973 | |
| Triumph Herald Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models.... |
948 cc inline 4 | 1959–1964 | |
| Triumph Herald Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models.... 1200 |
1147 cc inline 4 | 1961–1970 | |
| Triumph Herald Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models.... 12/50 |
1147 cc inline 4 | 1963–1967 | |
| Triumph Herald Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models.... 13/60 |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1967–1971 | |
| Triumph Vitesse 6 Triumph Vitesse The Triumph Vitesse was a compact six-cylinder car built by Standard-Triumph from 1962 to 1971. The car was styled by Michelotti, and was available in saloon and convertible variants.... |
1596 cc inline 6 | 1962–1966 | |
| Triumph Vitesse Sports 6 (US version of Vitesse 6 Triumph Vitesse The Triumph Vitesse was a compact six-cylinder car built by Standard-Triumph from 1962 to 1971. The car was styled by Michelotti, and was available in saloon and convertible variants.... ) |
1596 cc inline 6 | 1962–1964 | |
| Triumph Vitesse 2-litre and Vitesse Mark 2 | 1998 cc inline 6 | 1966–1971 | |
| Triumph 1300 Triumph 1300 The Triumph 1300 was a medium/small 4-door saloon car made in Coventry, England by Standard Triumph under the control of Leyland Motors. Produced from 1965 and intended as a replacement to the popular Triumph Herald, it was re-engineered in the 1970s to become the Dolomite range.The Triumph 1300... |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1965–1970 | |
| Triumph 1300 Triumph 1300 The Triumph 1300 was a medium/small 4-door saloon car made in Coventry, England by Standard Triumph under the control of Leyland Motors. Produced from 1965 and intended as a replacement to the popular Triumph Herald, it was re-engineered in the 1970s to become the Dolomite range.The Triumph 1300... TC |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1967–1970 | |
| Triumph 1500 Triumph 1500 The Triumph 1500 was a small front-wheel drive automobile produced by Standard-Triumph from 1970 to 1976.Whilst retaining the front-wheel drive of the Triumph 1300, the body featured a restyled nose, a lengthened tail, twin headlights, horizontally mounted rear light clusters and a larger boot... |
1493 cc inline 4 | 1970–1973 | |
| Triumph 1500 Triumph 1500 The Triumph 1500 was a small front-wheel drive automobile produced by Standard-Triumph from 1970 to 1976.Whilst retaining the front-wheel drive of the Triumph 1300, the body featured a restyled nose, a lengthened tail, twin headlights, horizontally mounted rear light clusters and a larger boot... TC |
1493 cc inline 4 | 1973–1976 | |
| Triumph Stag Triumph Stag The Triumph Stag is a British car that was sold between 1970 and 1978 by the Triumph Motor Company, styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti.-Design and styling:... |
2997 cc V8 | 1971–1977 | |
| Triumph Toledo Triumph Toledo The Triumph Toledo was a compact car introduced in August 1970 as a cheaper version of the Triumph 1300, which was at the same time replaced by the Triumph 1500. The Toledo shared the 1500's new front with a split grille, but instead of the 1500's twin round headlamps, it had single rectangular... |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1970–1978 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... 1300 |
1296 cc inline 4 | 1976–1981 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... 1500 |
1493 cc inline 4 | 1976–1981 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... 1500 HL |
1493 cc inline 4 | 1976–1981 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... 1850 |
1850 cc inline 4 | 1972–1976 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... 1850 HL |
1850 cc inline 4 | 1976–1981 | |
| Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... Sprint |
1998 cc inline 4 | 1973–1981 | |
| Triumph 2000 Triumph 2000 The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:... Mk1, Mk2, TC |
1998 cc inline 6 | 1963–1977 | |
| Triumph 2.5 PI Triumph 2000 The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:... Mk1, Mk2 |
2498 cc inline 6 | 1968–1975 | |
| Triumph 2500 TC & S Triumph 2000 The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:... |
2498 cc inline 6 | 1974–1977 | |
| Triumph Acclaim Triumph Acclaim The Triumph Acclaim was a front-wheel drive medium-sized family car made by British Leyland from 1981 to 1984. It was based on the Honda Ballade and used a Honda-designed engine, but met United Kingdom component-content requirements... |
1335 cc inline 4 | 1981–1984 | 133,625 |
Triumph-based models
| Vale Special Vale Special The Vale Special was a British sports car made between 1932 and 1935 in Maida Vale, London. - History :The Vale Motor Company was set up in 1931 by Pownoll Pellew as a 'gentleman's hobby' in a rented workshop behind the Warrington pub in Maida Vale... |
(1932–1936) very low built two-seater based on Super 8 and Gloria |
| Swallow Doretti Swallow Doretti The Swallow Doretti was a two-seater sports car based on the Triumph TR2, made between 1954 and 1955.The marque came from Swallow Coachbuilding Co. Ltd. which was sold in 1945 by Jaguar to the Helliwell Group which was taken over in 1946 by the British conglomerate, the Tube Investments Group... |
(1954–1955) |
| Amphicar Amphicar The Amphicar is an amphibious automobile, the first such vehicle mass-produced for sale to the public starting in 1961. The German vehicle was designed by Hanns Trippel and manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde. Its name is a portmanteau of "amphibious" and "car". The... |
(1961–1968) used a Triumph Herald engine |
| Bond Equipe GT Bond Cars Ltd Bond Cars Ltd was a British car maker. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1963. The company was taken over by the Reliant Motor Co Ltd of Tamworth, Staffs in 1970 who quickly closed the Preston factory, transferring the spare parts business for the... |
(1964–1967) |
| Panther Rio Panther Rio The Panther Rio was a motor car made by British manufacturer Panther Westwinds, using Triumph Dolomite mechanicals. According to the company, it differed from the family saloon-class Dolomite, in being finished to "Rolls-Royce standards". Only 38 were built between 1975 and 1977... |
(1975-1977) based on the Triumph Dolomite Triumph Dolomite The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:... |
| Fairthorpe Cars Fairthorpe Cars Fairthorpe cars were made in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England between 1954 and 1976.Fairthorpe Ltd was founded by Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett. The first cars were lightweight models powered by motor cycle engines and with glass fibre bodies called the Atom and Atomota. In 1956 a... |
|
| Saab 99 Saab 99 - Development :On April 2, 1965, Gudmund's day in Sweden, after several years of planning, the Saab board started Project Gudmund. This was a project to develop a new and larger car to take the manufacturer beyond the market for the smaller Saab 96... |
used Triumph engines when the supply of German Ford V-4s ended. |
| Lotus Seven Lotus Seven The Lotus Seven is a small, simple, lightweight two-seater open-top sports car produced by Lotus Cars between 1957 and 1972.... |
(1960–1968) the Series 2 had many Standard Triumph parts. |
| Daimler SP250 Daimler SP250 The Daimler Dart was a sports car built by British manufacturer Daimler in Coventry.It was launched at the 1959 New York Motor Show, and its greatest success was in the North American market. It had a fibreglass body, four-wheel Girling disc brakes, and a 2.5-litre Hemi-head V8 engine designed by... |
used many Standard Triumph running gear and suspension parts |
| Jensen-Healey Jensen-Healey The Jensen-Healey is a two-seater convertible sports car that was originally produced between 1972 and 1976 by Jensen Motors, Ltd. Roughly 10,000 were produced at West Bromwich, England. A related fastback, the Jensen GT was introduced in 1975.-Design:... |
Mk. I used TR-6 front brakes. |
| MG Midget MG Midget The MG Midget is a small two-seater sports car produced by the MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1961 to 1979. It revived a famous name used on earlier models such as the MG M-type, MG D-type, MG J-type and MG T-type.-MG Midget MkI :... 1500 |
(1975–1979) Rubber-bumpered Midgets used the 1493cc L-4 and gearbox borrowed from the Triumph Spitfire. |
Badging
The GlobePre-war Triumphs carried a stylised Globe badge, usually on the radiator grille, and this was also used on the first three models produced under Standard's control.
The Griffin
Standard had introduced a new badge in 1947 for their own models, first seen on the Vanguard
Standard Vanguard
The car used a conventional chassis on which was mounted the American inspired semi-streamlined four-door body, which resembles a Plymouth. Suspension was independent at the front with coil springs and a live axle and leaf springs at the rear. Front and rear anti-roll bars were fitted. The brakes...
, a highly-stylised motif based on the wings of a Griffin
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
. With the introduction of the TR2, a version of this badge appeared for the first time on the bonnet of a production Triumph, while the Globe continued to appear on the hubcaps. This same double-badging also appeared on the TR3 and TR4, the 2000 and the 1300.
However, the original Herald, Spitfire, Vitesse and GT6 models all carried only the Griffin badge on their bonnets/radiator grilles, with unadorned hubcaps.
The TR4A appeared with a Globe badge on the bonnet, apparently signifying a return to the original Triumph badging. This was short-lived, as a policy of Leylandisation mean that neither Globe nor Griffin appeared on subsequent models from the TR5 onwards, or on later versions of the Spitfire, GT6 and 2000.
Leyland
Leyland's corporate badge, a design based on the spokes of a wheel, appeared on the hubcaps of the 1500FWD, and next to the Triumph name on the metal identification labels fitted to the bootlids of various models. It was also used for the oil filler cap on the Dolomite Sprint engine. However it was never used as a bonnet badge, with models of that era such as the TR6 and the second generation 2000 carrying a badge simply stating the name "Triumph".
The Stag
The Stag model carried a unique grille badge showing a highly-stylised stag.
The Laurel Wreath
The last versions of the TR7 and Dolomite ranges received an all-new badge with the word Triumph surrounded by laurel wreaths, and this was also used for the Acclaim. It was carried on the bonnet and the steering wheel boss.
External links
- The Pre-1940 Triumph Owners Club For all pre-1940 cars
- VINTAGE TRIUMPH REGISTER North American Triumph Club
- Triumph paint codes and colour examples
- International Triumph TR Registry free database with Commission numbers and photographs of TR2-TR6s
- British Motor Heritage Ltd - British Motor Heritage Ltd
- Club Triumph - The original British Triumph club
- Triumph Car Club - Community For Triumph Car Owners & Enthusiasts
- Triumph Sports Car Club of South Africa - Cape Town branch - A South African club for Triumph owners & enthusiasts