Triumph Renown
Encyclopedia
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. Together with the Triumph Roadster, they were the first vehicles to carry the Triumph badge following the company's takeover by the Standard Motor Company
.
The cars were distinctively styled with what became known as Razor Edge coachwork. The six light (featuring three side windows on each side) design and the thin C pillars at the rear of the passenger cabin anticipated the increased window areas that would become a feature of British cars
during the 1960s. The car's side profile resembled that of the contemporary prestigious Bentley saloons, which some felt was more than a coincidence. Similar styling subsequently appeared on the smaller Triumph Mayflower
.
The body was built in the traditional coachbuilders method of sheet metal over a wooden frame by Mulliners
of Birmingham. The principal panels were constructed not from steel
, which was in short supply directly after the war, but from aluminium
. This material had been extensively used for aircraft manufacture during the war, which had taken place in a number of car plants (known at the time as "shadow factories") in the English Midlands. However, by the mid 1950s aluminium had become the more expensive metal which may have hastened the model's demise.
4000 were produced.It cost £1425 including purchase tax.
The car used a 2088 cc four cylinder engine with single Solex carburettor as fitted to the Vanguard
. The engine developed 68 bhp at 4200 rpm. The 3 speed gearbox, with column shift also came from the Vanguard and had synchromesh on all the forward ratios. There was independent suspension at the front but a solid axle and half elliptic leaf springs was at the rear. Lockheed hydraulic brakes with 9 in (229 mm) drums were fitted.
2000 were produced.
unit was offered as an option. Inside there was a new instrument layout.
A Renown tested by the British magazine The Motor
in 1950 had a top speed of 75 mph (120.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.9 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £991 including taxes.
6501 were made.
A limousine with overdrive tested by The Motor magazine in 1952 had a top speed of 77.5 mph (124.7 km/h) slightly quicker than they had recorded 2 years earlier for the saloon and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 25.0 seconds. The reported fuel consumption was 21.6 mpgimp. The test car cost £1440 including taxes.
190 were made.
2800 were made.
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
'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. Together with the Triumph Roadster, they were the first vehicles to carry the Triumph badge following the company's takeover by the Standard Motor Company
Standard 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:...
.
The cars were distinctively styled with what became known as Razor Edge coachwork. The six light (featuring three side windows on each side) design and the thin C pillars at the rear of the passenger cabin anticipated the increased window areas that would become a feature of British cars
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:...
during the 1960s. The car's side profile resembled that of the contemporary prestigious Bentley saloons, which some felt was more than a coincidence. Similar styling subsequently appeared on the smaller 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...
.
The body was built in the traditional coachbuilders method of sheet metal over a wooden frame by Mulliners
Mulliners (Birmingham)
Mulliners of Birmingham was a British coachbuilding company.Although not financially connected with the other coachbuilding companies having Mulliner in their name – Arthur Mulliner based in Northampton, Mulliner based in Liverpool who also opened a showroom in Brook Street, Mayfair, London and H.J...
of Birmingham. The principal panels were constructed not from steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, which was in short supply directly after the war, but from aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. This material had been extensively used for aircraft manufacture during the war, which had taken place in a number of car plants (known at the time as "shadow factories") in the English Midlands. However, by the mid 1950s aluminium had become the more expensive metal which may have hastened the model's demise.
Triumph 1800 Town & Country Saloon 1946-1949
The 1776 cc, 65 bhp engine and the gearbox for the 1800 came from the pre war Standard Flying Fourteen. The chassis was fabricated from tubular steel and was a lengthened 108 in (2,743 mm) version of the one on the Roadster with which it also shared its transverse leaf spring front suspension. The cars were well fitted out with leather seats and a wooden dashboard.4000 were produced.It cost £1425 including purchase tax.
Triumph 2000 TDA 1949
The 2000 Type TDA was only made for one year and was essentially a Triumph 1800 with larger engine. The front independent suspension used a transverse leaf spring.The car used a 2088 cc four cylinder engine with single Solex carburettor as fitted to 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...
. The engine developed 68 bhp at 4200 rpm. The 3 speed gearbox, with column shift also came from the Vanguard and had synchromesh on all the forward ratios. There was independent suspension at the front but a solid axle and half elliptic leaf springs was at the rear. Lockheed hydraulic brakes with 9 in (229 mm) drums were fitted.
2000 were produced.
Triumph Renown Mk I TDB 1949-1952
The car was renamed the Renown in October 1949. It had an entirely new chassis based on the Standard Vanguard with pressed steel sections replacing the tubes previously used. The front suspension changed to coil springing. Although the three speed column change transmission was retained, from June 1950 an overdriveOverdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
unit was offered as an option. Inside there was a new instrument layout.
A Renown tested by the British magazine The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1950 had a top speed of 75 mph (120.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.9 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £991 including taxes.
6501 were made.
Triumph Renown Limousine 1951-1952
In 1951 a limousine version was announced with an extra 3 in (76 mm) in the wheelbase. A division (glass partition) was placed behind the driver separating the front and back of the car. A radio and heater were fitted as standard.A limousine with overdrive tested by The Motor magazine in 1952 had a top speed of 77.5 mph (124.7 km/h) slightly quicker than they had recorded 2 years earlier for the saloon and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 25.0 seconds. The reported fuel consumption was 21.6 mpgimp. The test car cost £1440 including taxes.
190 were made.
Triumph Renown Mk II TDC 1952-1954
The final version of the Renown used the longer wheelbase chassis from the limousine.2800 were made.
Die-Cast Models
- Dinky Toys modelled the Renown in 1:48 scale in the 1950s.
- Lansdowne produced a model in the first decade of the 21st century.