History

Triumph Cars Compared, 1923 to 1984

Introduction

Between 1923 and 1984 Triumph built more than forty models, from the 10/20 to the Acclaim. This page sets them out in comparable tables, family by family, so you can see how a Super Seven measured against a Gloria, a TR2 against a TR7, or a Herald against a Dolomite, and which cars were on sale at the same time.

The story behind these cars is told in the Triumph history.

How the figures were sourced. Production totals come from the one-make clubs (the Pre-1940 Triumph Motor Club, the Triumph Razoredge Owners Club, the Triumph Mayflower Club, the TR Register, the Triumph Sports Six Club, the Triumph 2000 Register and the Stag Owners Club), Grace's Guide and AROnline. Performance figures are from named period road tests, with the magazine and year. Prices are UK prices at or near launch. Where good sources disagree, the table gives the best-supported figure and the notes below list the alternatives. Wikipedia was used only as a lead.

A few cautions apply throughout:

  • Power figures before about 1972 are usually gross or net ratings, which read higher than the later DIN figures.
  • Road-test speeds come from cars tested by the magazines at the time. An average car may not match them.
  • Prices include purchase tax unless the table says "basic".
  • "Not verified" marks a cell where no period source could be confirmed. Pre-war power outputs in particular were rarely published.

Pre-war cars, 1923 to 1940

Triumph's pre-war cars ran from the Lea-Francis-designed 10/20 to the Dolomite, by way of the best-selling Super Seven and the Coventry Climax-engined Gloria. Every model from the mid-1920s had hydraulic brakes.

ModelBuiltEnginePeriod road testUK price at launchNumber built
10/201923 to 19261,393 cc four, side valveNot verified£305 (Sports) to £460 (four-seat tourer)Not verified
13/35 (also 13/30)1924 to 19261,873 cc four, side valveNot verified£495, saloonNot verified; the club suggests it may never have entered full production
Fifteen (15/50)1926 to 19302,169 cc four, side valveNot verified£395 to £495Not verified
Super Seven1927 to 1932832 cc four, side valveMotor Sport, 1929 (supercharged sports): 75 mphFrom £149 10s, 1927Just under 15,000
Super Eight1932 to 1934832 cc four, side valveNot verified£155About 2,400
Scorpion1930 to 19321,203 cc six, side valveNot verified£185 to £237 10sAbout 900
Twelve-Six1932 to 19331,203 cc six, side valveNot verified£198About 500
Super Nine1931 to 19331,018 cc four, inlet over exhaust (Coventry Climax design)Not verified£175About 3,500, including early Southern Cross
Ten1933 to 19341,122 cc four, inlet over exhaustNot verified£215, tourerAbout 1,850
Southern Cross1932 to 19341,018 to 1,122 cc four, inlet over exhaustMotor Sport, 1932 (9 hp four-seater): 64 mph£225About 1,000
Gloria four-cylinder1933 to 19371,087 or 1,232 cc four, inlet over exhaust (Coventry Climax design)Motor Sport, 1934 (1,087 cc saloon): 60 mph£285, saloon, 1933About 4,500 (club estimates by season)
Gloria Six1933 to 19361,476 or 1,991 cc six, inlet over exhaustMotor Sport, 1935 (Vitesse Six): 73 mph£325, saloon, 1933About 2,000
Gloria Southern Cross1934 to 19371,232 cc four or 1,991 cc sixMotor Sport, 1935 (1,232 cc): 72 mph£275Not verified
Dolomite Straight Eight1934 to 19351,990 cc supercharged twin-cam straight-eightNot verified (100 mph guaranteed)Not verifiedThree chassis; one car completed by the factory
Vitesse1936 to 19381,767 cc four or 1,991 cc six, overhead valveNot verified£318; 2-litre £348Just over 1,200 four-cylinder cars
Dolomite 14/601936 to 19401,767 cc four, overhead valve, 62 bhpMotor Sport, 1937: 80 mph indicated, 0 to 60 in 29.0 s£338Not verified
Dolomite 1½-litre1937 to 19401,496 cc four, overhead valve (1,767 cc from 1938)Not verified£318Over 1,600
Dolomite 2-litre1936 to 19401,991 cc six, overhead valveNot verified£368Not verified
Dolomite Roadster Coupe1938 to 19401,767 cc four or 1,991 cc sixNot verified£348 (four) or £450 (six), club figuresAbout 170 to 200
Twelve1939 to 19401,496 cc four, overhead valveNot verified£285About 50 to 65

Production figures are mainly the Pre-1940 Triumph Motor Club's estimates, and the club's register counts surviving cars separately.

Roadsters and razor-edge saloons, 1946 to 1954

Standard's first Triumphs were coachbuilt cars with Standard engines: the Roadster with its dickey seat, the razor-edge saloons and the small Mayflower aimed at America.

ModelBuiltBodyEnginePeriod road testUK price at launch, with taxNumber built
1800 Roadster1946 to 1948Roadster with dickey seat; aluminium panels over ash1,776 cc four, overhead valveAutocar, 1947: 75 mph, 0 to 60 in 34.4 sNot verified2,501
2000 Roadster1948 to 1949As 1800 Roadster2,088 cc four (Vanguard), 68 bhpNot verifiedNot verified2,000
1800 saloon1946 to 1949Razor-edge four-door saloon, coachbuilt by Mulliners1,776 cc four, 65 bhpNot verifiedNot verifiedAbout 4,000
2000 saloon1949As 1800 saloon2,088 cc four (Vanguard), 68 bhpNot verifiedNot verified2,000
Renown1949 to 1952Razor-edge saloon2,088 cc four, 68 bhpThe Motor, 1950: 75.0 mph, 0 to 60 in 24.3 s£991 0s 7d, 19506,501
Renown, long wheelbase1952 to 1954Saloon, 3 in longer2,088 cc four, 68 bhpNot verifiedNot verifiedAbout 2,800
Renown Limousine1951 to 1954Limousine with division2,088 cc four, 68 bhpThe Motor, 1952: 77.5 mph, 0 to 60 in 25.0 s£1,440, test car190
Mayflower1949 to 1953Two-door saloon; 10 drophead coupes1,247 cc four, side valve, 38 bhpThe Motor, 1950: 62.9 mph, 0 to 50 in 26.6 s£473 10s 7d, 1950About 34,000 to 35,000

TR sports cars, TR2 to TR8

Over 28 years the TR went from a 90 bhp four with drum brakes to fuel injection and, at the end, a Rover V8. Most were built for North America.

ModelBuiltEnginePowerPeriod road testUK price at launchNumber built
TR21953 to 19551,991 cc four, overhead valve90 bhpThe Motor, 1954 (overdrive): 107.3 mph, 0 to 60 in 12.0 s£555 basic8,636
TR31955 to 19571,991 cc four95 bhp, later 100 bhpThe Motor, 1956: 105.3 mph, 0 to 60 in 10.8 s£650 basic13,377
TR3A1957 to 19611,991 cc four (2,138 cc optional)100 bhpNot verified£699 basic58,236
TR3B19621,991 or 2,138 cc four100 to 105 bhpNot verifiedNorth America onlyAbout 3,330
TR41961 to 19652,138 cc four (1,991 cc optional)100 bhpMotor Sport, 1963: 110 mph£1,032 5s 3d, 1962 (before a purchase-tax cut)40,253
TR4A1965 to 19672,138 cc four104 bhpCar and Driver, 1965: 109 mph£968 4s 7d, 196628,465
TR5 PI1967 to 19682,498 cc six, Lucas fuel injection150 bhpNot verified£1,212 8s 11d2,947
TR2501967 to 19682,498 cc six, twin carburettors104 bhpNot verifiedNorth America only8,484
TR6 PI1968 to 19752,498 cc six, fuel injection150 bhp; 125 bhp from 1973Autocar, 1969: 120 mph, 0 to 60 in 8.2 s£1,333 19s 1d13,703
TR6 (carburettor)1968 to 19762,498 cc six, twin carburettors104 to 106 bhpNot verifiedExport only78,147
TR71974 to 19811,998 cc four, single overhead camshaft105 bhp (92 bhp US)Motor Sport, 1976: about 110 mph, 0 to 60 in 9.4 s£2,999, 1976112,375 (see notes)
TR81980 to 19813,528 cc Rover V8133 bhp (carburettors); 148 bhp (fuel injection)Not verifiedNorth America onlyAbout 2,500 to 2,800

TR6 total: 91,850. The TR7 coupe was built from 1974 and the convertible from 1979.

Spitfire, GT6 and Stag

The Spitfire and GT6 were built on the Herald's backbone chassis; the Stag used a shortened Triumph 2000 platform and Triumph's own V8. Together they account for more than 375,000 cars.

ModelBuiltEnginePowerPeriod road testUK price at launch, with taxNumber built
Spitfire 4 (Mk1)1962 to 19641,147 cc four63 bhp netMotor Sport, 1962: 92 mph£729 15s 3d; £640 19s 7d after the November 1962 tax cut45,753
Spitfire Mk21964 to 19671,147 cc four67 bhpNot verifiedNot verified37,409
Spitfire Mk31967 to 19701,296 cc four75 bhpNot verifiedNot verified65,320
Spitfire Mk IV1970 to 19741,296 cc four63 bhp DINMotor Sport, 1971: just under 100 mph, 0 to 60 in 12.5 s£961 17s 6d70,021
Spitfire 15001974 to 19801,493 cc four71 bhp DINMotor Sport, 1975 (overdrive): 103 mph, 0 to 60 in 11.3 s£1,36091,137 to 95,829
GT6 Mk11966 to 19681,998 cc six95 bhpNot verifiedNot verified15,818
GT6 Mk2 (GT6+)1968 to 19701,998 cc six104 bhpNot verifiedNot verified12,066
GT6 Mk31970 to 19731,998 cc sixAbout 104 bhpMotor Sport, 1971: cruised at about 105 mph, no timed figuresNot verified13,042
Stag1970 to 19772,997 cc V8, single overhead camshaft per bank145 bhp net (146 bhp DIN, 1973)Motor Sport, 1970 (overdrive): 117 mph, 0 to 60 in 10.7 s£1,995 17s 6d (soft top); £2,093 15s 10d (both tops)25,939 (some sources 25,877)

Herald and Vitesse

The Herald was Triumph's best-selling car, at 510,614 over twelve years. Its separate chassis carried bodies from saloon to estate, and the six-cylinder Vitesse was built on the same frame.

ModelBuiltBodiesEnginePowerPeriod road testUK price at launch, with taxNumber built
Herald 9481959 to 1964Saloon, coupe, convertible; Herald S948 cc four34.5 bhp net; 42.5 bhp twin-carburettorThe Motor, 1959: 70.9 mph, 0 to 60 in 31.1 sSaloon £702 2s 6d; coupe £730 14s 2dAbout 97,000 to 100,000, all bodies
Herald 12001961 to 1970Saloon, coupe, convertible, estate1,147 cc four39 bhp, later 48 bhpNot verifiedNot verifiedAbout 284,000 to 290,000
Herald 12/501963 to 1967Saloon with folding sunroof1,147 cc four51 bhpNot verifiedNot verifiedAbout 53,000 to 55,000
Herald 13/601967 to 1971Saloon, convertible, estate1,296 cc four61 bhpNot verifiedNot verified82,650
Vitesse 16001962 to 1966Saloon, convertible1,596 cc six70 bhpNot verifiedNot verified31,261
Vitesse 2-litre1966 to 1968Saloon, convertible1,998 cc six95 bhpNot verifiedNot verified10,830
Vitesse Mk21968 to 1971Saloon, convertible1,998 cc six104 bhpMotor Sport, 1969: "exceeds 100 mph by quite a few"Saloon £951; convertible £9999,121

2000 and 2500 saloons

The big Triumphs, styled by Michelotti and built from 1963 to 1977, all had six-cylinder engines and all-independent suspension. The Triumph 2000 Register puts the total at about 316,000.

ModelBuiltBodiesEnginePowerPeriod road testUK price at launch, with taxNumber built
2000 Mk11963 to 1969Saloon; estate from 19651,998 cc six90 bhpMotor Sport, 1964: 93 mph£1,094 2s 1d120,645
2.5 PI Mk11968 to 1969Saloon2,498 cc six, Lucas fuel injection132 bhpMotor Sport, 1969: about 110 mph, 0 to 60 in 10.3 s£1,5479,029
2000 Mk2 and 2000TC1969 to 1977Saloon, estate1,998 cc six90 bhp netNot verified£1,412 5s 10dAbout 92,000 to 105,000
2.5 PI Mk21969 to 1975Saloon, estate2,498 cc six, fuel injection132 bhpNot verified£1,595 1s 4d49,742
2500TC1974 to 1977Saloon2,498 cc six, twin SU carburettors99 PS DINNot verifiedNot verified32,492
2500S1975 to 1977Saloon, estate2,498 cc six, twin SU carburettors106 bhp DINMotor Sport, 1975: about 105 mph, 0 to 60 in 11.5 s£3,353.228,164

1300, Toledo, Dolomite and Acclaim

One body shell, launched as the front-wheel-drive 1300 in 1965, became the Toledo and the Dolomite and lasted until 1980. The Acclaim, a Honda design, was the last Triumph.

ModelBuiltDriveEnginePowerPeriod road testUK price at launch, with taxNumber built
13001965 to 1970Front1,296 cc four61 bhpNot verified£797, 1966113,008
1300TC1967 to 1970Front1,296 cc four, twin carburettors75 bhpAutocar, 1968: 93 mph£909, 196835,342
15001970 to 1973Front1,493 cc four61 bhp netMotor Sport, 1971: 88 mph, 0 to 60 in 16.5 s£1,113 6s 5d66,353
Toledo1970 to 1976Rear1,296 cc four (1,493 cc for export)58 bhp netNot verifiedNot verified119,182
1500TC1973 to 1976Rear1,493 cc four, twin carburettors71 bhpNot verifiedNot verified25,549
Dolomite 1850 and 1850HL1972 to 1980Rear1,854 cc slant-four, single overhead camshaft91 bhp netMotor Sport, 1972: over 100 mph, 0 to 60 in 11.5 s£1,39979,010
Dolomite Sprint1973 to 1980Rear1,998 cc slant-four, 16 valves, single camshaft127 bhp DINMotor Sport, 1973: 115 mph£1,739.8422,941
Dolomite 13001976 to 1980Rear1,296 cc fourNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified32,031
Dolomite 1500 and 1500HL1976 to 1980Rear1,493 cc fourNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedAbout 70,000 (see notes)
Acclaim1981 to 1984Front1,335 cc Honda four70 bhpMotor Sport, 1981: about 95 mph£4,688 (HL manual)133,625

How the ranges overlapped

When the Stag was launched in June 1970, Triumph was selling nine model families at once, from the Herald to the 2000. Within ten years almost all of them had gone.

Sports carsSaloons19501955196019651970197519801985RoadsterRoadster: 1946-03 to 1949-10TR2TR2: 1953-08 to 1955-10TR3, TR3A, TR3BTR3, TR3A, TR3B: 1955-10 to 1962-10TR4, TR4ATR4, TR4A: 1961-07 to 1967-08TR5, TR250TR5, TR250: 1967-07 to 1968-09TR6TR6: 1968-09 to 1976-07TR7TR7: 1974-09 to 1981-10TR8TR8: 1980-04 to 1981-10SpitfireSpitfire: 1962-10 to 1980-08GT6GT6: 1966-07 to 1973-12StagStag: 1970-06 to 1977-061800, 2000 and Renown1800, 2000 and Renown: 1946-02 to 1954-10MayflowerMayflower: 1949-10 to 1953-07HeraldHerald: 1959-04 to 1971-05VitesseVitesse: 1962-05 to 1971-072000 and 25002000 and 2500: 1963-10 to 1977-051300 and 15001300 and 1500: 1965-10 to 1973-09Toledo and 1500TCToledo and 1500TC: 1970-08 to 1976-03DolomiteDolomite: 1972-01 to 1980-08Dolomite SprintDolomite Sprint: 1973-06 to 1980-08AcclaimAcclaim: 1981-10 to 1984-06
Production years by Triumph model family, 1946 to 1985
GroupModel familyStartEnd
Sports carsRoadster1946-031949-10
Sports carsTR21953-081955-10
Sports carsTR3, TR3A, TR3B1955-101962-10
Sports carsTR4, TR4A1961-071967-08
Sports carsTR5, TR2501967-071968-09
Sports carsTR61968-091976-07
Sports carsTR71974-091981-10
Sports carsTR81980-041981-10
Sports carsSpitfire1962-101980-08
Sports carsGT61966-071973-12
Sports carsStag1970-061977-06
Saloons1800, 2000 and Renown1946-021954-10
SaloonsMayflower1949-101953-07
SaloonsHerald1959-041971-05
SaloonsVitesse1962-051971-07
Saloons2000 and 25001963-101977-05
Saloons1300 and 15001965-101973-09
SaloonsToledo and 1500TC1970-081976-03
SaloonsDolomite1972-011980-08
SaloonsDolomite Sprint1973-061980-08
SaloonsAcclaim1981-101984-06

Production years are approximate to the month, taken from club records, AROnline and Grace's Guide; start and end dates vary slightly between sources. Pre-war models are listed in the first table.

Notes on the figures

The tables use the best-supported figure. These are the main places where good sources disagree.

TopicWhat sources sayFigure used here
Stag total25,939 (AROnline yearly history, Stag Owners Club, TSSC, Grace's Guide); 25,877 (AROnline development story, Classic & Sports Car); "just over 26,000" (a Stag Owners Club history)25,939
TR7 total112,375 (TR Register, Grace's Guide); about 113,000 (TR Drivers); 115,000 (TR Register home and export table); Wikipedia gives 112,368 coupes and 28,864 convertibles, which conflicts if added together112,375
TR8 total2,715 (AROnline TR7 story); about 2,634 (AROnline 1980 to 1986); 2,722 (Grace's Guide); 2,497 to about 2,800 elsewhereAbout 2,500 to 2,800
TR6 total91,850 (TR Register, Grace's Guide); 94,619 (TR Drivers)91,850
TR2 total8,636 (TR Register); 8,628 (Grace's Guide)8,636
TR2, TR3, TR3A pricesOnly basic prices (before purchase tax) could be confirmedBasic prices
Spitfire 1500 total91,137 (TSSC, Grace's Guide); 95,829 (Wikipedia)Range given
Spitfire Mk IV price£961 17s 6d (Motor Sport, 1971); £985 (TSSC)£961 17s 6d
Herald totals948: 76,840 (Grace's), 97,332 (Grace's model list), 100,275 by body type (spotter's guide); 1200: 284,256 or 289,575; 12/50: 54,807 or 53,267; all Heralds 510,614 (AROnline)Ranges by model; 510,614 overall
Mayflower totalAbout 34,000 (Mayflower Club, Grace's Guide); 35,000 (Classic & Sports Car, Wikipedia)Range given
2000 Mk2 total104,580 (Wikipedia, to 1975); 92,053 (spotter's guide)Range given
Dolomite 1500 total70,021 (Wikipedia, Auto Express), identical to the Spitfire Mk IV total, which suggests a copying error somewhere"About 70,000", unconfirmed
Super SevenJust under 15,000 (Pre-1940 club); about 17,000 including the Super Eight (Classic & Sports Car); built to 1932 or 1934Club figure; 1927 to 1932
13/35Also recorded as the 13/30; the Pre-1940 club has found only one and doubts it entered full productionProduction not verified
Dolomite Straight EightThree cars (Classic & Sports Car); two, only one by Triumph (Langworth); three chassis and parts for six engines (club)Three chassis, one factory car
Road tests known only through Wikipedia1800 Roadster (Autocar, 1947), TR2 and TR3 (The Motor), TR6 (Autocar, 1969), Renown and Mayflower (The Motor), Herald 948 (The Motor, 1959), 1300TC (Autocar, 1968)Shown, pending a check against the original magazines

Cells marked "Not verified" are those where no period source could be confirmed. Corrections from owners, clubs and registers are very welcome through the contact page.

Sources

Pre-war cars

Post-war cars

Last reviewed . First published .