Triumph 10/20
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| Triumph 10/20 | |
| Manufacturer: | Triumph Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Production: | 1923-1926 2500 made (see text) |
| Predecessor: | none |
| Successor: | Triumph 13/35 |
| Body style: | 2 seat tourer, 4 seat tourer, fabric saloon |
| Engine: | 1393 cc side valve I4 |
| Transmission: | Four-speed manual |
| Wheelbase: | 102 inches |
| Length: | 140 inches |
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. The design was principally by Arthur Alderson assisted by Alan Lea and Arthur Sykes who were employed by Lea-Francis and Triumph paid them a royalty on every car made. It was powered by a 1,393 cc (1.4L) 4 cylinder side valve engine designed by Harry Ricardo and fitted with a single updraught Zenith carburettor. The engine produced 23.5 bhp at 3000 rpm giving the car a top speed of 52 mph and economy of 40 mpg. The four speed gearbox was mounted centrally and coupled to the engine by a short drive shaft.
At launch it came with a 2 seat, steel panelled, open tourer with provision for a third passenger in a dickey seat not made by Triumph but bought in from the Regent Carriage Company of London. This was soon joined by a Sports model with aluminium body panels and long wings and in 1924 by a fabric covered 4 seat Weymann saloon which featured a single door on the driver's side and two doors on the other side. It had a 102 inch wheelbase which made it the largest (by 20 inches) of the "light cars" of its era. It was the first British production car to be fitted with hydraulic brakes but at first on the rear wheels only. Approximately 2500 of this model and the parallel 13/35 and 15/50 models were made. The price was £430-460 which was expensive when for example, a Wolseley 10 cost £250.
[edit] References
- The Story of Triumph Sports Cars. Graham Robson. Motor Racing Publications. 1972. ISBN 0-900549-23-8
- A-Z of cars of the 1920s. Nick Baldwin. Bay View Books. 1994 ISBN 1-870979-53-2
