Triumph Mayflower

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Triumph Mayflower
Manufacturer Triumph Motor Company
Production 1949–1953. 35,000 made[1]
Successor Triumph Herald
Body style 2 door saloon, drophead coupé, pick-up.
Engine 1247 cc Straight-4 side valve
Transmission 3 speed manual
Wheelbase 84 inches (2134 mm)[2]
Length 156 inches (3960 mm)[2]
Width 62 inches (1575 mm)[2]

The Triumph Mayflower was a small car from Britain's Triumph Motor Company and was produced from 1949 to 1953.

The car was the first small car to be built by Triumph under their new owners the Standard Motor Company and used a version of the pre-war Standard 10 side valve engine updated by having an aluminium cylinder head and single Solex carburettor. The engine developed 38 bhp at 4200 rpm. The 3 speed gearbox, with column shift, came from the Standard Vanguard and had synchromesh on all the forward ratios. There was independent suspension at the front using coil springs but a solid back axle and half elliptic leaf springs, also based on the one used on the Vanguard, was at the rear. The front suspension design went on to be used on the Triumph TR2. Lockheed hydraulic brakes were fitted.

The top speed was just over 65 mph and the fuel consumption about 30 miles per gallon (imperial). At launch the car cost costing £473.10s.7d in Vynide and £479.18s.4d in leather on the home market.

The Mayflower had traditional "razor edge" styling similar to its larger brother, the Triumph Renown and apeing the looks of the upmarket Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars. It was hoped this would be specially appealing to the American market. The car was of unitary construction with steel body panels and was built by Fischer and Ludlow at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham to a design by Leslie Moore, Chief Body Designer of Mulliners of Birmingham with input from Triumph's Walter Belgrove..

As well as the saloons, approximately ten drophead coupés were made as well as 150 pick-up versions in Australia.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Sedgwick, M.; Gillies.M (1986). A-Z of Cars 1945-1970. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7. 
  2. ^ a b c Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2. 

[edit] External links