Triumph 1500

Triumph 1500 & 1500TC
Overview
Manufacturer	Standard-Triumph
Production	1970-1976 66,353 1500 25,549 1500TC made
Designer	Giovanni Michelotti
Body and chassis
Body style	Four-door saloon
Powertrain
Engine	1,493 cc OHV I4
Transmission	4-speed manual FWD on 1500 RWD on 1500TC
Dimensions
Wheelbase	97 in (2,464 mm) [1]
Length	162 in (4,115 mm) [1]
Width	62 in (1,575 mm) [1]
Height	54 in (1,372 mm) [1]
Curb weight	2,093 lb (949 kg) [1]
Chronology
Predecessor	Triumph 1300
Successor	Triumph Dolomite

The Triumph 1500 was a small (initially) 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. The interior was also restyled featuring a new design of dashboard and door cards but retaining the wooden door cappings. The engine size was increased to 1493 cc with a single SU carburettor and had a power output of 61 bhp (45 kW; 62 PS). The suspension used coil springs all round and was independent at the front, incorporating a dead-beam rear axle at the back, which represented something of a technological retreat from the all-independent suspension offered by the 1300.^[2] In 1972 the power output was increased to 65 bhp (48 kW; 66 PS) with an uprated carburettor and inlet manifold. These later cars also had a silver nose badge. Earlier cars had a black nose badge.

The car was capable of reaching a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph in 16.5 seconds.^[1]

1500TC

In October 1973 the 1500 was replaced by the 1500TC which retained the same 1493 cc engine with twin SU carburettors but these were now mated to the rear wheel drivetrain from the recently introduced Triumph Dolomite. The interior and exterior styling remained largely the same. The 1500TC can be identified by the "1500TC" bootlid badge and the black centres on the wheel trims, which were blue on the 1500. The 1500TC was replaced by the Dolomite 1500/1500HL in March 1976 when the Triumph Dolomite range was rationalized.

The car was capable of reaching a top speed of 92 mph (148 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph in 14.0 seconds (0–100 km/h in 14.8 seconds).^[1]

A sunroof option was available.

References