Triumph TR
The Triumph TR range of cars was built between 1953 and 1981 by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom. Changes from the TR2 to the TR6 were mostly evolutionary, with a change from a live axle to independent rear suspension in 1965 and a change from a four cylinder engine to a six cylinder engine in 1967. An all-new TR7, with a unit body, an overhead camshaft four cylinder engine, and a live rear axle, was introduced in late 1974. The TR8, a development of the TR7 with a Rover V8 engine, was introduced in 1979 and was sold alongside the TR7 until TR production ended.
Concept car predecessors
The Triumph TR-X, also known as the "Bullet",[1] was the first Triumph car to use the TR designation.[2] It was first shown to the public at the Paris Auto Show in late 1950.[3] Envisioned as a personal luxury car, it had envelope styling with aluminium body panels, spats over the rear wheels, electro-hydraulically operated seats, windows, and top,[1][3] onboard hydraulic jacks,[3] and electrically-operated hidden headlights.[1][3] The TR-X used the Standard Vanguard's chassis and engine, the Triumph Renown's suspension, electrically operated overdrive, and a 94 inch wheelbase.[1]
The TR-X was discontinued after only two had been built. Standard-Triumph could not develop and manufacture a car that complicated and still sell it at a profit. Sir John Black, chairman of Standard-Triumph, was determined to have a sports car to compete with Morgan, which he had earlier tried to buy. Black ordered the design of a sports car using existing chassis, suspension, and engine, and inexpensive bodywork. Other desigh objectives were a price of approximately £500 and a top speed of at least 90 mph.[1][3]
The resulting car, the Triumph 20TS, was shown in October 1952 at the London Motor Show. Public reception was mixed; the front styling and the potential for speed were praised, the cramped interior, stubby rear end, and lack of boot space were not. BRM test driver Ken Richardson was invited to drive the car; his low opinion of the car's handling and driveability resulted in him being hired to the development team for its replacement.[1][3]
Production TRs
TR2 and TR3
The redesign and development of the 20TS led to a longer, roomier car with a larger boot, built on an all-new frame with revised suspension and brakes and an uprated engine. The resulting Triumph TR2 was shown in March 1953 at the Geneva Motor Show.[1] The TR2 would form the basis of the evolution of the TR line up to the TR6.[4]
The TR3, introduced in 1955, had a front grille and a more powerful engine. In October 1956, the front brakes of the TR3 were changed from 10 in drums to 11 in discs. The TR3 was restyled in 1957 and was available with a larger 2.2 litre; engine;[4] the restyled car was unofficially known as the TR3A.[5] A further development, with the larger engine as standard and with a fully synchromesh gearbox, was made available in 1962, the final year of TR3 production.[4] This last version of the TR3 was unofficially known as the TR3B.[citation needed]
| Triumph TR2 and TR3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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TR4, TR5, TR250, and TR6
Introduced in 1961, the TR4 had a completely new body designed by Giovanni Michelotti. The TR4 was upgraded to the TR4A in 1965 with the addition of independent rear suspension.[4]
In 1967, the TR line was updated with servo-assisted brakes and a 2.5 L version of the straight-six engine that had been used in the Triumph 2000. Two different models were made: the TR250 with two Stromberg carburettors for the US market, and the TR5 with Lucas fuel injection for the rest of the world.[4]
Both the TR250 and the TR5 were replaced by the TR6 in 1968, with the US version continuing with carburettors. The main difference between the TR6 and the TRs it replaced was its styling. The front and rear ends of the car had been restyled by German coachbuilder Karmann, giving the car a more contemporary appearance.[4]
| Triumph TR4, TR5, TR250, and TR6 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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TR7 and TR8
The Triumph TR7 was introduced in 1974. While all previous TRs were evolutionary designs developed from the TR2, the TR7 was an all new design owing nothing but its model designation to the earlier TRs. While the TR7's unit body and wedge shape were advertised by Leyland as major improvements, these were offset by the TR7's return to a four-cylinder engine and a live rear axle.[4]
The TR7 was initially available as a coupé, with a convertible version being developed after the launch of the coupé. A premium-grade version using the Rover V8 engine was developed as part of the same project. Both the TR7 convertible and the premium V8 version, renamed the Triumph TR8, were introduced in 1979.[4]
The TR7 and TR8 were discontinued in 1981.[4]
| Triumph TR7 and TR8 | |||||||||
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Langworth, Richard M. (Second Quarter 1973). "Trundling Along With Triumph - The story thus far...". Automobile Quarterly (40 East 49th Street, New York, NY 10017 USA: Automobile Quarterly Inc.) 11 (2): 116–145. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 62-4005.
- ↑ Cook, Michael (2001). "Chapter 3: Birth of the "TR"". Triumph Cars in America (illustrated ed.). MotorBooks International. pp. 24–33. ISBN 9780760301654. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Krause, G. William; Krause, Bill (1998). Triumph Sports Cars. Enthusiast Color (illustrated ed.). MotorBooks International. ISBN 9780760304501. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Elliott, James (March 2007). "The Magic Numbers". In Elliott, James. Classic & Sports Car (Teddington, Middlesex, UK: Haymarket Publishing) 25 (12): 100–109. ISSN 0263-3183.
- ↑ Bill Piggott, Collector's Originality Guide Triumph TR2 TR3 TR4 TR5 TR6 TR7 TR8, 2009, page 139