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1
A BRIEF HISTORY
AND DETAILS OF
CLUB ACTIVITIES
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRIUMPH CARS 1923-1940
Note - For a full history see: -
'Triumph Cars - The Complete 75 Year History' by Robson & Langworth, first
published by Motor Racing Publications 1979.
'The Story of Triumph Sports Cars' by Robson, published by Motor Racing
Publications 1972.
'Donald Healey - My World of Cars' by Garnier & Healey, published by Patrick Ste-
phens Ltd. 1989.
‘Triumph Cars in Australia 1924-1939’ by John Shepherd and Jon Elbourne.
The Triumph Motor Company was a logical
development of the cycle and motorcycle business start-
ed in the late nineteenth century. The first model pro-
duced from the Cov-
entry based premises was
the 10/20 an-
nounced in April1923. It
was their only car fitted with mechanical brakes and all
subsequent models had hydraulic brakes; indeed Triumph
was the first British manufacturer to fit these as standard
equipment. The 10/20 model was followed by the 13/35 and the 15/50 that was last
made in 1930. Today only four examples of these early models are known to have
survived.
In 1927 the Super 7 was announced. This was to become the
Company’s most successful model; about 18,000 were made
up until 1934 and were produced in many body variations
including its successor, the
Super 8 (same engine). In the
early '30's the Scorpion model
represented the fashion for
‘small sixes’. This led to the Super 9, which was the first
Triumph to be fitted with a Coventry Climax engine. This
power unit was used, in various sizes, in all models up to
and including the '36 range.
In late 1933 Donald Healey joined the Company and this coincided with a change in
direction. The successful 7's and 8's had enabled the Company to weather the depression
and the aim now was to produce larger more sporting vehicles. The result was the
Gloria series. This ran from 1933 to 1937 with
around 30 variations based on three chassis
lengths, four engine sizes, standard or Vitesse
tuned and
various bodies.
Success in competitions such as the Monte-Carlo and
Alpine Rallies helped promote the new range. Well
known models include the
Monte-Carlo and Southern
Cross sports cars, the Speed
and Vitesse Tourers and the
Drop-head Coupes by Cross
& Ellis. All these cars were
built to a high standard of
craftsmanship and
comprehensively equipped.
The Company constructed the coach-built bodies themselves from designs by Frank
Warner and Walter Belgrove. (D.H.C's. were built by Cross & Ellis, Avon and
Salmons.). The main features of the Gloria range included a robust crossed-braced and
underslung chassis; Lockheed hydraulic brakes; centralised lubrication system; free-
wheel; leather upholstery; sliding roofs; two colour paint schemes and wire wheels.
For the late '30's the concept of travel changed again. The
sportier image was played down and with the exception of
the introduction of the
Dolomite Roadster in
mid 1938, larger fast-
er luxury saloons were
developed. These were
powered by an o.h.v.
engine built by the
Company which came
in three sizes. The models were Vitesse and Dolomite,
the latter having advanced front-end styling. Rare ver-
sions include the Continental and the Royal, both
2-litre saloons.
Triumph finances were never very healthy. Against a background of too many models
the motor cycle business was sold off (probably unwisely) in 1936. In the last years of
the decade as war loomed, sales declined and competition was fierce, especially after the
appearance of Jaguar. The Company seemed to loose its market niche and in June 1939
the Official Receiver was called in. The Company was sold on 1st September 1939 to
Thomas Ward & Co., a Sheffield steel business. It is possible that they oversaw the
completion of the last few New Twelve saloons, the Company's last model announced in
the spring of '39. Ward’s then operated what today we would call an 'asset stripping'
policy. A year later, what they had not sold was destroyed by the wartime blitz on
Coventry. At the end of the war all that remained of the old company was the name and
goodwill. Sir John Black, Chairman of the Standard Motor Company, purchased this on
the first day of 1945.
4
CLUB SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
About the Club
In late 1933 The Triumph Motor Club was formed, backed by the
Works, to develop interest and enthusiasm amongst Triumph car
owners. Familiar names involved with the running of this Club
included Donald Healey, Jack Ridley and Maurice Newnham and
those taking part in club trials included Joan Richmond and John
Ferguson. The first motoring event organised by this club is
believed to have been in July 1934 which was a reliabil-
ity trial in the Cotswolds over a course of 100 miles in length.
Known as the 1st Cotswold Hundred, it was repeated in 1935. Also
organised in 1934 was a similar event known as the Chiltern One-
Twenty Trial, which was again repeated in 1935. But it seems that
the Triumph Motor Club was wound up in late 1936.
The next Club for our cars was The Dolomite Association formed in
the mid 1950’s but by 1959 it too had folded.
In 1960 two enthusiasts, one in Birmingham and the
other in Manchester, quite unknown to each other, began making
informal contact with owners of pre-war Triumphs in their local
areas. Theses two groups amalgamated in 1961 to become known
as the Pre-1940 Triumph Owners Club. The main aim was to form
a Register of all vehicles built by the Triumph Motor Company
between 1923 and 1940. In addition, some specials, notably the Vale Special,
were included because they used many Triumph components. The other chief
objectives were to encourage the preservation, maintenance and use of these
particular cars. These aims still hold true today and have been widened to
promote greater awareness of our cars to the general public.
In January 2011, fifty years after its formation, the Club became a private
limited company with a minor change of name to the Pre-1940 Triumph Motor
Club Ltd.
Originally, information and spare parts were the things that everyone joining the
Club required. Both were very scarce due to the fact that all official Company
records and documentation was lost during the war and the spare parts
department with its stock also completely destroyed. In these two areas the Club
now provides a unique service based on information and material gathered over
many years.
5
Today total membership level is around 250 which includes 40 overseas
enthusiasts Many new Triumphs were exported to Australia and New Zealand
and there is a strong contingent there, but we also have members in the EU,
America and many other countries.
The Club is affiliated to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and is
also a member of the Triumph Forum; an informal association of the majority of
Triumph Clubs. Both these activities produce additional benefits for Members.
Management of the Club
The annually elected directors responsible for the management of the Club will
normally comprise a Chairman, Company Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer,
Membership Secretary, Magazine Editor, Spares Secretary, Registrar and
Archivist, Events Co-ordinator, Regalia Secretary and Webmaster. Other
officials can be appointed by the directors.
Club Register
The Club Register contains details of around 4000 cars of which only about 500
are known to survive. From data supplied by Club members and other sources it
has been possible to list all the models made (there were over 60 and 24 were
listed for 1935 alone!), and by using chassis numbers, establish rough estimates
for the production runs of each major model, if not every variation. The current
estimate of the total production over the 16-year period is 35,000 cars. Compare
this with 140,000 Austin 7's alone, in almost the same time span. Triumph was
certainly a small volume manufacturer. The register can help with identification,
the history of your model and actual car if known. The Club records can also
assist in getting your car registered with the D.V.L.A. in the U.K. if necessary.
Library
The object of the Library is to supply technical and descriptive material for all
models. The Library has a collection of handbooks,
spare parts catalogues and Company sales brochures.
Because of their rarity and value, they are not loaned
out but can be photocopied if requested, as can all
technical and other data culled from contemporary
sources. Occasionally duplicate material, such as
Drivers’ Handbooks and Spare Parts Catalogues are
offered for sale.
6
Other items within our Library include wiring diagrams, lubrication charts and
data from makers such as Lucas and S.U. for most models. There is also a good
collection of photos of members’ cars. A full list of library material and
photocopying charges is sent to each new member
Spare Parts
As mentioned above, no company-held spares survived the war. Some stocks
remained at the larger distributors such as Basil Roy's and Newham's in London.
The Club purchased what remained of these in the early
'60s. Parts pertaining to our cars are bought by the
Spares Section at auto-jumbles although this source has
now almost dried up. Certain parts, especially those
common to several models, are therefore batch manufac-
tured by the Club against advance orders and deposits.
These include water pumps and other aluminium cast-
ings, suspension pins and bushes, gaskets, rubber parts,
handles, clutch pressure plates and friction discs.
However, a major problem is that as we cater for so
many models which only exist in low numbers, it is
sometimes difficult to justify the high cost for small runs
of re-manufactured items.
Where the Club cannot supply parts direct, the Spares Officer holds the
addresses of stockists and manufacturers from where certain items can be
obtained. Some parts that were made for post war cars, even current models, are
exact or near equivalents to the original design.
The Club also holds a good selection of used parts obtained from rescued scrap
vehicles, which can often be refurbished or used as patterns to make new one-off
items. All spares held by the Club, whether new or used, feature in a Parts List
which is issued to all members.
Regalia
The Club has a good selection of regalia for sale with
items ranging from car badges, key fobs, lapel badges, tax
disc holders, magazine binders, blazer badges, polo and
sweat shirts, caps, mugs etc.
7
Magazine
This is the main link between Members. It is issued six
times a year in full colour A5 format and is 16 pages in
length plus covers. It contains letters and adverts from
Members, news of events past and future, technical and
descriptive articles, spares and library news etc.
The publication and distribution of the Magazine con-
sumes the bulk of the Club's subscription income and it
is therefore in Members’ interests to use and contribute
to it as much as possible.
Local Meetings and Events
Where possible these are held on a regular basis in the UK. However because of
the wide scatter of a small membership, local meetings are few and far between
but when they do occur they are announced in the magazine. Area
Representatives are always welcomed and encouraged by the Club to organise
displays at local events and meetings.
National Meetings and Events
On a Sunday in the middle of each year, the Club’s National Annual Rally is
held at some suitable venue in the UK. An Annu-
al Dinner usually takes place on the previous
evening. At this event usually between 30 and
40 cars compete for various trophies and around
a third of the U.K membership attends. This
event has always been very successful and to
coincide with the Annual Rally, the Club’s An-
nual General Meeting is also held to conduct the
formal business necessary for the running of the
Club.
In addition the Club organises stands at around half a dozen selected events
within the UK each year, sometimes carried out jointly with other early Triumph
clubs, to maximise publicity for our cars within the confines of a relatively small
membership and limited budget. Other annual events are also arranged in the
UK including a Christmas Dinner.
For further information about the Club’s activities please visit our website
at www.pre-1940triumphmotorclub.org
8
CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership is on an annual basis as follows:-
FULL (UK) Membership is open to those owning a Triumph car manufactured
prior to the formation of the Triumph Motor Co. Ltd (1945), together with the
Vale Special and any other special built on a qualifying chassis.
ASSOCIATE (UK) Membership is open to anyone who does not qualify for
Full Membership.
OVERSEAS (EU) Membership is open to those with or without an appropriate
car outside the UK but within in the European Union.
OVERSEAS (NON-EU) Membership is open to those with or without an
appropriate car in any overseas country other than the European Union.
All Overseas members will receive their magazines etc. by airmail, unless
otherwise arranged.
Membership of any of the above classes can be in joint names if so desired.
JOINING DETAILS
The Club relies almost entirely on annual subscriptions for income. These are
due on 1st January each year. (Members joining between 1st Oct. & 31st Dec. pri-
or to this date are not required to pay again for the following year).
On joining the Club a new Member receives a Membership Card, Articles of
Association, Membership List, Library List, Regalia Details and for Full
Members, a Spare Parts List. A current Club Magazine will also be provided
with back-numbers if joining after April or before October in any year.
To apply for membership please complete the separate Application Form which
also contains the current subscription rates and payment details. This is available
as a download from the Club’s website, www.pre-1940triumphmotorclub.org or
by telephoning our Membership Secretary on 01737 247218
* * * * * *