Triumph
Like its namesake, Triumph Cars have been a success in the realm of car manufacturing. Despite their humble beginnings, the company has broken into the consciousness of car enthusiasts with their steady production of quality cars that everybody can enjoy.
The company was founded by Siegfried Bettman as a bicycle manufacturer in 1897 under the name Triumph Cycle Company. It then turned into Triumph Motor Cycles after manufacturing its very first motorcycle in 1902. Aside from being well-off in Coventry, Britain, the company had good relations with a cycle factory in Nuremberg, Germany. Triumph branched out in Priory Street, and became the country's largest motor cycle manufacturer by 1918.
Bettman, along with general manager Claude Holbrook, acquired Dawson Car Company due to the fact that the factory at Priory Street became unsuitable for car production. This heralded the production of 1.4 litre model named the Triumph 10/20. The model sold relatively well, but it was Triumph Super 7 reached greater figures up to 1934. Eventually, the company changed its name to the Triumph Motor Company around this time.
At first, the company relied on the engine designs of Coventry Climax, but all this changed in 1937 when Experimental Manager Donald Healey took charge of the designs. The company even entered their cars in Northern Ireland racing competitions and was successful for the most part. It was even able to finish 7th in a Super Seven and was the highest-placed British car in the race. Still, Triumph was not able to avoid financial difficulties, and was purchased by Thos W. Ward, a Sheffield Steel concern. To make matters worse for the company, the effects of World War II did not only disrupt production in Priory Street, but also wiped out the factory.
Standard Motor Company bought what remained of Triumph Motor Company, and made it a subsidiary under the Standard name. Models of Triumph Motor Company Limited were made of aluminium due to the shortage of steel, and were transferred to the factory of Standard. Triumph resuscitated its sporting image by launching the Triumph TR2 in 1953. The model was successful enough that it led to the creation of the TR3 and TR3A in the succeeding years. Curiously, the Standard name completely disappeared in 1963 after being last seen in a Herald bearing a Standard-Triumph badge in 1959.
From the ashes of Standard Motors, Triumph was picked up by Leyland Motors Ltd. The merging saw the conception of saloon and sports car models such as the twin-cam, 16-valve engine Dolomite Sprint. However, this marked the first time where Triumph cars were causing fuel injection problems, in particular the 2.5PI, and the inferior quality of TR7 and TR8. The reason for this is due to the refusal of the developers to attend educational courses revolving around propulsion method.
The production of Acclaim in 1981 turned out to be Triumph's last model. The brand name slowly disappeared in 1984, and British Leyland car division received the name Austin Rover Group, both of which do not bode well for Triumph. Fortunately, Rover Group was purchased by BMW, and came along with it was Triumph.
Original Authors: Manny
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 15/08/2007
