A BRIEF HISTORY AND DETAILS OF CLUB ACTIVITIES 1
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 Stephens 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 started in the late nineteenth century. The first model produced from the Coventry based premises was the 10/20 announced 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; freewheel; 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 faster 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 versions 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 1 st 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.
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 reliability 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 OneTwenty 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. 4
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.
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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 manufactured by the Club against advance orders and deposits. These include water pumps and other aluminium castings, 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.
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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 consumes 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 Annual 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 Annual 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 7
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. prior 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
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