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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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 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

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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

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