One thing is for certain, talking about new Triumphs really evokes
people's emotions on the subject. Since the traffic is a little down
this holiday weekend, let's continue this thread.
When my mother visited the U.K. in 1977 I made her promise to stop at a
Triumph dealership and ask them to bring back the TR6. She dutifully did
so and they dutifully did not! Having bought two of the "modern"
Triumphs, I can now compare old and new side by side. The "modern" car
wins hands down in every catagory, except maybe classiness.
Let's get this part out of the way. Every business, including car
manufacturers, are in it to make money. No excuses. And there shouldn't
be a need for one/any. As for some savvy marketing type searching for a
"hot button" to push and finding the name Triumph in the closet, well
that's just savvy marketing, isn't it? The very fact that a response has
been generated is proof that the insight is correct.
Someone has already covered this ground, but let's go over it again. The
Triumph name has been resurrected once, by Sir John Black of Standard
Motors. Pre-war Triumph enthusiast were no doubt as shocked as some of
us are about Triumph being reborn. "They won't be the same" is a cry now
echoing about. Let's hope not! The first Triumph that most of us can
relate to is the TR2. What was that? A car that used as many peices,
parts and components from other cars as possible. And it was based on a
sedan, as were just about every other sporting Triumph we enjoy! These
machines followed their course of evolution through to the TR6. Finally
the end of the line was reached and a NEW car was needed. The TR7/8
series was born--based as much as possible on sedan components! While
poor build quality at first hampered the TR7, and many think this is what
killed the marque, this is just not so. The poor build quality was
addressed. And if any body cares to look at the actual numbers, more
TR7's and 8's were built than any other TR series car.
What killed off the last TR you may ask? Economy of scale. Or more
correctly, lack there of. British Leyland had planned on a whole series
of cars based on the WEDGE--16v Sprint, Lynx, later Broadside, TR8 and
finally a revised TR7 to address its controversial styling and engine.
But since a strike at the Speke plant prevented the new models, the
economy of scale could never be reached.
What type of new Triumph could we possibly expect? Probably a sedan
based on existing components. And it would, no doubt, not satisfy any
Triumph enthusiast. But remember, it COULD evolve into something we may
all like. While I doubt it could happen like in the 50's & 60's,
wouldn't it be neat if the Triumph name eclipsed BMW just like it did to
Standard?
I think everybody is kind of missing the point here. Remember when the
two new Beatles songs came out a year or two ago? They were O.K. but
just didn't quite get it did they? Know why? Because a big gap of time
had transpired, and these songs weren't part of your Beatles memory. So
they were just kinda so-so. Same thing with the new Jaguar XK8. If the
new car had evolved CONTINUOUSLY, it no doubt would be more widely
received. But there was a huge gap between the last XKE of 1974 and
today's car.
Thank you all for allowing me to ramble this long. I personally am very
excited that talk of resurrecting Triumph is going on. I realise they
won't be the same if they ever see the light of day. But I'm willing to
at least give it a chance!
CRASH--I just fell off my soap box!
Bill Wood--a TRIUMPH lover
Greensboro, N.C.
1973 TR6 CF8796UO
1979 TR8 Coupe TCN160063UCF
1981 TR8 SATPV4589BA406371
Recently appointed TR8 Vehicle Consultant--TR8 VTR
VTR concours winner 1995 Rockford, IL, 1981 TR8
VTR concours winner 1996 Albany, NY, 1981 TR8 (Seniors)
VTR concours winner 1996 Albany, NY, 1979 TR8
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