The Classic Car Owner's Guide
Triumph car models: every classic Triumph
Triumph built cars in Coventry from 1923 until the name disappeared in 1984. This guide lists every post-war Triumph car model with its years and body styles, links to our buying guides where we have one, and points to the Triumphs that have appeared on Bangers & Cash.
Pre-war Triumph cars
Triumph built its first four-wheeled car in Coventry in 1923; pre-war models included the Super Seven, Gloria, Southern Cross and Dolomite, before the company went into receivership in 1939.
Saloons
1800, 2000 and Renown saloon(1800 saloon, 2000 saloon, Renown, Renown limousine)
1946 to 1954
Saloon; limousine
The first post-war Triumph saloons, with a 1776cc four at launch and a 2088cc four from the 2000 onwards.
Mayflower
1949 to 1953
Two-door saloon; drophead coupé
A small car powered by a 1247cc side-valve four-cylinder engine.
Herald(948, 1200, 12/50, 13/60)
1959 to 1971
Saloon, coupé, convertible, estate, Courier van
A small car styled by Michelotti, built on a separate chassis with four-cylinder engines from 948cc to 1296cc.
Vitesse(1600, 2 Litre Mk1, 2 Litre Mk2)
1962 to 1971
Two-door saloon; convertible
The six-cylinder version of the Herald, with 1596cc and later 1998cc engines.
2000, 2.5 PI and 2500(Mk1, Mk2, 2500TC, 2500S)
1963 to 1977
Saloon; estate
Six-cylinder executive saloon and estate, launched in 1963 and facelifted as the Mk2 in 1969.
1300 and 1500(1300, 1300TC, 1500)
1965 to 1973
Four-door saloon
Triumph's front-wheel drive saloons, with 1296cc and later 1493cc four-cylinder engines.
Toledo and 1500TC
1970 to 1976
Two-door and four-door saloon
A rear-wheel drive car using the 1300 bodyshell, with a 1296cc four; the rear-drive 1500TC followed in 1973.
Dolomite(1300, 1500, 1500HL, 1850, Sprint)
1972 to 1980
Four-door saloon
Rear-wheel drive saloon range; the Sprint, built from 1973 to 1980, used a 16-valve 2-litre engine.
Acclaim
1981 to 1984
Four-door saloon
A Honda-designed saloon with a 1335cc engine, built by British Leyland at Cowley and the last car to carry the Triumph name.
Sports cars and GTs
1800 and 2000 Roadster
1946 to 1949
Two-door roadster with dickey seat
Open car with a rear dickey seat for two extra passengers, using a 1776cc four and later a 2088cc four.
TR2
1953 to 1955
Two-seat sports car
Two-seater with a twin-carburettor 1991cc four-cylinder engine derived from the Standard Vanguard unit.
TR3, TR3A and TR3B
1955 to 1962
Two-seat sports car
Developed from the TR2 with the same 1991cc engine; a 2138cc engine became available later in the run.
TR4 and TR4A
1961 to 1967
Two-seat sports car
New body over a 2138cc four-cylinder engine; the TR4A added independent rear suspension.
TR5 and TR250
1967 to 1968
Two-seat sports car
First six-cylinder TR with a 2498cc engine; the TR5 had Lucas fuel injection, the US-market TR250 carburettors.
TR6
1969 to 1976
Two-seat sports car
A Karmann restyle of the TR5 keeping the 2498cc six-cylinder engine, with fuel injection outside the USA.
Spitfire(Spitfire 4 Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, 1500)
1962 to 1980
Two-seat open sports car
A small sports car with four-cylinder engines growing from 1147cc to 1493cc over five versions.
GT6(Mk1, Mk2, Mk3)
1966 to 1973
Fastback coupé
A fixed-head coupé based on the Spitfire, powered by the 1998cc six-cylinder engine from the Vitesse.
Stag
1970 to 1977
Four-seat (2+2) convertible with optional hardtop
An open grand tourer powered by Triumph's own 3-litre overhead-camshaft V8.
TR7
1975 to 1981
Two-seat coupé; convertible from 1979
Sports car with a 1998cc slant-four engine, launched as a coupé, with the convertible following in 1979.
TR8
1980 to 1981
Two-seat coupé; convertible
The TR7 fitted with a 3.5-litre Rover V8, built mainly for sale in the USA.
Where Triumph cars were built
After the Second World War, Standard bought Triumph and built its cars at the Standard factory at Canley, Coventry. TR7 production began at Speke, Liverpool, moved to Canley in 1978 and then to the Rover factory at Solihull in 1980, when Canley closed. The last Triumph, the Acclaim, was built at Cowley, Oxford, and the Triumph name disappeared from cars in 1984 when the Rover 200 replaced it.
Triumphs on Bangers & Cash
Spitfires, Heralds, TRs and Dolomites have all passed through Mathewsons on the programme. Our list of Triumph cars on Bangers & Cash shows every one named in the listings, with the episode it appeared in.
For a whole site about one model, see the Triumph Stag Archive.
FAQs
- When did Triumph stop making cars?
- The last Triumph car was the Acclaim, built at Cowley, Oxford, until 1984, when the Rover 200 replaced it.
- Where were Triumph cars made?
- After the Second World War, Triumph cars were built at the Standard factory at Canley, Coventry. TR7 production began at Speke, Liverpool, moved to Canley in 1978 and to Solihull in 1980, and the Acclaim was built at Cowley.
- Which Triumph cars have buying guides on this site?
- The TR2 and TR3, TR4 and TR4A, TR5 and TR6, TR7 and TR8, Spitfire, Herald, GT6 and Stag. Each card above links to its guide.
Help shape this guide
This is an independent guide written in the village, and what goes in next is partly up to you. Vote, send an idea, or both.
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Checked 27 October 2026 against Classic & Sports Car, Hagerty UK, Classics World, Grace's Guide, the Triumph 2000 Register, the British Motor Museum and Lancaster Insurance.
An independent guide from Thornton-le-Dale. Not connected with Mathewsons or the programme.