Triumph Italia

The Triumph Italia was a sports coupe with Italian special body based on the Triumph TR3. The official name was Italia 2000 coupe.

Salvatore Ruffino 1958 was an importer of standard triumph for Italy. He wanted to produce their own sports coupe. His choice fell on a body - draft submitted by Giovanni Michelotti. Triumph produced at that time no closed sports car. Ruffino had the Italia manufacture on his own account, ie did not constitute an official vehicle of the brand Triumph.

The vehicle used the full vehicle frame, drive train and axles of the Triumph TR3. Body and interior were independent and were completely manufactured in Italy by Vignale. By coupé body made ​​of steel the driving experience better and road holding were much more stable than the TR3. Production began in 1959. The vehicles were sold primarily in Italy, the USA and France.

For the triumph of the draft Italia was important because Giovanni Michelotti, who had previously designed the Standard Vanguard and the Triumph Herald, now also received the contract for the design of the successor of the TR3. The appearance of TR4 can recognize many elements of Italia.

Ruffino had planned to produce a total of 1000 Italia. Due to problems with distribution in collaboration with Triumph, this number was not reached. It is believed that a total of only about 300 copies were made ​​. 1962 production ceased with the end of production of the TR3B.