Triumph Vitesse
Triumph Vitesse 1600 (1963)
The Triumph Vitesse is a small six-cylinder sports car, the Triumph 1962 to 1971 built. The Triumph Vitesse is based on the 1959 Triumph Herald published. The Vitesse arose from an initiative of the then Standard - Triumph chef Henry George Webster, who had to equip a Triumph Herald with a Standard Vanguard engine. Under the project name " atom" of the internal in Triumph circles was also " Kenilworth Dragster " said 6 -cylinder car to Giovanni Michelotti by modifying the Herald body as a sedan, convertible and in very small quantities as a station wagon ( " Estate" ) has drawn.
The name was used by Triumph Vitesse before the Second World War, already for a product manufactured in the years 1937 and 1938 model.
Vitesse 6
The Triumph Vitesse 6 was presented on 25 May in 1962 and introduced the high-performance variant of the small sedan Herald dar. The Herald was presented on 22 April 1959 as a small, attractive, two-door sedan, which had been drawn by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. In the early 1960s thought triumph, on the basis of a small sports sedan with six-cylinder engine to build. Michelotti was again in charge of the styling and unveiled a car, in which almost all the body panels of the Herald found use and equipped with a new vehicle front. The front of the vehicle with its dual headlights was called "Chinese Eye" (Chinese eye).
Standard - Triumph built the well-known six-cylinder engine with 1596 cc of the standard Vanguard Six, but with a smaller bore of 66.75 mm instead of 74.7 mm for the Vanguard and double Solex downdraft carburetors B32PIH. These carburetors were replaced soon after the introduction of the car in the carburetor of the type B321H because the accelerator pump turned out to be a problem. Whoever looks at the machine exactly discovered a seam on the cylinder block between the third and fourth cylinders, suggesting the beginnings of this draft than 803 cc engine - indicates engine block of the Standard Eight of 1953. The manual transmission has been strengthened and with an overdrive Laycock de Normanville, D -type, offered. Front disc brakes and rear drum brakes were offered more standard equipment and the tank of the Herald was enlarged, with the practical reserve tap of the smaller tanks remained. The front suspension has been equipped with more powerful coil springs to carry the heavier weight of the six-cylinder engine account, on the rear axle, the system was taken over by the Herald with oscillating axle and transverse leaf spring, but soon proved to be the stronger Vitesse as inappropriate. The chassis corresponded essentially to the Herald. Available were a sedan and a convertible; also constructed a coupe never got to the production stage. A handful of wagons was also on special customer in the Service Depot of Standard Triumph in Park Royal in West London.
The interior has been greatly improved over the Herald, interior door panels made of real wood matched the wood dashboard; also had the car better seats and door actuators. As an extra, a Webasto sunroof in vinyl or fabric version was available in the sedan. There were external trim of stainless steel on the sides of the vehicle and aluminum bumper bars ( instead of strips of white rubber at the Herald). The side trim drag over the entire length of the vehicle and be guided around the grille.
About a year after the launch of the styling of the Vitesse was revised for the first time; the dashboard has received several dials instead of the individual from the Herald from September 1965 from chassis number HB27986, the twin Solex carburetors were replaced by Zenith -Stromberg CD 150. Before the engine had (51 kW) made 70 bhp at 5,000 min-1 and 125 Nm of torque delivered. Now, the values increased enough to make the car more flexible and powerful than before. There were 13-14 hp ( 9.6 to 10.3 kW) increase indicated, which was a bit too optimistic, but a motor magazine determined the top speed to 146 km / h; the acceleration from 0 to 130 km / h in 33.6 seconds was mastered rather than 46.6 seconds.
The Vitesse 6 sold extremely well and was the most popular Vitesse model. The car was very popular due to its good performance and its economical use of fuel, as well as for its elegant interiors. The Vitesse had few competitors: His performance corresponded to those of many sports cars ( Triumph was called the "Two- Seater Beater "), but he offered space for the whole family. In particular, the Cabriolet was on the market without competitors until many years later, the Stag appeared from the same manufacturer.
Sports 6
The Vitesse 6 convertible was from 1962 to 1964 also exported to the United States; the left-hand drive version was also provided that Triumph Sports 6 and was marketed as a "Limited Edition" ( special edition ). Because of its high price, but only 679 pieces were sold.
The Sports 6 was probably better suited for the U.S. highways as the Herald, but was in a ruinous price competition by cars like the Ford Mustang. The Vitesse Saloon was not officially sold in the U.S., although some copies were privately imported, usually from American service personnel. The official retail price for the Sports 6 convertible was 2.499, - U.S. $.
Vitesse 2- Litre
1966 Triumph pierced the engine to 1,998 cc, used it for the coupe GT6 and Triumph Vitesse released the 2- Litre. The power rose to 95 bhp (70 kW); the new car accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h in 13 sec The performance increase was very welcome, but also revealed the shortcomings of the rear suspension, which were also known by the GT6 and the Spitfire. There have been some improvements in detail for the 2- Litre as a stronger transmission, better brakes and a " VITESSE " lettering on the aluminum strip on the reverse light.
Vitesse Mark 2
The Triumph Vitesse Mk II was released in the fall of 1968 as the last model in the series. He should be the answer of triumph to the growing criticism of the rear suspension mainly. The car had a completely revised rear axle with " Rotoflex " drive shaft joints. This system, also at the same time presented GT6 Mk II (in the U.S.: GT6 ) was found, cured the problems of the fall variable rear axle of the predecessor and helped the Vitesse to better road holding.
There were further improvements by another cylinder head 104 bhp ( 76.5 kW) have been achieved, leading to an acceleration of the vehicle from 0 to 100 km / h in just over 11 seconds and a top speed of over 160 km / h led. Outside you saw a new grille, slightly wider steel wheels with stainless steel hubcaps in " Rostyle " design and a silver-colored lacquered Hechabschussblech. From Triumph the color " Ceramic" was called. The interior such as the seats has been improved and had parts in common with the new Herald 13/60. Also a new color palette had the Mk II has to offer. The logos on the hood and trunk lid were changed.
This was the last Vitesse, a sedan or a convertible with performance that easily the one MGB or Sunbeam Alpine outperformed, but with four full-size seats and a large trunk. The Vitesse sold to the setting of the series in July 1971 well, a year before the new Dolomite appeared as a sports sedan, and two years before the Dolomite Sprint, another high-performance sports sedan, was presented. Although the Vitesse was an older model, he proved to be more reliable than any of his successors.
Production figures
- Vitesse 6 (1600): 31,261 pcs Sedan: 22,814 pcs
- Cabriolet: 8,447 pieces, including 679 Sports 6 (USA)
- Sedan: 7328 piece
- Cabriolet: 3,502 pcs
- Sedan: 5,649 pcs
- Cabriolet :: 3472 piece
Race
The Vitesse took in 1971 to race in the Trans-Am series part.
The Vitesse today
Today, the Triumph Vitesse is a marginal phenomenon in the classic car scene. The parts supply is good and the cars have the reputation of being a simple and solid mechanics. The Vitesse 6 - especially in the earlier version with Solex carburetors - is all but forgotten, and these cars are slowly scarce. Because of its performance and its road handling the Mk 2 is the most popular and convertibles are looking for. Especially many Mk 2 convertibles have survived. The Triumph Sports Six Club in England offers the owners a wide range of support.