BMW might give Triumph a hand

[SilverBeam]

http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/04-01-06_11

Reviewing the unconfirmed news that BMW Group design team is working in California on a two-seater sports car derivative of the current MINI platform, Autocar’s 3 January issue speculates that the car, “close to getting the green light for production”, could become a concept vehicle later this year, and eventually, could be marketed under the Triumph brand.

Autocar says it has learned that BMW’s lawyers have recently moved to protect the Triumph name from being used by another UK-based car company. It was mentioned during the second half of last year in connection with bidders for the assets of MG Rover after it went into administration in April.

[bellavus]

interesting......

[Rory]

I wonder why they would even want to use that name

[McAllister1]

The Triumph name has a lot of history in the US from the 50-60 with the TR3, 4, 4a and TR-6. A lot of folks learned how not to kill cones on those cars. In the past, much like the Mini, they have a strong following that meets weekly and drive the twisties. The old TR-4a was a great little car with a very good power to weight ratio although its Lucas electrics would either kill you or teach you basics of electrics quickly. Nothing like a 6volt Positive ground system to confuse a 16yo trying to hook up a stereo (ok, 8 track)

[Mitch]

The Triumph name has a lot of history in the US from the 50-60 with the TR3, 4, 4a and TR-6. A lot of folks learned how not to kill cones on those cars. In the past, much like the Mini, they have a strong following that meets weekly and drive the twisties. The old TR-4a was a great little car with a very good power to weight ratio although its Lucas electrics would either kill you or teach you basics of electrics quickly. Nothing like a 6volt Positive ground system to confuse a 16yo trying to hook up a stereo (ok, 8 track)
+1

at an autocross I attended a little over a month ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/penguin52587/autoX101.jpg

[McAllister1]

I forgot all about the little GT6 and Spitfire. That GT6 is a monster on an autoX. They stuffed a 145hp straight 6 in a 1800# car that was 3 inches off the ground stock.

[ilia]

I lightweight great handling tiny car with a huge gnarly motor? Sounds exactly like what BMW needs to be doing.

[Rory]

Did you guys have the later ones like the TR7 and Dolomite?

[static667]

This is a TR7.
http://harley.geog.ox.ac.uk/~mark/vehicles/tr7-1.jpg
I have a few of these in the shop where I work. They only have a small 4 banger in them to start but the area in the engine bay is massive. One of the guys I work with is planning on putting a big block chevy in it. I've looked and measured and there is ample room for it. That and its a cool car nobody has ever seen.

Now don't forget the Triumph Stag.
http://www.hurstpark.co.uk/images/Stag.jpg
It looks like the perfect grandma car but that makes it the best sleeper. It has a 182ci V8 that puts out 145hp. Doesn't sound like much but, in the 70's that was pretty good for a British car.

I rather like Triumph and think its a cool thing BMW is doing to preserve their name.

[palomino]

Designworks designs many different things for many different companies. In the past, they've done cell phones, lawn mowers, trains, and furniture.

[Ollie1662]

I've got a TR-7 in my garage.

[EThirD]

There's a Stag that looks just like that in my garage.

[PrinceE30]

Sweet....

I'd hit up a German Triumph roadster (ala Mini). Maybe it'll give Lotus some competition to the Elise. Can't wait to see where this goes!

-Prince

[Gizmo330iT]

One of my good buddies has a red TR-7, a TR-8 in the Rimmer Bros livery and also a Triumph Chicaine.

The TR-8 looks just like a TR-7 but with a 3.5lt Rover V8.

[GreekDriver]

I almost bought a Triumph... But my dad said I would die in an electrical fire...

[Mitch]

I almost bought a Triumph... But my dad said I would die in an electrical fire...
A friend of mine in highschool had a Triumph. It stalled almost every day going out of the school parking lot :rofl

[McAllister1]

We also had the Stag over here and the TR7 and 8 (the 8 had a Rover V8 motor and never did well here). The 7 had a small 4 and was not a big hit but is starting to get a following. We did not have the Dolomite which was a sedan if I remember correctly. We only got the two seaters here.

As for putting a V8 in the TR7, the preferred route in the late 80s was to put in a Buick V6 with Turbo. It turned out to be faster, lighter and better balanced. Also you did not have to redo the rear diff. Add a set of Mini-lites or Panalite wheels to it which are extremely light and look great on the car and you have a very nice streetable rod.

[static667]

Another thing about the TR7 is that it had a slant 4. The small motor didn't have much kick but had decent reliability(sp?). Kinda like the Chrysler slant 6. The motor didn't have much power but was indestructable.

If BMW was to possably bring back the TR6...that would be a hot seller.

[EThirD]

That slant 4 was essentially a SAAB unit. It was derived from the Stag's V8, which was developed from two SAAB slant fours joined at the crank. Then using some backwards engineering they came up with a Triumph slant 4 for the TR7.

[static667]

I've only worked on them. Never really got to know any of the background on the cars. But I do like learning something new about the cool old cars.