TECHNICAL STANDARD AND TRIUMPH VEHICLE REGISTRATION STATISTICS Part 6 - Triumph 2000 and 2500

Rob t Bensley

The Triumph 2000/2500 range of was the most successful and longest running post-war Triumph in Australia. Sales spanned 16 years from 1964 until 1979.

TheTh 2000 replaced the Vanguard 6 and was an entirely new design. It was advanced for itsit s day with standard front disk brakes, all independentin suspension, rack and pinion steeringst and comprehensive equipment levels.le The modernity of its design was, I believe,be a key factor its long life.

TheTh first Triumph 2000 was registered in DecemberDe 1963 with a further 5 cars registeredre by the end of March 1964. I suspectsu these first cars were for testing and presspr use. Sales to the public commenced in AprilAp 1964 and by year end 736 cars had Mk1 2.5 PI beenbe registered.

While this is a modest total, the 2000 was to prove something of a stayer unlike the preceding Herald and Mayflower models which initially sold well but quickly faded. Sales of the 2000 and later 2500 increased year by year, testament I think to the cars suitability to Australian buyers.

AMI in Melbourne assembled all 2000/2500s for the Australian market. I have not seen any evidence of the dealer network selling imported cars although there are privately imported Mk2 2500 TC sedans and wagons. Only sedans were available in Australia. A wagon (estate) was built in the UK by Ltd from partly completed sedan shells. I understand this method of production precluded CKD kits for overseas assembly. There were also no utility or panel van variants.

A small number of Mk1 2000MD (for Managing Director) cars were built with wire wheels, triple Stromberg carburettors,ca standard , sportssp steering wheel and low ratio differential.diff These were unique to AuAustralia and are the rarest variant.

TheTh injected 2500PI was launched in 196819 using an engine derived from the TR5/6TR with some body adornments, largerla radiator and higher ratio overdriveov on manual transmissions.

Mk2 2500 S August 2017 The Triumphant Standard 11 The restyled Mk2 model was released in 1969. By 1974 the 2000 and PI had been withdrawn in Australia and replaced by the 2500TC. The 2000 and PI would continue to be available in the UK.

October 1974 saw the closure of Leyland’s Zetland manufacturing facility and the end of the P76 and Marina models. This would breathe new life into the 2500 as it became a key model in a reduced range sold by the Leyland dealer network. Sales of the 2500 increased and peaked in 1976 – not bad for a which by then was in its 13th year.

The more upmarket 2500S model was released in Australia in 1977 to sell alongside the 2500TC. It added Stag alloy wheels, front anti-roll bar, power steeping as standard, overdrive standard on manuals, tachometer, cloth faced seats, black vinyl on the C pillar, black plastic panel between the tail lights and a stripe down the sides of the car.

Production of the 2500 ceased in the UK in November 1977. Sufficient stocks of CKD kits were available for AMI to continue local assembly through to the second half of 1978. The latest build month I have seen is August 1978.

From my observation, late models TCs were more frequently fitted with power steering and overdrive on manual transmissions. I also saw a few late model TCs with cloth faced seats. My guess is AMI was using up the parts they had. &#'(2,-5G)*$2,5G2G/2$A)$*),$2#.5-5,#$,"#$D5-()32$8)A#02$(*$,"#$-5*'#H$#(,"#-$14$#*'(*#$/5.5/(,4H$/5-13-#G)*I(*J#/G)*$ )-$#K3(.8#*,$0#D#02$L!MIBI;CN6$$!"#$2,5G2G/2$502)$(*/03A#$,"#$28500$*381#-$)@$O!P$/)3.#2$2)0A$(*$E32,-50(5$+"(/"$ 32#A$,"#$Q:::$#*'(*#6 !"#$@)00)+(*'$,510#$2")+2$-#'(2,-5G)*2$14$4#5-$R

Year Registrations Year Registrations

1963 1 1972 1,604

1964 736 1973 1,736

1965 805 1974 1,406

1966 772 1975 1,820

1967 1,081 1976 2,309

1968 1,262 1977 1,812

1969 1,580 1978 1,516

1970 2,033 1979 334*

1971 2,135 Total 22942

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12 August 2017 The Triumphant Standard