The Car Challenge

[Dannie Boy]

It's left-hand drive and with a license plate that I can't make out - were there many Triumphs manufactured in Europe? It certainly has a (continental) European look to it.

Well there was definitely a continental additive to this car!!

[Terry]

Is this a pic of the Karmann prototype for the Triumph TR6?

[Dannie Boy]

Is this a pic of the Karmann prototype for the Triumph TR6?

No sorry Terry, quite a few years before the TR6.

[Dannie Boy]

Not sure how much it will help, but the guy who designed this car also designed the Maserati 3500 and this car may not have been built in the UK!!

[Bristolian]

A Triumph built in Italy??

[Dannie Boy]

A Triumph built in Italy??

Your getting very hot Bristolian

[Billy Joe I]

It looks like a picture of a prototype that was done in the mid 50's. Think it was called the Italia when it was produced it.

I always thought it was what started the design cues for the TR5.
My father had a TR6 and it looks like Karmann who apparently designed that, used this for the basis of his design.

[Dannie Boy]

It looks like a picture of a prototype that was done in the mid 50's. Think it was called the Italia when it was produced it.

I always thought it was what started the design cues for the TR5.
My father had a TR6 and it looks like Karmann who apparently designed that, used this for the basis of his design.

Getting close although not Karman, but correct that it was called the Triumph Italia.

I followed cars quite closely in the late 50's and early 60's but don't recall this and I think it was a good looking car atthe time.

This is the full detail:

The Triumph Italia 2000 Coupé was built between 1959 and 1962, during which time 329 cars were produced. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the TR3 chassis and mechanical components were supplied by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom, and built by Alfredo Vignale in Turin, Italy.
By most accounts, only 329 of the hand-formed bodied TR3s were ever built – known as the Triumph Italia 2000 Coupé. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built by Alfredo Vignale in Turin, under contract to Ruffino S.p.A. Industria Construzione Automobile of Naples – it was thought that these cars would appeal to people willing to spend more for the dependability and ease of obtaining stock mechanical parts, but who wanted a better looking car than the standard Triumph - "Italian bodywork at its best, British tradition in sports car engineering at its finest.”
At the time, Signore Salvatore Ruffino was the managing Director of CESAC, the Italian company that distributed Standard-Triumph in Italy. He approached Standard-Triumph to supply chassis and mechanical components to build 1,000 cars. The introduction of the closed-top, two seater was well received at the 1958 Turin Motor Show – “Italian artistry and British craftsmanship have come together and produced this new, superlative Italia 2000 Coupé.”
Vignale began production in July 1959 with only a few changes to the original – rather than a slanting nose and covered glass headlights displayed on the prototype, a look similar to Michelotti’s Maserati 3500 design was produced. And although the two prototypes had some aluminum body panels, all Italias used steel. Cars came through with Ascari mufflers with a distinctive and melodious tone, and the original Triumph electric overdrive switch was moved from its left-hand dash-mounted position to an under-dash spot right above the gear shift, providing faster, more convenient downshifting out of overdrive in turns at high speeds.
Ruffino envisioned building 1,000 cars, between 1960 and 1962, with worldwide distribution including the American marketplace. He had a verbal agreement to have every Triumph dealer (720) purchase an Italia. The Italia never became an official model of Standard-Triumph.
However, Ruffino’s vision didn't come to pass for a number of reasons. Faced with ensuing financial and labor problems, Standard-Triumph was taken over by Leyland Motors in 1961. Shortly afterwards, Triumph withdrew their support for the Italia. Perhaps fearing increased competition, Triumph concentrated their efforts on the new TR4 to be released in 1962. The TR4, also designed by Michelotti, clearly borrowed many elements from the Italia - the distinctive bonnet bulge, kick-up door with wind-up windows, and roomier modern body design.
Despite Triumph's pull out, Ruffino S.p.A. re-badged the car as the Italia 2000 and continued production. Over a three-year production period (mid-1959 to mid-1962) Vignale produced approximately 329 cars. Most were left-hand drive with the probable exception of six cars. The last run of roughly 35 cars were based on the modified TR3B chassis rather that the TR3A, and benefited from the improved gearbox that had been developed for the TR4.
Most Italia sales in America were handled by Stutz Plaisted Imports (Salem, Massachusetts). Even though production at Vignale came to a close in 1962, some of the last cars remained unsold until 1965. Slow sales can be attributed to the expensive $5,000 price tag ($1,000 premium over the TR3) and since body parts were not stocked outside Italy, buyers were required to sign a release form of acknowledgment.

Sent from my iPad

[Bristolian]

I'm gonna take a wild guess. It looks early 60s so... Is it a restyled TR3?

[Bristolian]

Sorry... Should have checked the last post

[Billy Joe I]

I was always saddened that Triumph went the way they did. I guess though they weren't alone. They had some very good looking cars and I remember the 150bhp TR6 was no slouch! The TR7 was the one I blame for killing the company as anyone who thinks it's acceptable to design a successor to previous TR's after a block of cheese must be insane!

[Bristolian]

I was always saddened that Triumph went the way they did. I guess though they weren't alone. They had some very good looking cars and I remember the 150bhp TR6 was no slouch! The TR7 was the one I blame for killing the company as anyone who thinks it's acceptable to design a successor to previous TR's after a block of cheese must be insane!

I actually think that the block of cheese has more design flair

[Dannie Boy]

I was always saddened that Triumph went the way they did. I guess though they weren't alone. They had some very good looking cars and I remember the 150bhp TR6 was no slouch! The TR7 was the one I blame for killing the company as anyone who thinks it's acceptable to design a successor to previous TR's after a block of cheese must be insane!

I actually think that the block of cheese has more design flair

Couldn't agree more although my favourite was the TR5 which had the same 6 cylinder engine as the TR6 but for me, was better looking. How I would love one of them now

[Frank Hovis]

And the cheese wouldn't rust.

[STEVE G]

Incidentally, I looked up that crossed flag logo that appears on that Triumph Italia and some other Triumphs such as the Herald Vitesse and it's the nautical signal flags for S and V signifying Standard-Triumph and Vignale in Turin.