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The Triumph Vitesse was a compact 6-cylinder car built by Standard-Triumph from 1962–1971. The car was styled by Michelotti, and was available in saloon and convertible variants. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 943 KB) Summary A 1970 Triumph Vitesse Convertable, photographed at the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring, England. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 943 KB) Summary A 1970 Triumph Vitesse Convertable, photographed at the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring, England. ...
Automakers or automobile manufacturers are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ...
1933 Standard Ten. ...
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small–medium-sized four-door saloon car, made by Triumph under the British Leyland organisation. ...
A Toyota Camry, a recognizable sedan The Ford Five Hundred, a medium-sized sedan A sedan car, American English terminology (saloon in British English), is one of the most common body styles of the modern automobile. ...
Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof. ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Internal combustion engine. ...
The straight-6 (also inline 6, I-6, or I6) is an internal combustion engine with six cylinders aligned in a single row. ...
Image:Gearbox. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
1933 Standard Ten. ...
Giovanni Michelotti (1921-1980) was one of the most prolific designers of sports cars in the 20th century. ...
Vitesse 6
The Triumph Vitesse was introduced in April 1962, re-using a name previously used by the pre-WWII Triumph company from 1936-1938, and was an in-line 6-cylinder performance version of the Triumph Herald small saloon. The Herald had been introduced on 22nd April 1959 and was an attractive 2-door car styled by the Italian deigner Giovanni Michelotti. By the early 1960s, however, Triumph began to give thought to a sports saloon based on the Herald and using their 6-cylinder engine. Michelotti was again approached for styling, and he came up with a car that used almost all body panels from the Herald, combined with a new front end with a slanted 'Chinese Eye' 4-headlamp design. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company. ...
Triumph fitted a 1596 cc version of their traditional straight-6 in the Vitesse, equipped with twin Solex carburettors. The curious observer will notice a "seam" on the cylinder block between the third & fourth cylinders revealing the humble design beginnings from the 803 cc Standard 8 block of 1953. The gearbox was strengthened and offered with optional overdrive. Front disc brakes were standard as were larger rear brake drums, and the Herald fuel tank was enlarged, retaining the handy reserve tap of the smaller Herald. The front suspension featured uprated springs to cope with the extra weight of the new engine, but the rear suspension was basically standard Herald—a swing-axle transverse-leaf system which quickly proved inadequate for the relatively powerful Vitesse. The chassis was basically the same as the Herald, and the Vitesse was available in convertible and saloon forms; a coupé never got beyond the prototype stage. A handful of Vitesse estates also were assembled to special order at Standard-Triumph's Service Depot at Park Royal in West London. The straight-6 (also inline 6, I-6, or I6) is an internal combustion engine with six cylinders aligned in a single row. ...
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and powered bicycles. ...
The carburetor (or carburettor, carb for short) is a device which mixes air and fuel for an internal_combustion engine. ...
A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ...
Overdrive can refer to two different things, one of these things is a device, and the other is an idea. ...
On automobiles, disc brakes are located within the wheel The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. ...
A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against the inner surface of a rotating drum. ...
A swing axle suspension is a simple type of independent suspension used in automobiles. ...
Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof. ...
This article is about the type of car. ...
1995 Buick Riviera coupé 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a car body style with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for...
The interior was much improved over the Herald; wooden door cappings were added to match the wooden dashboard and the car featured better seats and door trims. Optional extras included a fabric, (Webasto), sunroof on saloon models. Exterior trim was also improved, with a reversing light, stainless steel side trim and anodised alloy bumper cappings (replacing the white rubber Herald design). The prospective buyer of a classic Vitesse will do well to check that the side flashes are full-length and continue around the radiator grille. Open sunroof in a Peugeot 206. ...
A year or so after the car's launch, the Vitesse received its first facelift; the dashboard was revised with a full range of instruments instead of the large single dial from the Herald, and the engine was uprated and fitted with twin Stromberg carburettors. Power output went up to 70 bhp, enough to provide a useful performance boost and making the car a much more flexible performer. Stromberg is the name of: Stromberg (television) - a German television series Stromberg (Hunsrück) - a town in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rheinland-Pfalz Stromberg (Westfalen) - a place in Oelde Stromberg (Landschaft) - a place in Baden-Württemberg This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists...
The carburetor (or carburettor, carb for short) is a device which mixes air and fuel for an internal_combustion engine. ...
The Vitesse 6 sold extremely well for Triumph, and was by some way the most popular Vitesse sold during the model's lifetime. The car was well-liked for its performance and reasonable fuel economy, as well as the well appointed interior. The Vitesse had few rivals for the price: able to perform as well as many sports cars, (it was advertised by Triumph as 'The Two Seater Beater'), but with room for a family. The convertible in particular was virtually unique in the marketplace and another genuine 4-seater sporting convertible would not reappear from a British manufacturer until the Triumph Stag several years further down the line. The Triumph Stag was a car sold between 1970 and 1978 by the British Triumph Motor Company. ...
Sports 6 The Vitesse 6 convertible was exported to the USA as the left-hand drive Triumph Sports 6, from 1962-1964, and was marketed as a "limited edition car", but due to its retail price only 679 were sold in the USA before it was withdrawn.
The Sports 6 was perhaps better suited to American highways than was the Herald, but it faced stiff price competition from cars such as Ford's new Mustang. The Vitesse Saloon was not officially imported to the U.S., although a few do come up as P.E.D. (Personal Export Delivery), cars usually imported by American service personnel.
Original U.S. price (POE East Coast) was as follows:
Sports 6 Convertible ($2499)
Vitesse 2-Litre In 1966 Triumph upgraded the engine to 1998 cc, in line with the new Triumph GT6 coupé, and relaunched the car as the Vitesse 2-Litre. Power was increased to 95 bhp, endowing the new car with a 0–60 mph time of around 13 s. The performance increase was welcome, but it highlighted the deficiencies of the rear suspension, also noted on the new GT6 and the Spitfire. There were detail modifications for the 2-litre, including a stronger gearbox and uprated brakes. 1968 Triumph GT6 1973 Triumph GT6 1974 Triumph GT6 The GT6 was a 6-cylinder sports coupé built by Standard-Triumph and based on their popular Triumph Spitfire convertible. ...
1968 Triumph GT6 1973 Triumph GT6 1974 Triumph GT6 The GT6 was a 6-cylinder sports coupé built by Standard-Triumph and based on their popular Triumph Spitfire convertible. ...
1971 Triumph Spitfire MKIV The Triumph Spitfire was a small British two-seat sportcar, introduced in 1962. ...
Vitesse MK2 The Vitesse MK2 was launched in 1968 as the final update to the Vitesse range. Essentially intended to be Triumph's answer to growing criticism of the rear suspension, the MK2 was fitted with a completely redesigned layout using Rotoflex rear couplings. This system, also shared with the new GT6 MKII,(GT6+ in the USA market), tamed the wayward handling for good and endowed the Vitesse with firm, progressive roadholding.
There were other improvements: the engine was tweaked once more to provide 104 bhp, cutting the 0–60 time to just over 11 s and providing a top speed easily in excess of 100 mph. The exterior featured a new grille, Rostyle wheeltrims and silver painted rear panel, and the interior was upgraded once more in order to share parts with the new Herald 13/60. A new colour range was offered for the MK2 models. Rostyle wheels are a particular design of wheels for cars made by the British firm of Rubery Owen, a diversified industrial company which made many car parts. ...
This was the ultimate Vitesse, a saloon or convertible with performance easily superior to an MGB or Sunbeam Alpine sports car but with four proper seats and a large boot. The Vitesse sold well until its withdrawal in 1971, a year before the new Triumph Dolomite saloon entered the performance luxury sector for Triumph, and two years before the Dolomite Sprint variant added another high-performance sports saloon to the range. The word MGB has several different meanings: MGB (USSR) was a predecessor of the KGB (secret police). ...
1964 Sunbeam Alpine IV The Alpine was a sporty coupe from Rootes Sunbeam marque. ...
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small–medium-sized four-door saloon car, made by Triumph under the British Leyland organisation. ...
Production Figures - Vitesse 6 (1600): 31,261
- saloon: 22,814
- convertible: 8,447, includes 679 Sports 6 (USA)
- Vitesse 2-Litre: 10,830
- saloon: 7,328
- convertible: 3,502
- Vitesse MK2: 9,121
- saloon: 5,649
- convertible: 3,472
The Vitesse today Today, the Triumph Vitesse is a sought-after car by enthusiasts; parts supply is excellent, and the cars have a reputation for near bullet-proof mechanics. The Vitesse 6—especially the early Solex-carburettored version—has been somewhat forgotten, and these cars are now becoming scarce. Most popular are the MK.2 cars for their power and handling, and convertibles in particular continue to be in high demand. Survival rate of the MK.2, especially the convertible, is surprisingly high and could help explain the relatively low number of older, especially Vitesse 6 saloons, remaining - Sadly these lower powered cars have tended to be broken for spares to keep the 2-Litres & Mk.2's on the road. Club support is excellent, and the Vitesse represents a practical and desirable performance 4-seater.
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