Random # 302: Triumph 2500 Mk II S

The Triumph 2500 Mk II is an elegant, quintessentially British car produced between 1969 and 1977. And yet it's sort of not.

It is British, having been built by the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry, England. However, it was actually designed by Italian Giovanni Michelotti - as was the Triumph 2000 that preceded it, plus a number of other TMC offerings of the era, including the Herald, Spitfire, GT6, TR4, Dolomite and Stag - elevating its style above that of many of its contemporary British competitors' stodgy offerings.

It was also quite an advanced car for its time, featuring coil-sprung independent suspension on all corners, although it still ran with a front disc, rear drum brake set-up. There was also an early PI - standing for petrol injection - variant, but that option was dropped in favour of the twin Stromberg carby configuration that already served the rest of the lineup well. An optional overdrive (on 3rd and 4th?) was available, too. The example shown here - captured by sometime UMPH correspondent GlamRock - is fitted with 14" factory alloy wheels which, again, was rather upmarket for its era.

It's been a long, long time since I've seen the interior of a 2500 but my memories are all positive. I distinctly remember being impressed by the judicious use of timber panelling on the door tops and other areas, the classy sports-style steering wheel, gentlemen's club opulence of the seating and panoramic views afforded by the large windows. I can't imagine that a well-sorted 2500 would be anything other than a beautiful tourer to this day.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Photos by GlamRock.

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Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

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