If your first thought was “Looks sort of like a small Bentley” then you have the right idea. This is an exceedingly rare 1952 Triumph Renown, for sale here on craigslist and located about two hours from Los Angeles, California. After learning more about them, we’re honored to present this one to you, courtesy of reader Matt R.
Triumph motor company was founded in Coventry, England by Siegfried Bettmann, just before the turn of the 20th century. Fast-forward a few decades: Having survived two World Wars, they were ready to get back to business after the Second one, but Standard Motor Company had other plans! Fast-forward a few years more, and by 1949 Triumph was humming along. They introduced the “Razor Edge” styled Renown as part of their 1800/2000/Renown trio of offerings, the first cars to wear the Triumph badge after being acquired by Standard. They were hand-built, mostly from Aluminum due to the shortage of steel post-war, and while not impressive performance-wise (0-60 mph took 24 seconds and top speed around 75mph), they were rather stylish for the time. Fewer than 9,500 Renowns were built, between 1949 and 1952, and only 250 are known to have survived since then.
All that said, let’s look closer! We can see a car that has seen better days, but whoever has owned it has cared enough to keep it together this long. Everything about it would need some kind of attention to be pristine, but some would argue that its current condition reflects a certain “charm” or “character” that cannot be reproduced.
We’re told that it comes with multiple spare parts, including a not-yet-installed Overdrive unit, which is apparently a rare piece. We can also see that it comes with a backup crank-start handle – how neat is that?
Under the bonnet is a 2.1-liter inline-four, pushing about 60 horsepower through a three-speed manual gearbox and, if you could afford it, the Overdrive gear allowed 65mph cruising and high-teens fuel economy.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know very much about autos from “across the pond”, but the more I research and present these pieces of history to you, the more appreciation I have for them. I don’t know for sure whether this car is a Mark 1 or Mark 2, but I DO know that if it is as rare as my sources tell me, this is really one special find, and likely a superior deal at the asking price! So, what do YOU think of it? Let us know in the comments!
“two hours from LA” ? How fast do you drive?
Morgan Hill is just South of San Jose.
The end of his ad (and also the map) show that he lives in Tehachapi. I don’t know why it was posted as “Morgan Hill.”
It’s also posted in a suburb of Seattle. It’s a Craigslist play to get more exposure.
My original contact with the owner (several years ago) had him in Tehachapi, CA. Could be he has contact in the Seattle area (summer home)?
Nearly had my wife on board with this one last night. She balked at top speed due to her led foot.
Be sure to check out the video of this car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shmEkHD8RpE
The price is unreal to me for this car.
That is one classy little ride. Price is right too!
This one is the big brother to the Triumph Mayflower which was also known as a “razor edge” design.
Sorry, that should read big brother “of” the Triumph Mayflower.
William (Owner), Let me know when it sells and who gets it so we can update the “roster”. From pictures, looks to be priced about right.
To Matt, This is a stately car. You want to go slow so people can enjoy.
Dave
Saw a LHD one of these in Sacramento a few years ago.
LHD are VERY rare. Would love to get in touch with that owner.
I have a 52 Limo version of this car. Only a little over a dozen of those in the world. Five here in the US.
There’s another one been under a tarp along Highway 9 in Felton, CA for at least 20 years. I assume it’s a wreck, but it still exists.
That engine looks very similar to the TR4 engine, which in TR4A specs was a 114Hp (if memory serves) . I imagine most of that is from the carbs, exhaust and head. If the TR disks fit, this could be a usable car.
Nick, It’s the 2088cc precursor to the TR2/3/4 engine. Many parts are interchangeable. but this engine has a single Solex downdraft carburetor that severely limits the engine’s ability to breath. The specs on this car and the predecessor Triumph Roadster have a top speed of 77mph. I have the Limo version and it runs beautifully up to about 60 to 65mph, but is ungainly at the top end of that and not fun to drive. Many Renowns and Roadsters have converted to the TR2/3 drive train to improve driveability.
With the Laycock Overdrive unit(bolt on – other than a shorter driveshaft), there is also a drop in overbore kit(wet-sleeve tractor engine) from Moss Motors for right at $1000 complete. Then if you want to play, they offer an alloy TR-3 head for a little over $3000.(apparently they no longer offer the supercharger kit for the TR-3) but possibly a manifold could be fabricated to adapt their MGB kit.
Another British dawg.
Hard to value. Definitely not a Corgi ?
Maybe a grand ?
I have always Loved the overseas cars like…..
Hillman
Austin
Citron
Anglia
Prefect
Cortina
Hollman
and so on.
They have a ton or character in my opinion.
Hey if you want more zip the old Iron duke Chevy 4cly they can be made to fly and are reasonable also adaptable to many transmissions too.
Please leave the exterior alone just think of what has happened in this world since it was built amazing!!
SWEET Car!
I’ve been pretty busy, but, since the posting is now deleted, what was the price? Nice car!
I believe the requested price was $4900.
Triumph actually started out making motorcycles and tricycles. Their first car appeared in 1923. The cars were initially 4 cylinder models with an inline six introduced for 1932 and a 2-litre ohc inline eight for 1934. The Triumph motorcycle business was sold off in 1936.
Triumph cars began to get larger and front end styling on the late 1930’s Triumphs copied 1936-37 Terraplane and Hudson. Production, which was on a downhill slide, ended in 1939 when Britain went to war.
And that’s when Triumph when into receivership.
At the end of the war Standard acquired Triumph and developed the trio under discussion here. They all used the 1.8-litre 4 cylinder Standard engine, as did the 1½-litre Jaguar (which was actually the 1.8-litre Standard engine) The 2.1-litre four was also used in the Standard Vanguard.
Hard to believe the Triumph Renown and Standard Vanguard were designed and built by the same firm – at the same time.