Car Trivia

[Rob B]

Tycoon = 2498cc Triumph Straight Six Engine

Clipper = Used a variety of V8 Engines, Mostly Ford 289 engines in either 4727cc or 4950cc. One or possibly more Clippers utilised the Chrysler 5562cc V8.

Venturer = Used the Ford "Essex" V6.

Trident models were originally built onto an Austin Healy 3000 Cruciform type chassis but this was replaced by the TR6 Chassis from 1967 onwards.

[TedTaylor]

Forgot to make the point that Jonathan was nearly there, however because there were different engine capacities for the Ford engines (Essex and Windsor) I need the precise one of each that was fitted. Google 'Ford Windsor' and you'll see what I mean!

Also don't forget that there is a Trident Owners Club ............

Ted

[TedTaylor]

Nearly there

Tycoon correct.
Clipper. Which size Ford engine (only one was used)? While only a 'bonus' to my question, anyone sussed out the special affix - it may help with the engine capacity.
It was the Chrysler 360 but I will allow the Imperial measurement (generous/painful arn't I).

Venturer Which size Essex engine? I thought this was going to be the easiest!!!

[Rob B]

Nearly there

Tycoon correct.
Clipper. Which size Ford engine (only one was used)? While only a 'bonus' to my question, anyone sussed out the special affix - it may help with the engine capacity.
It was the Chrysler 360 but I will allow the Imperial measurement (generous/painful arn't I).

Venturer Which size Essex engine? I thought this was going to be the easiest!!!

No site i can find says what size Essex engine but i presume it was the 3.0

Every site ive found except the Owners club says that 2 sizes of Ford V8 were used. But then i guess they would know as the experts wouldnt they. Its listed on their as the Ford 289

[Jonathan Lewis]

Nearly there

Tycoon correct.
Clipper. Which size Ford engine (only one was used)? While only a 'bonus' to my question, anyone sussed out the special affix - it may help with the engine capacity.
It was the Chrysler 360 but I will allow the Imperial measurement (generous/painful arn't I).

Venturer Which size Essex engine? I thought this was going to be the easiest!!!

For the Venturer, I believe the 'Essex' engine used was the 3 litre version.

For the Clipper, my information also indicates the 289 cid (4.7 litre) version of the 'Windsor', but remember that this engine was being phased-out of production during the later 1960s in favour of the larger-capacity 302 (5 litre). Unless Chrysler engines were used for all later production (and various sources seem to disagree on whether the Chrysler fitment was a one-off or used over a period of years), then I'd guess that at least some of the later Clippers must have been 302s. Tends to agree with what Huff has already said...

All too complex for me!

[TedTaylor]

Rod you are the winner.

Problem with the web sites mentioning the Trident is that amazingly there is a lot of incorrect info out there and I have only just realised this (sorry) - hence Jonathan's confusion. The Trident Club site is the one to rely on (if not 100% complete). Book references are generally quite accurate.

I suppose that there was no specific reference to the 3.0l Essex engine because at that time all the limited production car manufacurers using this engine invariably opted for the 3.0l over the 2.5l on performance grounds and it was assumed this was being used.

A batch of 289 engines was acquired when production first started ...... the foundation of the Trident Car Company was a bit dubious and would take time to explain. The (bonus) version of the engine that I was after was the HiPo - a highly desirable upgrade and probably the reason for the premature demise of many Clippers (along with the dubious build quality) as the engines were nicked for other cars (e.g. Cobras). The HiPo engine was worth at least double a standard 289. Jonathan is correct about the phasing out of the 289 and the introduction of the 305 - by the time the original batch of engines (bought in about 1965) was used up the 305 would have been the replacement and the factory would probably not have been able to afford them.

The Chrysler engine fitment was a sort of production car but one was only ever made. The engine really filled the engine bay and there were a few other upgrades (like a naff poorly designed opening rear window). If the car had gone into production how the thing would have handled with all that weight and power in the (poorly) extended TR6 chassis I hate to think

The Tycoon was interesting but it suffered from lack of development. The engine was in the normal place but the chassis was extended in the middle (by 6ins if I remember correctly) so the handling was compromised. I remember bombing up to a roundabout that I could throw my Venturer around easily but the Tycoon simply wanted to go straight on Once I readjusted to the handling it was not too bad.

Over to you Rob

[Rob B]

Name 3 TV Shows that feature(d) a Triumph Car.

There are more than 3 to choose from

[Allen Walker]

The Professionals
The New Avengers
New Tricks

[Charles H]

Avengers TR7, Professionals White Dolly Sprint, Bergerac Triumph Roadster, Sweeney dark blue 2000, Life on Mars GT6 Mk3 and blue 2000 with modified bonnet for the 2.6 ohc engine!

[Jonathan Lewis]

The Sweeney - in addition to the dark blue 2500 police car mentioned by Charles, also 'unmarked' examples of Mk1 2000, Mk2 2000 and Mk2 PI, three or more Stags in various episodes (one being one of the RVC-H-registered ex-press launch cars), a Dolomite Sprint, Spitfire MkIV/1500 and probably others...

Rising Damp - a rather sad Spitfire in one episode

Life on Mars - a green Toledo and also a dark blue 2000 Mk2 used as wedding transport

Ashes to Ashes - various later Dolomites, and a dark blue Mk2 saloon featuring in the background at various times

Also, a Mk2 PI featured prominently in the title shots of an ATV series from the early/mid-1970s entitled "Thriller" (?). Can't remember any of the plots/content, but do remember the Triumph in the titles...!