Saloons
6-Cylinder Saloons –
The Triumph 2000/2500 series was launched in 1963 with the 2000 (Mk1) which offered comfortable accommodation with a good level of trim, and with a large boot capacity, was an excellent car for a family size saloon. To complement the saloon, the estate version was launched in 1965.
Power came from the Triumph straight six engine using a pair of Zenith Stromberg carburettors. A more powerful 2.5 PI version of the car was introduced in 1968 equipped with Lucas fuel injection, increasing the power from 91 bhp (68 kW) to 132 bhp (99 kW). Torque was also increased to 153lb.ft. but of equal importance was its peak arriving at a much lower 2000 rpm.
In October 1969 the Mk 2 was introduced in which the twin headlight pods of the Mk1 were superceded by the ‘full width’ styling of the Mk2. The vertically aligned rear lights of the Mk1 were also replaced with horizontal units on the Mk2. Later model estates however retained the rear styling of the Mk1.
Other variants in the range were the 2000TC, 2500TC, and the 2500S (in Europe) which featured small changes to the previous models. Overdrive was offered as an option across the range – early cars used the A-type and later models the J-type. Automatic transmission was also an available option.
Summary of cars produced:
2000 Mk1 Saloon
Produced from: 1963 to 1969
Total built: 108 210
Assembled in South Africa from 1964 – 1969
2000 Mk1 Estate
Produced from: 1965 to 1969
Total built: 7032
2.5 PI Mk1 Saloon
Produced from: 1968 to 1969
Total built: 6519
2.5 PI Mk1 Estate
Produced from: 1968 to 1969
Total built: 223
2000 Mk2 Saloon / Estate
Produced from: 1969 to 1977
Total built: 104580
Assembled in South Africa from 1969 – 1973
2000 TC Saloon / Estate
Produced from: 1975 to 1977
2.5 PI Mk2 Saloon
Produced from: 1969 to 1975
Total built: 45492
Assembled in South Africa from 1971 – 1974
2.5 PI Mk2 Estate
Produced from: 1969 to 1975
Total built: 4250
2500 TC Saloon
Produced from: 1974 to 1977
Total built: 31819
Built in South Africa as the “Triumph Chicane” from 1973 – 1976
2500 TC Estate
Produced from: 1974 to 1977
Total built: 673
2500 S Saloon
Produced from: 1975 to 1977
Total built: 5933
Built in South Africa as the “Triumph Chicane Mk 2” from 1976 – 1978
2500 S Estate
Produced from: 1975 to 1977
Total built: 2231
4-Cylinder Saloons –
The lighter Triumph Saloons include the 2-door Toledo (1300cc), the 1300 and 1500 front-wheel drive saloons produced between 1965 and 1972, as well as the Dolomite Saloon (1854cc).
The very fast Dolomite Sprint featured a single-cam 16-valve motor when multi-valve engines were a novelty in 1973. Only the Triumph 1500 FWD was available on the local market between 1968 and 1971.
