Lot Ended
Description
Only 47,700
miles from new; large and interesting history file; believed one of fewer than
100 surviving and only nine with the automatic gearbox; nice original
number plate; lots to like about this one
Designed by the prolific
Giovanni Michelotti, the Triumph 2000 was launched in October 1963 to replace
the aging Standard Vanguard and compete directly with the revolutionary Rover
P6.
The crisp styling had elegant, sharp-edged lines with a distinctive
peaked nose and quad headlamps, giving it modern Italianate looks perfectly in
tune with the fashionable Swinging Sixties. The interior was pleasingly
luxurious for its price point, with a walnut dashboard, plush carpeting,
optional leather upholstery and glittering chrome rimmed instruments set against
a ribbed aluminium pod that could have come straight from a Riva speedboat.
While the rival Rover P6 made do with a four-cylinder engine, the
Triumph offered a 90bhp 2.0 straight-six, providing the smooth power delivery
that became the car’s signature, with a 95mph top speed. The ride was equally
smooth thanks to fully independent rear suspension using semi-trailing arms and
coil springs.
The MkI remained in production until 1969 when it was
succeeded by the rather ‘plain Jane’ MkII which was altogether less flamboyant.
Just over 9,000 were produced in total but it seems that only around 90 still
survive today, only around nine of them with automatic transmission, making the
car you see here a rare beast indeed.
The Heritage Certificate shows
that this Triumph 2000 Automatic left the factory in July 1964 finished in Gun
Metal with a Midnight Blue interior and was sold new via Rossleigh Ltd of
Dundee.
The first owner was a Lady Winifred of Scotland who kept the car
for over 25 years and was driven around in it by her chauffeur, according to
notes on file. A friend of the chauffeur, Mrs Monica Clark of Arbroath, bought
the car in 1990 by which time it had covered 40,300 miles and was to keep it for
the next 21 years, only adding another 3,500 miles to the odometer, as shown by
old MOTs on file.
It has had seven further owners since 2011 (nine in
total), and there are many invoices to show regular upkeep over the last 20
years. It never seems to have needed much other than routine service items,
noteworthy recent parts including new rear springs and shock absorbers in 2021.
All the MOTs from 2014 onwards record no advisories, the sign of a well-kept
car.
A member of the Triumph 2000 Register, our vendor acquired the car
in August 2024 and has continued to look after it well, including having the
carbs rebuilt, fitting a new alternator and a new kick-down
cable.
Affectionately known as Freddy (in honour of her first owner, Lady
Winifred), this extremely rare Triumph 2000 Automatic appears to be in very good
shape for a lady her age and the 47,699 miles on the clock is the genuine
distance covered from new.
She comes with a large and interesting history
file, including handbooks, period sales brochures and road tests, plus an
assortment of workshop manuals and books on the model to assist in keeping her
in good shape for the next 60 years and more.
Starting promptly and
running nicely on site, the icing on the cake is the original (transferable)
Dundee-issue number plate, RYJ 973, which doubtless has a value of its
own.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
james.dennison@brightwells.com