Triumph Gloria

The Triumph Gloria is a range of cars produced by the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry, England, from 1933 to 1938.

History
Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and complex range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupés, tourers, 2-seater sports cars, drophead coupés and golfer's coupés. All these Glorias, apart from the final two models (1.5-Litre Saloon and Fourteen (1767 cc) Six-Light Saloon of 1937-1938) were powered by 1087 or 1232-cc four-cylinder or 1467 or 1991-cc six-cylinder Coventry Climax overhead inlet and side exhaust valve designed engines (modified and built under licence by Triumph).

The chassis came in two lengths, with an extra 8 in ahead of the passenger compartment depending on whether the four- or six-cylinder engine was fitted, and had conventional non-independent suspension with semi elliptic leaf springs. The brakes were hydraulically operated using the Lockheed system with large 12 in drums. A four-speed transmission was fitted with an optional free wheel mechanism allowing "clutchless" gear changing. Synchromesh was fitted to the gearbox on the final Fourteen and 1.5-litre models.

Base range
The first models in the Gloria range were a 9.53 hp (tax horsepower, 1087 cc) four-cylinder and a 12.95 hp six-cylinder model of 1467 cc, introduced in August 1933. After about 1,850 had been built, the four-cylinder's engine was increased to 1232 cc in August 1934, although the smaller engine continued to be installed in the Gloria Ten Saloon until July 1935. The six-cylinder engine was enlarged to 1991 cc at the same time.

Gloria Vitesse
From August 1934 to 1936 the Gloria range included "Gloria Vitesse" models (not to be confused with later Vitesses) which were up-rated, with twin carburettor engine and equipment, versions of the equivalent Gloria and slightly different bodywork in the case of some saloons.

Gloria Southern Cross
There was also from 1934 to 1937 an open two-seat sporting model, the Southern Cross, re-using the name previously applied to the sports version of the Triumph Super 9. This used a shortened chassis of 96 in for 1232 cc four-cylinder models and 104 in for the 1991 sixes.

Scale models and die-cast models
Lansdowne Models introduced a model of the 1935/6 Gloria Vitesse Sports Saloon in 2008.