Triumph 1300

gfwd

Hello,

There's a Triumph 1300 I once owned parked up in Inchicore and it hasn't moved in quite a while. I know the guy who owns it comes on here now and again (think his name is Cormac). I saw it about 10 months ago and it looked then like it hadn't moved for a while and a friend saw it again last week and it's still in the same spot.

If he's reading this, just curious to know if it's completely knackered or are there any plans to get it back on the road. I wouldn't mind having it back if I could find somewhere to put it!!

carchaeologist

A friend of mine has one of these, they are extremly well finished cars for their size.Interesting the way the ring gear for the starter is at the front of the engine.Wernt all the 1300s front wheel drive and the rear wheel drive ones were the toledo and the dolomite?

nmacc

These were nice cars;
I had two of the 1500 version. This was the posh version of the 1300 with twin 5" headlamps. Very well finished with lots of wood, comfy leatherette seats and deep pile carpets. They had basically the same shell but with a few oddities:

The struts in the 1300 were about 1.5" shorter than the 1500; presumably on the basis that the longer suspension travel provided a better ride. There was a triangular fishplate on the subframe which could be swapped around depending on which strut you were fitting. I think the petrol tank in the 1300 may have been smaller also, but I wouldn't swear to it.

One of the tricks with these cars was to make sure that the rear engine mount was in good shape. It's a standard metal/rubber sandwich and the layers can separate with age. This isn't a problem when going forwards as the mount is under compression, but in reverse, particularly under load, the mount lifts off and the engine pivots around the side mounts.

This can look very strange to bystanders as the result is usually a loud bang accompanied by the bonnet jumping up at the rear and a large cloud of steam as the fan head-butts the radiator, wrecking both. The first time it happened to me I was stumped as, when I opened the bonnet I found a massive hole in the rad and half the blades missing from the fan, yet they were at least 2 inches apart!

Although front wheel drive they had a large transmission tunnel and a cavity under the rear that looked big enough for a back axle. Does anyone know if the same shell was used on the rear wheel drive Dolomites?

Regarding another post: I bought my last 1500 for £15. Two broken windows meant that it was completely full of water to the top of the sills; definitely deep enough to drown small children. After a little baling to get the level down enough to avoid electrocution, I drilled four 6mm holes in the floor - problem solved. As for rust proofing the holes, it was an old British car so those were the smallest "extra" holes in the entire car.

Niall

gfwd

I'm 99% certain the 1500 fwd and Dolomite shells were the same. The 1500 only lasted to '73 as far as I know and was replaced by the 1500TC, which was rear wheel drive. I bought one of those after I had the 1300 and it was a lovely car (I'd post a pic if I knew how!). Sold it to a fella in Longford in 2006 as I didn't have the space to keep it.

I love the Triumph marque and the saloons in particular. I hope it's not too long before I have one on the driveway again!

cormac_byrne

Yes it's FWD, Triumph's one and only, they re-engineered it to RWD for the Toledo / Dolomite versions.

Hi gfwd (sorry forgot your Name)

Currently it's got a problem with the Front Left suspension.
The lower suspension arm is about to part company from the fulcrum frame.

That was a common problem with those, which was fixed with a slightly modified fulcrum frame on the 1500.

I had replaced the right hand side with original 1300 parts, but when the left started to go, was unable to find parts, so got a 1500 set, think I need a different bush/ adapter to complete the repair (or 1500 lower suspension arm).

Since I got it have replaced both CV joints, all the bushes in the front suspension and had the brakes done.

Also replaced the heater valve (which emptied the radiator the first time I tried to turn on the heater!)

The heater still not working as the rad is probably full of radweld, main radiator has leaked a few times. Have spares for both, but not got around to installing them.

Still got the boxes of spares you gave me plus a new drivers side wing as the original has a few more dings / rust than when you sold it to me.

I'd like to put it back on the road, but renovating house / getting married / having baby have meant the 1300 hasn't been getting the attention it deserves.

If you do find a space then feel free to make an offer.
PM me if you want to call round.

Blue850

cormac_byrne wrote: »

Yes it's FWD, Triumph's one and only

Acclaim?....waits for 'Not a real Triumph response etc etc':D

cormac_byrne

Blue850 wrote: »

Acclaim?....waits for 'Not a real Triumph response etc etc':D

Errrr you may be correct, my experience is based on classic cars, I know nothing about modern Japanese cars.

Perhaps I should have said the only FWD 'designed' by Triumph.

gfwd

Hi Cormac, thanks for the response. Sounds like the car has caused you more than a few problems. I have to admit that I did sod all to it for the second year I had it but then again it was very reliable. I'm kind of in the same boat as you in so far as we now have a nipper charging around the house, enough to keep us both busy and classic ownership has taken a (hopefully) temporary back seat.

I'm having a nose around to see if I can find somewhere to store a car in my area and if I have any luck I'll drop you a line. I would like to try a Dolly 1850 next (Sprints are too expensive) but I am very fond of the old 1300 so that might have to be the first choice. With any luck you'll have it back on the road soon anyway! Like I say, I'll get in touch if I find something.

Gary