Having had one of the best summers in years and looking forward to a settled autumn, what better way to enjoy it than in a convertible classic car!  It’s not surprising then that this month we look at a classic convertible, the Triumph Vitesse. 
 

Steve Douglas could rightly be called ‘Mr Triumph Vitesse’, with no less than three Vitesses parked in the garage and numerous partially dismantled cars stored in the shed at his rural property. He has been a Triumph enthusiast for some years and finds it hard to say no when people offer him cars which are not worth much but, as Steve said, “Just too good to wreck.” One of Steve’s cars, a bright red convertible, is the subject of this month’s article.

The Triumph Vitesse was based on the earlier Herald model and, in fact, shared this car’s chassis. The Herald was styled by Italian designer Giovani Michelotti and earlier car lines were carried over to the new car with the modified shape to the bonnet giving it a more solid, aggressive look. This was in keeping with an engine upgrade to a two litre, six cylinder for the Vitesse. The Vitesse was available in saloon and convertible versions.

What’s it like to drive?

The Triumph Vitesse was an old-fashioned design even for the 1960s when it was released with the body mounted on a separate chassis. The earlier design of the rear suspension made for tricky handling if the car was pushed too hard into corners, although that design was modified and improved in later models. However, ‘press-on’ sports car driving is not what this car is about. This is a pleasant little cruiser and with its six-cylinder engine and the optional overdrive it makes for a relaxing and enjoyable tourer.

What about keeping it running?

Despite the car being around 40 years old, most parts are still available and it is very straightforward to work on, being pretty much like a big Meccano set. The recommendation, as usual, is to seek advice from the appropriate car club with regards to fixing these cars – as there is always someone who will know about these cars, no matter what the questions!

In summary

So this ‘slice’ of 1960s automotive style is quite accessible and made for summer motoring.