Triumph Mayflower
| Triumph Mayflower | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Standard Motor Company |
| Production | 1949–53 35,000 were made |
| Assembly |
Coventry, England Port Melbourne, Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door saloon 2-door drophead coupé 2-door coupé utility (Australia) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,247 cc straight-4 side-valve |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 84 in (2,100 mm) |
| Length | 156 in (4,000 mm) |
| Width | 62 in (1,600 mm) |
| Height | 60 in (1,500 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Standard 8/Triumph Herald |
The Triumph Mayflower is a British four-seat 1 1⁄4 litre small luxury car noted for its razor-edge styling. It was built by the Standard Motor Company and sold by Standard's subsidiary, The Triumph Motor Company (1945). It was announced at the October 1949 British International Motor Show, but deliveries did not commence until the middle of 1950. The Mayflower was manufactured from 1949 until 1953.
The Mayflower's "upscale small car" position did not find a ready market and sales did not meet Standard's expectations. Standard's next small car, the Standard Eight of 1953, was a basic 0.8-litre economy car.
The Mayflower used a version of the pre-war Standard Flying Ten'sside-valve engine updated by having an aluminium cylinder head and single Solex carburettor. The engine developed 38 bhp (28 kW) at 4200 rpm. The 3-speed gearbox, with column shift, came from the Standard Vanguard and had synchromesh on all the forward ratios. There was independent suspension at the front using coil springs and telescopic dampers, but a solid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, also based on the Vanguard's design, was at the rear. Lockheed hydraulic brakes were fitted.
The Mayflower was the first car with unitary construction to be manufactured either by Standard or by the Triumph company that existed before Standard bought its assets. The body was designed by Leslie Moore, chief body designer of Mulliners of Birmingham with input from Standard's Walter Belgrove. The body shells were built by Fisher and Ludlow at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.
The Mayflower had traditional "razor edge" styling similar to that of the Triumph Renown imitating the style then still used by Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars. Standard's managing director Sir John Black believed this would be especially appealing to the American market. One advantage of the car's upright styling was that it could seat four people in comfort despite its small size, although there were complaints about the rear seat being constrained by the rear axle and being too narrow as a result.
...
Wikipedia