Jump to content

1950s Early TRs in advertising campaigns 26 March


Recommended Posts

The other day, I discovered 1950s Standard Triumph full page ads in Motorsport, in Britain, so I decided to publish them here. Little did I know that Dan -- Longdoor2 -- had already done the same thing, in 2018, with all the North American campaigns, sharing his entire private collection of early TR2 ads. Needless to say, some of his prints are very rare. Then Iain was kind enough to tell me, so I have, of course, rewritten what is a small contribution to Dan's original thread, (which Iain has kindly added below).

Dan began by gathering practically all the early ads, up to the time his car was built, in May 1954. Some forty ads. He said:

Quote

They tell interesting stories about the strengths of the car, trumpeting the car's success of Jabbekke, how the various component manufacturers took advantage of that success, and how the US market was targeted, compared to the UK market.

He published them in relevant batches, roughly in chronological order, beginning with a rare one of 20TS.

He also pointed out the scope for yet another thread, with brochures, reviews, and road tests.

I had something similar in mind, publishing rally reports, featuring feisty TRs, which might be combined with an existing photographic thread I've started and just change its name. (Meanwhile, these photographs, which were done in a hurry, need proper cropping and a bit of tidying up. I'll also download an app to downsize them and see if I can get everything in.)

1219978204_49(1).thumb.jpg.ab1b879755b20dd0aac3d46f04efbec8.jpg

 

19-01.thumb.jpeg.d3bfc0bbf66e3e4ccf94a6f02abd3056.jpeg

S1470001-01.png.a48a85b5592855ab5fb05adf82b02c8f.png

■ The very same photo which appeared in Motorsport was airbrushed for the TR3 sales brochure. Thanks to Mike Strang for letting me take a picture of his mint edition.

24-3.thumb.jpg.ab1cb908370af30f2dc65e7c2dc0d848.jpg

8-3.thumb.jpg.54b942bb482b09e1d178015b4e32d520.jpg

21-1-01.thumb.jpeg.b306987101b4d3796a80b5ab8c9df306.jpeg

42-4.thumb.jpg.a10230da1b0a40ea46e2f89e7e7fc007.jpg

43.thumb.jpg.3f56a1f96273906db5f1e701fdd8d127.jpg

9-2.thumb.jpg.68fa485d2da5ceac378ce7a6873705b8.jpg

4-4.thumb.jpg.d4f58a8c1bd33a70b6b529fc5054c219.jpg

55-1.thumb.jpg.ee923b3eb37a657496c52f60142e510a.jpg

■ The Standard 8 had a bare-looking cowling closely related to its sportscar cousin, the TR2. Mine could keep going at 60mph on the motorway for ever, never overheating.

18-4.thumb.jpg.372112b298499b436e8c18ca4cea36a7.jpg

9-1.thumb.jpg.313a0c729cbb189c4aeffdf8c857cdf8.jpg

50.thumb.jpg.e7df7ab8af50acf3fc826b3122fb8dac.jpg

18-1.thumb.jpg.1f48d3ae2a68d670b305fb2f3529e5be.jpg

5.thumb.jpg.7c2215fc7a0d1b3aefe270ab5e71dc96.jpg

2.thumb.jpg.4353fb13d4bc612acaa412706eefa3b3.jpg

5-6.thumb.jpg.6be2ed973e9bedf6a9022d7198e7f183.jpg

2-8.thumb.jpg.2bd3d19a3c548e2ef9521132eee62f33.jpg

4-7.jpg

31-7.thumb.jpg.186a7746636487f53dc272fbe6e8ed98.jpg

23-7.jpg

13-6-01.thumb.jpeg.ef70d6a48444d0c4d02ff015db2ab439.jpeg

4-1_compress2.jpg

Edited by David Brancaleone
Additions
Link to post
Share on other sites

Great adverts David. Keep them coming. 
I notice a few of the TR3 ones are pushing the hard tops, was this standard (excuse the pun) or were they seasonal adverts ie winter?

H

Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Hamish said:

Great adverts David. Keep them coming. 
I notice a few of the TR3 ones are pushing the hard tops, was this standard (excuse the pun) or were they seasonal adverts ie winter?

H

Good point, Hamish!

My guess is their publicity dpt was trying to expand the appeal to GT class cars, based on influence from rallying. Not the die hards top down regardless, but the Smiths heater type...

I've a separate growing archive of motoring ads, these will be classified in clusters, ie. Lucas, always back page, 4 colour, if cover 4 colour, or 2 colour green and black.

Says a lot about the times, the visual culture, jokes, aspirations...

So far, I've done 1957 and 1956, 1952, 1953... come across some glorious rally reports too... maybe yet another thread?

Must say, Motorsport in early 1950s was divided between classic cars -- vintage -- and modern 1950s racing and rallying.

By comparison with today's classic car magazines, much better formula, much better journalism, and none of the Jeremy Clark laddism...

Just GENUINE MOTORING ENTHUSIASM and it shows in some of the layouts!

They wrote, they rallied, they laughed... [ smiling emoji HERE]

Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, iain said:

I think a thread along these lines was started by Dan (2long).some years ago. I’ll try to find it.

Iain

Great idea Iain! Copy it in here 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sure Ian Cornish will be along in a moment but I beleave the works rally team asked for a Hardtop option.

This would allow them to compete in the coupe class (instead of Sportscar ??)

Standard had to offer it as main stream, for homologation purposes

.......................but I could be wrong, its been a LONG day ^_^

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I’ve just realised that I have owned three of the cars on that page:

a healey 3000

an Alfa Romeo Guilin Spyder - same car but a 1570cc engine instead of the 1290cc of the Guilietta

and my current TR3a.  

Can anyone beat that?

Rgds Ian

Link to post
Share on other sites

The GT Kit was developed to allow the works Tr3 s of 56/57 to compete in the GT class as opposed to sports car class where K Richardson believed and was proven to be correct that they would have more chance of doing well.

The kit consisted of

Hardtop

 Exterior Door handles

Fixed sliding sidescreens. Not removable. 

All used on the Tr3 works cars. Then used on the Tr3a works cars of 58/59 including the fixed sidescreens. Clearly seen secured by  the 4 fixings that go through the lift the dot peg holes and are concealed by the chrome strip in this photo of my car in late 57. The observant will also not the odd position of the sliding sidescreen hand hold, half way up the screens edge.

 

 

T-019263-TriumphTR3AInParis.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites

Not exactly an advert for a TR, but nearly. Found this when we moved into our first house in 1980. It was under the carpet acting as underlay as was the practice then and of course I just could not throw it away.

Tim

21110572_TriumphCastrolsmall.thumb.jpg.c345c91f5dc370a620b113bb6fb10516.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Iain is quite correct in his description and Richardson's reason for fitting the hardtop.  Also provides some protection for the crew and, as I remember with my TR2, makes the car more rigid.

For 1962, Robson went for the fixed lid Surrey arrangement on the TR4s, which is even stronger - Healeys were using the hardtop, which is probably not quite as strong.  Roy Fidler tested the strength when he rolled 6VC on the 1963 RAC Rally, with he and Grimshaw being uninjured. 

BTW, roll bars were NOT permitted as they were viewed as a method of strengthening the car's structure rather than a safety feature - but seat belts were permitted and were fitted, and 4VC still has its original belts (and seats, too).

Ian Cornish

Link to post
Share on other sites
38 minutes ago, Tim T said:

Not exactly an advert for a TR, but nearly. Found this when we moved into our first house in 1980. It was under the carpet acting as underlay as was the practice then and of course I just could not throw it away.

Tim

21110572_TriumphCastrolsmall.thumb.jpg.c345c91f5dc370a620b113bb6fb10516.jpg

So you bought a house that had been owned by someone who read The People - shock horror.  :-)

Rgds Ian

PS Confession, My parents used to have the News of the World up until I was about 10 or 11.

Link to post
Share on other sites

No Ian, you misunderstood me. They put it on the floor and walked on it! Not sure they could read.

Tim

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Please familiarise yourself with our Terms and Conditions. By using this site, you agree to the following: Terms of Use.