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Triumph 2000 MK2
To set the scene for you contextually, the Triumph 2000 came to market in the autumn of 1963, the P6, a key homegrown rival had been released the week prior and the automotive world was abuzz with these fantastic new mid-sized motors.
The car was styled by michelotti, which is a name you’ll have heard many times if you’re a fan of Triumph and was available in the UK, where it was made in Coventry, and across the world in commonwealth locations like Australia and New Zealand alongside countries where Triumph proved to be popular like Belgium.
Sales of the MK1 were high - the car was popular with many buyers if for no other reason, than at first, the key competitor P6 had been launched with a 4 cylinder engine against the 6 cylinder offered by Triumph.
With sales high and the public perception strong, Triumph decided to bring the MK2 to market; but they learnt a valuable lesson from the Vanguard. The Vanguard, like the 2000, had been a popular motor, but resting on laurels and letting the car run without intervention of modern tweaks had meant it had hit end of production looking tired and lacklustre; which not only impacted the vehicle’s reputation but that of Triumph.
The only issue was this: in 1968, British Leyland was born. This now meant the once completely separate rival P6 was now sitting under the same roof as the 2000. This meant sales would cannibalise and there was reticence in spending too much to take the MK2 to where it needed to go.
So what did they do? Well, they took the learnings from the Stag and applied it to the 2000 MK2, which really impacted how it looked through to how it was all modernised for the next generation. If you’re wondering what they changed for the MK2, the upgrades included:
- Bigger disc brakes
- Bigger servo
- Wider track and wheel trims
- New fascia
- New adjustable steering column
- Dipping mirror
- Redesigned seats
- Alternator
- Luggage space - 15 cubic feet of space
- Fully recline seats
- Breathable vinyl or brushed nylon interior
- New rotary light switch
- Everything falls naturally to hand or eye
- Fully automatic, manual or manual with overdrive
- Raised the compression ratio for livelier acceleration and more power
- 34 ft turning circle 4 turns lock to lock
- 100mph top speed condition dependent
- 0-60 13.6 seconds
- Oh and if you’re wondering if that lock you’ve spotted on the front wing is some sort of optional extra, it’s not, it’s a period alarm somebody fitted many moons ago
Of the 2000, 2 litre, we’re testing today; the market entry car, there were just over 100,000 made between 1969 and 1977.
The car did well and it was highly thought of across the globe, even in New Zealand where the prime minister of the time owned and drove a 2500s. The car’s also entered the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup rally - placing 2nd and 4th.
They might’ve had their problems occasionally, but the 2000 was a great car and who knows what might’ve been if Triumph and Rover hadn’t been forced into the same box by the creation of British Leyland.
As it stands, Rover won on paper, as the car which came into replace this within the BL line up was the SD1. A lovely car, but not quite the special car which is the Triumph 2000.