Triumph Acclaim - A New Era (1982 HLS Road Test)

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Күн бұрын

The Triumph Acclaim represented the start of British Leyland’s new era, partnered with Honda. Some dismiss Triumph’s last car, but Joe reckons it’s a significant and loveable classic.
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Пікірлер: 65

@thurstonhowell3569 Жыл бұрын

Loving those Alan Partridge esk gloves!

@lloydvehicleconsulting 3 жыл бұрын

Now that, Mr Miller, is a decent car!

@paulscott1105 Ай бұрын

My Dad bought a brand new Triumph Acclaim HLS in champagne in 1982 reg no VTA 809X from County Motors Barnstaple, I learnt to drive in it, I remember he had a sunroof fitted that popped out and went in a bag in the boot, I really liked driving it, sadly it got written off when a car pulled out of a junction right in front of me, fortunately the police were driving behind me and witnessed what happened, I’ve still got the ignition key hanging up in my workshop 👍 Paul

@peteiswriteingnow Жыл бұрын

I had a used one of these 84 to 86 in red top of the range CD model, nice car to drive did a lot of miles in 2 years never let me down, just like a Honda so reliable.

@Parknest 3 жыл бұрын

The Acclaim was uber reliable and literally saved BL. I've had 5 of these cars from 2005-2013 I've also got a the blue Corgi model which has steerable front wheels. I met Simon back in August 2008 when he did a photoshoot with one of my Acclaims (a low mileage Zircon Blue CD Triomatic - A865 MCX). Simon, if you're reading this I hope you remember me. I had my partner's grandson with me at the time of the photoshoot. The only Triumph I have now is my 1972 Dolomite 1850 auto.

@hondatrix 3 жыл бұрын

Best Triumph ever!!

@leonshackleford9585 7 ай бұрын

I love ❤Triumph Acclaim Cars my Daddy had an 1983 HLS X Reg One in Beige years Ago & My Daddy’s Friend owned a Red Triumph Acclaim HLS 40 Years Ago in the Late Mid 80’s to the Early 90’s Which my Daddy Borrowed the Red One when his White Sherpa Van Packed Up on the Starter Motor / Alternator / Battery

@robertngreen6 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely little car, could happily drive one of these around nowadays!

@simonp7095 Жыл бұрын

My dad's car for 17 years , very good car , I miss it

@RoderickSpoke 3 жыл бұрын

Learned to drive in one, loved it. Great memories.

@MrVinylista 2 жыл бұрын

What this video doesn't mention is that the Acclaim was very advanced for a small car launched in 1981. The sweet revving 70BHP 1.3 engine put out almost the same power as a Ford Cortina's 1.6, thanks to its high tech design and twin Keihin carburettors. Twin carbs were what sports cars had, back then! The electrical system was impressive too, for a British car. Nothing else had the option of air-conditioning, headlamp washers, electric windows, headlamp levelling, etc. The high end ones had a ski hatch - very unusual for back then. Basically, the Acclaim was a kind of BL 3-series, a small luxury saloon that was sporty and well equipped, with big car features. Its Honda DNA meant bullet-proof reliability and of course a super engine and gearbox, and sharp road manners.

@saunlloyd1475 3 жыл бұрын

Oh how I pointed and laugh at an old school teacher for having one. Fast forward 27years later and I'm giving it the thumbs up 🤨

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

They all come full circle in the end ;)

@OdykKayne 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! I still find it weird whenever I see a picture of one and hear somebody call it a Triumph...I'm used to only the old Honda Civic/Prelude versions over here in Canada!

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

It’s commonly called a rebadged Honda in the UK, but whereas Acclaims survive reasonably, Ballades are practically extinct!

@johnmarsh2078 2 жыл бұрын

My father had an 1850 Dolly Auto in 1984 which was hit and repaired. His courtesy car was an Acclaim manual, which he couldn't drive so for a while I was his chauffeur. The Acclaim was no looker and the interior was low rent compared with the wood and Bri-nylon Dolly. 100 yards of the first drive and I was a convert. Super smooth all alloy engine as distinct from the gruff and fragile 1850 (new water pump, jackshaft and head gasket at 50,000 miles), light slick gearchange and the steering .... wow. Two SD3s followed for my old fellah and currently I have an R8 416 tourer. Great cars.

@jozg44 3 жыл бұрын

I said (after a day spent driving this very car several years ago...) that if you had no idea of the Acclaim's origins (or if BL had kept its deal with Honda a classified secret!), it serves perfectly as a successor to the Dolomite 1300/Toledo - a small saloon with conventional engineering, not exactly sporty but well-fettled, an emphasis on refinement and comfort, well-equipped and a bit of snob-appeal. It even looks like a facelifted Toledo. The only real giveaways are that even under Triumph's alterations to the springing it still has the unmistakeably Honda short-travel suspension and that EN engine which was nothing like any British car maker had ever conceived, let alone made, in the past. But none the less it's like a glimpse into a "what if Triumph had actually been competently run and properly funded since 1945" alternative universe. You could see them making something exactly like the Acclaim. The fact that that was never going to happen in reality is why they needed the tie-up with Honda, just as Honda needed BL to teach them about suspension that could be both comfortable and grippy and interiors that were more than just bits of plastic to hide the wiring and heater tubes.

@silvereith 3 жыл бұрын

In the mid 80s my father had a Dolomite 1850 Automatic which was damaged in an accident. He was lent a courtesy car, an Acclaim. It was a manual so he had me drive him everywhere. What a revellation! Super smooth revvy motor, buttery gearchange and the steering!! It went round corners twice as fast as the Dolly and rode better too. But it didn't have the Dolly's good looks and interior. Dad's next car was a Rover 200 (SD3) on my recommendation. We didn't regret it. I've just bought a 1995 Rover 416 Tourer. Must be a disease.

@damianleah6744 2 жыл бұрын

I had one of these in late 80s same colour etc, nice drive

@brianknowles1727 3 жыл бұрын

I bought a brand new rover 216 SE in August 1985 great car fantastic fuel economy not one fault all of my ownership.

@simonhodgetts6530 3 жыл бұрын

Nice review Mr Miller!

@IM-ei5rb Жыл бұрын

Brilliant car

@rjft7003 Жыл бұрын

The Acclaim was selling well in Portugal too. It was the 1st car I've seen (and touched) with electrical windows and central locking. My neighbour had one in HLS specification.

@matthewgodwin3050 3 жыл бұрын

I've just been accepted into the Classic Car Loan Scheme and will be borrowing a Triumph Acclaim for a whole year. Can't wait to get stuck in, and experience the very last Triumph for the first time.

@RideCamVids Жыл бұрын

The Acclaim was a very well done deluxe version of the Civic.

@piledriverpotter9847 Ай бұрын

If Keeping Up Appearances and One Foot In The Grave were around in the early 80s this is the car Richard Bouquet and Victor Meldrew would have driven.

@lewis72 3 жыл бұрын

I _think_ that this car was meant to try and bridge the gap between Dolomite/Allegro and the Maestro although the line up was all over the place really. Ford's line up was clear and easy to understand: Fiesta, Escort, Cortina/Sierra, Granada. If you view the Acclaim as an '80s FWD Triumph 1300, then I think it's an excellent car. The CD spec was very high spec; I don't think an Orion Ghia got close. Probably should have had a hatch option though as the Mk3 Escort was in full swing by then.

@SirCrouch1 3 жыл бұрын

I bought one in December as my second ever car, just to use occasionally .. it immediately replaced my 2002 suzuki swift as my daily car!

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

A completely useable classic!

@paulhunter123 10 ай бұрын

i think it looks great

@ClassicsWorldUK 10 ай бұрын

Gotta love the 80s lines!

@chriswilson1853 3 жыл бұрын

I had a Y reg HLS trio-matic one of these in the late 1990s. It had only done 36000 miles as it had been my grandmother's from new. In retrospect, after driving other cars, I do think there was something wrong with mine because it was a scary car to drive. It understeered really badly and would lock the wheels very easily too. I do wonder whether it had the wrong springs or shocks fitted or something.

@Jameshoward999 3 жыл бұрын

Pretty good car :)

@markadams3261 2 жыл бұрын

I had a red HLS brilliant car from new , only problem was the dealer in Hitchin Mann Egerton after first service a vibration lifting of power, I was told to keep choke out, took it to Honda who found the problem in ten seconds, dealer left out all the screes holding the air filter box in place ! Never went again to to that dealer

@robtt997 3 жыл бұрын

I had one of these. An HL . Bought new and kept for quite a while. Totally reliable . In fact , to date, the most reliable car I have ever owned. Good to drive if a little lacking in grunt . Gearbox was good .

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

Small wonder it was so reliable!

@semiretired86 2 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicsWorldUK because it basically was based on a Civic

@yourgay3226 3 жыл бұрын

Great car and engine. Dad had one until it burnt down, in those days you would put a blanket on the engine overnight to keep the damp out well one morning he drove it 8 miles after forgotting it was there...

@andrebarbosa9244 3 жыл бұрын

I have one in Portugal!!!

@LonesomeTwin 4 ай бұрын

I had 3 of those in the 80's/90's. Buggers for head gaskets blowing and brakes a bit feeble, otherwise spotless. Engine sedate but just keeps pulling to 110. Give it A/C and electric windows and it could cut it today. Does anyone still make saloons?

@osherosher663 3 жыл бұрын

what about the 205?? can't wait for another video!! :)

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

It’ll be back in a few weeks ;)

@MRZ12000 3 жыл бұрын

After the demise of Triump cars in the 1980's only Volvo was the survivor until Jag Xtype Models

@trigsretromotors 3 жыл бұрын

I had a A reg HLS a few years back, whilst it's not a rememberable car it certainly wasn't a bad car too, like you say nippy and practical, a excellent daily driver but it does lack in interior space, especially for taller drivers.

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

I’d agree, not one for the taller gentleman! -Joe

@autojam3615 2 жыл бұрын

Nice little car but to small.

@CortinasAndClassics 3 жыл бұрын

I don't think it's a bad looking car at all.

@paulhardy2014 3 жыл бұрын

Loving the driving gloves 🤚🙂

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

Very appropriate for such a car, don’t you think?

@summerfarmestates 3 жыл бұрын

i used to run one of these as my daily driver

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

A superb car for the job!

@summerfarmestates 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicsWorldUK good mpg for an 80s car quiet and comfortable to drive

@fasthracing 2 жыл бұрын

Ummm are driving gloves making a come back? Interesting fact. Top of the range Acclaim was first mass produced car to have front electric windows!

@Mybwain 3 жыл бұрын

Is this car now for sale? I think its local if it is.

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

Yep, Simon has recently advertised the Acclaim!

@Mybwain 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicsWorldUK is the same car. Just see it now. Looks like a bargain too.

@paulhunter123 10 ай бұрын

Does this car have power steering

@ClassicsWorldUK 10 ай бұрын

It doesn't, but the steering is very light when you're moving!

@spainter1985 3 жыл бұрын

Great car available in some questionable colours! A neighbour used to have one in the 90's in metallic gold, it sure did know how to rust, as with most 70/80's Japanese cars.

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely! This one is perhaps one of the least rusty survivors

@danr1920 Жыл бұрын

In the '70's USA brand cars were terrible in the quality, reliability and workmanship. In about '81 Honda started making Accords in the USA. They were every bit as good as the Japanese cars.

@paullacey2999 2 жыл бұрын

BMW still owns the Triumph car brand.Wish theyd use it.....

@daddymulk 2 жыл бұрын

Broken Britain with its Broken Roads, In Holland the Motorways are so much better than UK, No Surprise Japan Roads are Nice also, I Bet older Japanese cars they Complain of Cabin Noise, Wouldn't be an issue with Roads like that, here its aweful. So it seems most issues, Noise, Hard Suspension and Rusted was all down to the Japanese didnt have all those issues there