As a car manufacturer, Triumph have been responsible for creating some high-quality machines, such as the Spitfire and Herald. Another popular model was the Triumph Vitesse because of its performance and design. It was created by legendary Italian developer Giovanni Michelotti. We’re looking into the history of the Vitesse in order to get a better understanding of its story.
Origins
The Vitesse was developed to be a performance version of the Herald small saloon. Michelotti incorporated a 1596 cc straight-6 engine, smooth front suspension, enlarged fuel tank and sleek body. The exterior came with stainless steel trim and satin-silver anodised alloy bumper cappings. Compared to the Herald, the interior was much proved, featuring wooden door cappings and a wooden dashboard.
The original version debuted in 1962, being billed as the Vitesse 6. It sold extremely well because of its versatility and practicality. The Vitesse could perform as well as any sports car, while being big enough for a family. It had a reasonable price and acted as a unique car in the marketplace. The Vitesse was a realistic four seat sporting convertible and another British one didn’t appear until the Triumph Stag.
Other versions
The 6 was exported to the US as the Triumph Sports 6. Marketed as a ‘limited edition car,’ the Sports 6 drove well on American roads. The Vitesse received an upgrade in 1966, gaining a 1998 cc engine. The Vitesse 2-litre as it became known experienced an increase in performance, thanks to the extra power.
The final version, the Vitesse Mark II, came out in 1968. The layout was redesigned to include new lower wishbones and Rotoflex half-shaft couplings. An engine update provided 104 bhp. Overall, the Mark II had a better handling than any of the previous versions.
Vitesse production carried on until 1971, with a high number being sold. Its replacement was the Triumph Dolomite, yet the Vitesse proved to be more reliable because of the design.
Today, the Vitesse is still popular among classic car enthusiasts. It’s reputation for having ‘bullet-proof’ mechanics has added to its prestige.
