Lot Ended
Description
Current
owner 11 years; body restored and repainted in 2012; engine work in 2005; a rare
and quirky classic in need of sympathetic renovation
Triumph
launched its curious Mayflower in 1949 in an ultimately misguided attempt to
crack the all-important American market. Billed as being an upmarket car at an
economy price, the coachwork was designed by Leslie Moore, chief designer at
Mulliner, who gave it fashionable ‘razor-edge’ styling as used on some of the
contemporary Bentley and Rolls-Royce bodies.
The imposing radiator also
had upscale pretensions as did the protruding rear luggage compartment, but
while these styling cues worked well on big limousines, they looked faintly
ridiculous on a compact saloon.
It used a version of the Standard Ten’s
38bhp 1,247cc side-valve engine, coupled to a three-speed gearbox with column
shift which gave it a top speed of around 60mph. Modern features included
hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension and the well-appointed
interior relied on traditional materials to continue the upmarket
feel.
The Mayflower's ‘upscale small car’ position did not find a ready
market and sales failed to meet Standard's expectations with only 200 sold in
its intended American market, although it did find 35,000 buyers elsewhere
before production came to an end in 1953.
First registered in Surrey in
February 1952, this Mayflower has been in the current ownership for the last 11
years but has been very lightly used in recent times, being mainly tucked away
in his workshop.
The history is a little sketchy but there are photos
dating from 2012 showing a body restoration and receipts for engine parts dated
around 2005 that would suggest an engine build may have been done around that
time.
As you can see in the photos, it is no show pony cosmetically but
it does look pleasingly solid and original and would be a good basis for a
sympathetic restoration.
Although we are told that it does run and
drive, it was trailered to the auction and appears to have a slight fuel leak so
we have not attempted to start it for ourselves.
For more infomation
please cpntact [email protected]