Perfect TR tow vehicle or parts chaser...

[gac]

I was perusing fellow BCF member "Sherlock"'s photos on flicker when I came across this gem. Now I've seen the occasional Atlas van, but I did not know that they were badged as "Triumph" vans in N.America & this is the only one I've ever seen. Thought it was very cool! From what I understand it has never been restored, current owner has had it since 1969.

https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5055522399_9fd0046b6d_b.jpg

 

[Mickey Richaud]

MAN! That would be fun to have!

 

[Banjo]

Funky and cool! Where's mine?!hehehehe

 

[TRMark]

Same van with a friend, Bedford van. Photo taken at the English Car Affair In the Park (ECAIP) at Fort Rodd Hill near Victoria BC. Wife and I have made several trips to this car show. We trailer the TR4 to Anacortes and take the ferry. Great fun, lots of English cars you very rarely see in the States, well at least Montana.

 

[NikolausConrad]

It was rebadged as a Triumph for Canada and other North American Markets, probably because the Standard name was unheard-of at the time. It looks like a very unique van, I bet it's a blast =]

 

[70herald]

I don't think it would make much of a tow vehicle at least in stock form. It only had a 998cc engine and could barely get out of its own way, no less pull something else.

 

[HerronScott]

Pretty neat, but look at what a stretch job they did on the Triumph emblem!

Scott

 

[Andrew Mace]

I don't think it would make much of a tow vehicle at least in stock form. It only had a 998cc engine and could barely get out of its own way, no less pull something else.

Actually, it was 948cc, as per the Standard 10 and early Herald. However, those badged as Triumph in Canada were mostly variants of the slightly later Atlas Major, which used at least the Ensign (1670cc) version of the wet-liner engine or -- as with Ian's, I believe -- the 2088cc Vanguard version.

There is another van badged as Triumph that came out of Canada and currently resides in Indiana. The owner isn't sure if the original engine is/was the 1670cc or 2088cc version.

[Triumph Atlas van]

There were at least two earlier Triumph-badged Atlases, one each van and pickup, and some undetermined number of others seem to have existed at one time.

Follow the "Triumph Atlas" links on my web site below to see more pictures of both Atlases!

 

[TR3TR6]

Mark:

When do they usually have the car show near Victoria?

 

[TRMark]

In September. You can check it out here . Weather can be kind of unsettled, some years have been warm and sunshine, others cold with rain. Wife loves Victoria, great shopping, and wonderful variety of restaurants. And it's not Billings, MT or Northern Wisconsin.

 

[tr8todd]

I'd rock that with a nice Rover V8 and a Ford 8.8 rear end. Never saw a vehicle that looked like it had kankles before.

 

[gac]

I don't think it would make much of a tow vehicle at least in stock form. It only had a 998cc engine and could barely get out of its own way, no less pull something else.

Hmmmmm, this one looks like it might be a tow vehicle:

Here's a couple more of the 1st one:

 

[gac]

Mark:

When do they usually have the car show near Victoria?

If you can't make it to that one we have the big one in Vancouver on May 21
https://www.westerndriver.com/?page_id=96

Really nice show, beautiful setting. And Vancouver Island is just a ferry ride away. Anyone interested in visiting this area just PM me & I'll do my best to offer advice & even show you around. Weather wise best time would be late July, all of Aug/Sept.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Hmmmmm, this one looks like it might be a tow vehicle:

Sure was, and thanks for finding and posting that from my site (I'd meant to do so earlier). Unfortunately, I know virtually nothing about this photo, although I've heard some "stories" from people who supposedly were associated with the vehicle pictured. One story was that the original "Herald" engine was replaced with a TR4 engine. From what I've been able to find out, this almost certainly was yet another "Atlas Major" with at least a Standard Ensign 1670cc wet-liner. Regardless, a TR4 engine would've made for rather better towing capacity.

I wish the photo showed the towed car a bit better. Every time I look at it, I wonder if it is in fact the ex-Macau Spitfire after it came to the US and Kas Kastner took out the eight-port "70X" four-cylinder engine and tossed a GT6 engine in it.

But I digress.... :wink:

 

[gac]

I wish the photo showed the towed car a bit better. Every time I look at it, I wonder if it is in fact the ex-Macau Spitfire after it came to the US and Kas Kastner took out the eight-port "70X" four-cylinder engine and tossed a GT6 engine in it.

But I digress.... :wink:

I'm pretty sure it's Ray Gray's car, info. here:
https://www.templeoftriumph.org/tsoa/TSOAJan68.pdf

I think the van is from Standard-Triumph's dealership in Toronto @ the time, "453 Eglinton Ave, West" The building is still there, it's a school uniform store now.

Here's a neato shot of the Macau Spitfire (in silver)

 

[Andrew Mace]

I'm pretty sure it's Ray Gray's car...

Good eye; I've a feeling you're absolutely right! Thanks for another little piece of the puzzle!