The Triumph Gloria was instrumental in catapulting the British automaker upmarket. Before its arrival in 1934, Triumph vehicles were conventional and smaller in stature than many of its peers. The Gloria bucked this trend by being larger, more luxurious, expensive, and stylish. Production continued through 1938 with body styles that included coupes, tourers, saloons, and two-seater sports cars.
The four-cylinder version of the Gloria rested on a 108-inch wheelbase platform, while the six-cylinder was 8 inches longer at 116 inches. The four-cylinder engine displaced 1,087 or 1,232cc while the six measured 1,467 or 1,991cc. The engines were designed by British engineer manufacturer Coventry Climax and produced under license by Triumph. The engines had an overhead inlet and side exhaust valve, and the raw castings were supplied by Coventry Climax. Near the end of production, the Gloria was also offered as a 1,496cc Saloon and Fourteen Six-Light Saloon with a 1,767cc displacement.
The twin-carbureted version of the 1,087cc engine produced around 46 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. With Solex twin carburetors installed on the 1,991cc engine, the output was rated at approximately 55 horsepower.
In 1936, the company was very close to bankruptcy, so it reorganized its finances and introduced a new lineup of vehicles with the Dolomite being its top offering (Triumph had used the Dolomite name earlier - in 1934 - for a straight-8 racer). when the Gloria was phased out, it left Triumph for the first time with a lineup powered exclusively by engines of its own design and manufacturer. The Dolomites were popular but the company was unable to make enough of them as they lacked the resources to increase capacity. The company would enter receivership in June of 1939.
The Gloria used a conventional cruciform-braced chassis, under-slung at the rear, with semi-elliptic leaf springs and 12-inch Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes. The four-speed manual transmission could be optioned with a freewheel mechanism that allowed gear changes without the use of a clutch pedal. The 1.5-litre and Fourteen models had synchromesh on the gearbox. The four-speed synchromesh gearbox and spiral bevel rear axle were supplied by ENV.
The Gloria Southern Cross was produced from 1934 to 1937 and often clothed with sporty two-seater coachwork. The 1,232cc four-cylinder versions used a short 96-inch wheelbase while the 1,991cc sixes had a 104-inch platform. The name 'Southern Cross' was in tribute to Triumph's success in the Australian and New Zealand export markets.
by Dan Vaughan