Triumph Toledo

triumph
Triumph Toledo (1975)
Toledo
Production period:	1970-1976
Class :	Compact class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.3–1.5 liters (43–52 kW)
Length:	3962 mm
Width:	1575 mm
Height:	1372 mm
Wheelbase :	2464 mm
Empty weight :	888 kg
Previous model	Triumph 1300
successor	Triumph Dolomite

Rear view

The Triumph Toledo is a lower middle class passenger car introduced in August 1970 as the cheaper version of the 1300 , which was also replaced by the 1500 . The Toledo had the same vehicle front with the split grille as the 1500, but instead of the round double headlights, rectangular, single headlights and gray plastic inserts in the grille. The rear of the vehicle corresponded to the old 1300 with the exception of the taillights, which were made simpler and smoother on the Toledo.

The biggest difference to the 1300 was the step backwards from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive via a rigid rear axle with coil springs, which should help to save production costs. The interior was also cheaper; the dashboard was a simple wooden board with holes drilled for the simple instruments. However, the whole thing was a little more luxurious than the contemporary compact cars with their interior fittings made of black plastic.

Initially, there was the Toledo only as a two-door sedan with four-cylinder in-line engine with 1296 cc capacity, the power of 58 hp (43 kW) at 5300 min ^-1 gave. It had drum brakes on all four wheels; there was no overdrive and no automatic transmission.

Not much later a four-door export version came out, which was equipped with a 1.5 l R4 engine (1493 cm³) with single carburetor (61 bhp / 45 kW) or double carburetor (64 bhp / 47 kW). From August 1971 these models were also available in Great Britain.

The appearance of the two-door model differed only slightly from the more popular four-door model. The two-door model did not have bumpers around the corners until 1973, while the four-door model had the more modern bumpers from the start. In addition, the two-door car had two bumper horns, which were discontinued at the turn of the year 1972/1973.

Over time the model was improved in details. So from October 1972 there were standard disc brakes and from the turn of the year 1973/1974 heated rear windows.

In March 1975, the two-door model was discontinued and the four-door model continued to be built for a year with a number of improvements. The three-lane gearbox that came from the Herald was replaced by the single-lane gearbox of the Spitfire 1500 and the car got a new clutch. The redesigned Toledo received side trim strips, a black instead of the silver radiator grille and stainless steel trim strips on the roof edge. The equipment has been improved again; There was now a standard dimming interior mirror, a warning light for not wearing seat belts, folding front seats (previously only on request), double reversing lights (previously only on request), a cigarette lighter, hazard warning lights and an exterior mirror on the driver's side. A laminated glass windshield, front headrests, and brushed nylon seats were available as options. In March 1976, the Dolomite 1300/1500 replaced the Toledo after 119,182 copies. Of these, 113,294 were 1.3 l models and only 5,888 were 1.5 l models. This makes the Toledo one of Triumph's best-selling sedans. The last, particularly well-equipped Toledo are now often referred to as the Dolomite 1300 with a small trunk.

CKD kits of the Toledo were screwed together by New Zealand Motor for the New Zealand market in 1977 and often only approved for use in 1978. These late Toledo had some improvements to the dolomites made after 1976, such as: B. their silver grille and rubber strips on the vehicle sides. But they kept the shorter body of the Toledo.

Technical improvements were as rare on the Toledo as cosmetic ones. In October 1971 the engine compression of the 1.5 l was increased from 8.5: 1 to 9.0: 1, which increased the output from 61 bhp (45 kW) to 64 bhp (47 kW). From October 1972 the front disc brakes, which had previously only been supplied on request, were part of the standard equipment and in March 1975 the TC (two-carburetor model) received higher compression and developed 71 bhp (52 kW).

The performance was average, the top speed was between 137 and 145 km / h (even if the speedometer of the 1500 indicated significantly more), the acceleration from 0-100 km / h was done by the 1300 in 17.1 seconds, the 1500 TC in 13.6 sec.

Triumph developed a 1500 TC two-door in 1973. But it never went into production.

Web links

Commons : Triumph Toledo  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Olyslager, P .: Observer Book of Automobiles , Frederick Warne, London (1975), ISBN 0-7232-1545-6