Triumph 1500 - parked for over 20 years - first proper drive!
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- The Triumph 1500 is a FWD car made by Triumph in this format from 1970 until 1973. This particular car was parked in the very early 2000s and in April 2024, returned to the road following a successful MOT.
This is the first drive after over 20 years of peaceful rest (and some time spent in Kev's workshop!)
#barnfinds #classiccars #recommissioning #classiccarrestoration
it's really wonderful to see another great Triumph 1500 back where it belong's on the road and beening enjoyed and thats how it should be.
Great video. Always a good idea getting them MOTed.
What a find, love honest every day cars like this, so glad it's appreciated and being shown to us!
Totally agree! These small family cars are often overlooked by collectors. As was pointed out the TR series sportscars are highly sort after nowadays whereas the saloon models are treated as an after-thought by collectors. It is a similar situation with the MG sportscars and the MG saloons too.
What a refreshing pleasure it is to watch such a knowledgeable video done by people who truly care about the subject.
Triumphs was a great car
Just found your channel.
My dad had one of these back in the 70s when I was a wee boy. His one was a darker blue colour. That back seat was so comfortable. Loved the arm rest too. I don't remember ever sitting in the front.
So many memories.
Thank you so much, totally made my day. This was such a treat. X
Great little review on Kev's 1500, and a lovely little story behind the car, Thomas will be proud that the 1500 has went to a good home in the hands of Kev.
Blockley classic tyres recommended !
New rubber should reduce road noise and harshness…
Thanks for the Journey - I Love Old Cars
🤣 "A mouse's dying breath" - love it!
Not quite the same, but in the early 80s I took turns driving my mate's Dolomite from Southampton to Liverpool. We could only overtake trucks when going downhill and they returned the compliment on the uphill stretches!
A common saying for a poor heating system from my memory…..”wouldn’t warm a sparrows arse”
Delightful looking cars these with their bulbous hub caps. Looks like bigger version of the Tr. 1300.😊
This is what British family cars looked like in the olden days.
I was born on the end of this period as the foreign imports were starting. These Triumphs were still seen as regular family cars at that point - but not for long after. Yes I know the Honda based Aclaim was much later but that isn’t a classic triumph like the 1500, tho it is a classic in its own right.
Some nice design touches & ideas from triumph in this car, and it looks good too.
Def a daily driver potential.
These have always been a favourite classic of mine. Such a stylish interior but not as stylish as Steph! ❤
I love Triumphs from that era. I passed my driving test in a Dolly and owned a TR7. I'm like you in that I like cars to be as original as possible and that car is fantastic. Great video again - really enjoying them all ❤
Reminds me of my 1300TC LKT958F in British Racing Green. I agree about the the window winders, and aren't quarter lights cool?
I learned in a Dolly too. When BSM were using them. Then I had a Toledo. I'd love to get behind the wheel of one again. Cracking little motors!
Passed my test in 20 min on one.
The light cluster reminded me of Thunderbirds "all systems are go!" Just need you dressed up as Lady Penelope with Kev as Parker!
What a sweet, beautiful, classy motorcar! Sweet sweet thing! ❤ Always love your videos Steph! Love from Italy xx
I had one of these
It is a really enjoyable car to own. It's not fast, but it's happy around town and on country roads.
These are great cars. I had a Dolomite 1850 in the late 1970s - loved it, although mine was the most unreliable car I ever owned 😂. Great that this one has survived so well and is in safe hands
My 1300 FWD is unreliable. Oh well 😂
@@idriveaclassic 😂
I had a Dolomite Sprint in the mid 70s. Tremendous fun to drive but so unreliable that it was a guess whether you'd actually reach your destination.
Rented one of these in 1977 to tour the UK, great little car, wish they had been available in the USA
Had the Toledo 1500. In brown. Plush carpets and lovely wooden dash. Loved it.
I had a Toledo 1300 in the late 70s. Lovely quality car. Very fast for its time siena brown colour.
Enjoying the content on the channel best of luck with everything 👍👍👍
My Father had a white one in the '70s. I basically learned to drive in it. The one thing that I didn't like was the gear shift. I found it a bit 'floppy'.
Lovely car. I’m amazed that the dash is almost identically styled as the one in the Chicane 2500.
A nice little car. Definitely a good practical classic. I would compare it more to the Maxi though. That was quite a different animal with it's hatchback. The five speed box was a great addition though.
Absolutely lovely car. Thank you Steph for another fantastic video!
I am in New Zealand and I have one which spent 12 years in a British car Museum before being put back on the road. It's quite a fun vehicle and usable with it. Just need patience finding bits to tidy up things.
Yeah, Matching outfit.
How wonderful for the car to have been well cared for - and now with another knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner, in Kev. It's really lovely!
I have been waiting for your Sunday video Steph. Kevin is a great guy and the world could do with more people like him. These were a nice car back in the day and still are today. Well done Kev and a lovely story.
He’s brilliant isn’t he!
This is a beauty of a car, well worth preserving. I remember back in the 80's choosing between a Toledo and an Allegro as a first car after passing my test, had an Escort before that and the only reason I chose the Allegro was the 4 doors.
Two door Toledo is worth loads of money today if you can find one.
@@stevepoulton8826 You're right there, back in '88 when I was looking £350, the last one I saw for sale, year before last was a minter and they wanted £5k, could have been over the top though. I'm not up on their values nowadays but I ain't seen one in years.
I like the color; thanks for the impressions.
Seats do look REALLY good.
I had the TC RWD version. Bought in '79 with very low mileage. I had it for many years until it was totaled by an 18 year old learner, who piled into it while it was parked. It's KPA 178K plate was odd, as I always thought it was a '74. I can't remember the details, I've got too many miles on the clock. Loved that car...
Ta.
We're you at the dolomite day last weekend, sorry I didn't get a proper chat, I had to pick up my lad from scout camp, I was in the pi this had a 40 yr lay up, after it's owner died in his early 60s , his wife lived till age 96
One of the few body shells that went from front wheel drive to rear wheel drive.
I like these Triumph 1500 cars .....you don't see many now
Fantastic video Steph & Kev as always, well ‘Thomas’ is fabulous and it’s absolutely fantastic that he is back on the road ❤ well done!! I love the all systems go wheel, it always reminds me of those trivial pursuit cheese play pieces 😂😂 and last but certainly not least Steph and Thomas look absolutely stunning in that thumbnail 😍
Thanks young lady 🥰🥰🥰
Lovely car Steph, Kev's done a great job on him. 😊👍
Yes 'they are still out there' and this one is a cracking motor. The colour is good inside and out and the seats were always generous in these Triumphs. This car has found a really good home with Kev, he will take care of it of that the daughter of the former owner can be assured. A great review Steph thank you.👍👍
Good review as always Steph Kev’s got a gem of a classic there and like you said these cars are sometimes overlooked but they are a cracking motor and reasonably priced at the moment looking forward to seeing your next review all the best kev
He was moaning at me he wanted a decent one and I’m glad I found it so he can just enjoy it now 😂
As a Dolomite 1850 owner I just love these Triumph cars. I think the style is just perfect. This 1500 looks to be in lovely condition, the seats look amazing. I hope I shall see it out and about some time. I get a hugh enjoyment from driving my car out and about, and seeing the interest from those i meet just going about my every day business. I look forward to seeing Kev progress with the other cars. I enjoyed having a chat with Kev about doing my subframe bushes at Rustival.. really appreciated the opportunity to meet.
The 'All systems go' dial was designed by Harry Webster.
Lovely design so practical
Always loved the Triumph textured seats
Could the handheld defroster double as a hairdryer?
My first car after passing my test in 2003 was a Dolomite Sprint, one of my favourite features was the dash, especially the pizza slice warning light cluster
That little Triumph is absolutely gorgeous. Kev-
you need to take good care of him just as Thomas has all these years, you are his new caretaker, good luck with him!
I remember as a child going for a ride in a Triumph like this.
Beautiful car now taken on by the perfect custodian, can't think of anyone better than Kev to look after it.
My first car was a white 1976 Toledo with the same pale blue coloured vinyl interior so that really gives my a sense of nostalgia.
👍👍👍
I think something that may put people off is that they changed from the rear wheel drive Herald to these front wheel drives then after only a few years went back to rear wheel drive. It suggests Triumph were not happy with the FWD setup.
I think it was the expense, iirc it cost more?
There was a competing Allegro 1500 fwd within the BL stable, it made sense to change the Triumph 1500 to the slightly sportier rwd 1500 TC which complemented the 1850 Dolomite…
Really enjoyed the video. My Mum had a Toledo in that exact shade of blue. At the time I always felt they were like a small luxury car.
Nice little car, I really like its interior!
You'd still see this body shape on the road when I was growing up in the 80s and the fact that it didn't look too out of place alongside much newer cars says a lot about how timeless this design is
Great review, Steph & a lovely car Kev 👍
Lovely honest classic car, I like the colour and the interior. Just wants using !! I would personally be tempted to have a bit of light tuning (maybe a larger carb?) just to make it even more user friendly in modern traffic as I would give it some longer journrys.Hazards and perhaps a hi level brake light which would be good safety items. I dont think the look would be spoiled. Nice channel, you have a good natural style presenting these cars, enjoyable to watch👍🥂
Four-way flashers, with an illuminated switch, independent of the ignition are required for all classic cars in Germany, whether they came with them or not. Luckily, for British cars one can wire in a Lucas relay with an authentic look-and-feel using the existing turn signal indicator lamps. That little 1.5 litre motor certainly moves along! That dangly air freshner really should have been removed before filming ... and then left off permanently ;-)
I must admit it’s a little odd to have a cassette air freshener in a car with no cassette player.
It was a gift from Claire at UK barn finds and we left it in to see if she spotted jt.
@@idriveaclassic I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek ... it was all I could focus on during the drive ;-)
My Dad had a 67 1300. Beautiful car
Such a comprehensive and useful introduction to the Triumph 1500 - overlooked, undervalued little gem 💎. Thank you, Steph…. Hope to be there for Rustival 2 🙏
Weren't these the wretched cars that became the Dolomite. I had one from new. It was so bad that after one month I had it towed to the wreckers and took a lot of joy watching it get crushed.
Nice car, like the colour and the wooden dashboard.
I have a triumph spitfire I bought as a graduation present to myself in 1988. Been off the road since 97. Fired it up last year. Same issue with old leaded fuel in the tank. Same issue with the carbs , plus float chambers not shutting. Next job will be new clutch and rear brakes. Your film giving me inspiration to stick with it.
I've ridden in this and the 1300. Surprisingly, I had no clue they were FWD! I enjoyed my mate's car; it was great to trundle about in Suffolk in this. Aloha!
It isn't immediately apparent that they're FWD as the engine is mounted north-south, unlike the transverse set-up in most FWD cars.
@@davidjones332 Yes! All of my cars have been FWD, transverse machines. As a passenger in 1300/1500s, I'd never thought BL even had the resources to sink into FWD development apart from the Austin Mini and such. For some...odd...reason, I've always thought cars with FWD back then "told" me they were FWD just by their body designs. I could "tell" back then. But that's such a foolish notion I had. Alas..."there's no fool like an old fool."
Nice to call it after the prev owner, I bet Thomas would be very happy to see his classic live on. Such lovely condition.
Great car and great video. Thanks for posting.
Had one of these in the late seventies.what I liked was the fact that you could work on the gearbox from inside the car and you could lift the engine off the transmission.
Love the old standard working class Triumphs . Brought a Dolomite 1850hl auto for my third car in my early 20s. Was regarded as a modern classic back then. I am 52 now 😭🤣🤣
In my opinion the gauges from Smiths is the most beautiful design ever made.
It is a beautiful find. Such a time warp condition. Love the colour. Reminds me of a neighbour who had one when I was growing up
I rolled a 1500 one of these and in doing so hit a telegraph pole. Closest call to death have had. Lovely car
My dad had a triumph dolomite 1850 brilliant car
That's a fantastic, usable classic that Kev'll have fun tinkering with and bringing up to snuff. Always loved the design of the 2000, 1500, 1300, Dolomite and Teledo - really good-looking cars ... that's Michelotti for you!
I have to say this car was very well kept all those years. Always liked these Triumphs, they are still very stylish cars to look at although the marque was on its last legs by the time this came out. Glad to see this didn't take much work to get it back up and running.
What a lovely original car 😊
My first car was a Triumph 1300. The second was a Triumph 1500. The engine and gearbox came out 3 times. Eventually I managed to get a decent recon unit which lasted. The 1500 is quite a stylish car and definitely a cut above some of its rivals at the time.
Well done Steph a great review! Have always loved these type of cars including the 1300/1500 and dolomite my friends dad had a sprint in French blue always such a comfortable car and remember the all systems go wheel as well! Well done Kev on getting this one back to life and look forward to seeing more progress on Thomas Daniel
Nice video Steph, good to see another addition to Kevin's fleet! I know those roads very well indeed by the way. You are much too young to remember, but St. Andrew's Road in Huddersfield used to be the most pot-holed road on earth at one time. A friend of mine had just bought a yellow Dolomite Sprint, and he took me for a spin in it one night and proceeded down St. Andrews Road, which back then had zero traffic on it late at night, he got it up to 60 mph then there was a big bang. He had hit a pot-hole, and both front suspension struts had come through the inner wing tops and hit the bonnet! They don't make them like they used to, that's for sure. So if you're buying one of these cars, it's a good place to check.
Still a good-looking car. Timeless design.
Lovely video Steph, many thanks. I remember the Triumph 1500 in my early years.
Here in Uruguay, late cars from UK came in the late 50s. Then in the 90s some of Rover, I remember especially the Rover Maestro, wich was evident her RHD origen. I love how you enjoy testing cars on this weather. Thank you for this nice video.
Great video, and what a lovely car!
The 1300 FWD, car of the year in 1967, slowly downgraded to the 1500, although still acceptable, then downgraded again with the Toledo, which was cut back by the bean counters, a step too far. A mistake leading to ever decreasing sales.
The Triumph Herald replacement was the 1300 in 1965 and had front wheel drive. In 1970 it was restyled into two different cars, the smaller became the Toledo with rear wheel drive, and the bigger was the 1500 with front wheel drive. An 1850 model came in 1972. the Dolomite and in 1973 the two litre Dolomite Sprint with rear wheel drive, and the 1500 became the 1500TC changing from FWD to RWD. In 1976 all the saloons were Dolomites, 1300, 1500, 1850 and Sprint. More upmarket than a Viva or Avenger,
I had one of these in 1976, it was an L reg, 1972. I loved it and a big step up from the Austin 1100 I had previously. I believe the car in the video started its life in London as JD registered cars was a London issue registration.
Hi. Having seen your review of another 1500 I have just bought a 1972 Triumph 1500. So far I love it. I plan using it for a daily use car (that is after all it's purpose in life), rather than a sunny day drive out. Fingers crossed for a long relationship.
😍
It’s in good condition and it looks original
Love it. A real time warp classic. A great find that has gone to the right person.
Back in the late 70s, my dad was given a 1975 twin carbrettor Triumph 1500TC which had rear-wheel drive. I remember that it was very well appointed compared to the car he had before which was an Austin Maxi 1500.
Great video Steph which brought back a lot of good memories.
It was one of those that was my first car I had after passing my test in 1970, one thing to keep an eye on is the rotoflex couplings on the drive shafts as being rubber they do deteriorate, mine did but still a lovely car. I went on and got a 1850 Dolomite, would have loved a sprint but couldn't afford one.
My first car was a brown Toledo, so I have a bit of a soft spot for Triumph's.🥰🥰
Bet that mileage 1s genuine looking at that interior condition. Lovely car
Great vlog Steph ,lovely car , brilliant story and well done to Kev.I'm recomissioning a 1961 Austin Seven Mini which was last on the road in 1974, 50 years ago and although in amazing time-warp condition , it's fighting back returning to the road when nearly complete with niggling problems !.
I had two of these , one a fwd the other rear wheel drive . The fwd was used for spares . The 1500 was a big engine in them days in such a small car . They could match the escort and BMW which they were competing with . The fwd was ahead of its day with good tyres it could go anywhere.
Love it, quite an upmarket car for its day with the unusual longitudinal mounted engine and front wheel drive. Gearbox probably just needs some good oil. That is a great find for Kev and brilliant to see it live on.
My first car was a 1500. After changing the clutch (a very easy job) I got terrible clutch judder. I changed it again but it was just as bad. I eventually found the problem, the splines on the input shaft needed a bit of copper grease. This fixed it. When I originally replaced the clutch I cleaned the shaft. Should have left the grease on it. Geasing the shaft is really easy. Peel back the carpet behind the gear stick. Remove the blanking plate on the bulkhead. There is a plate on the back of the engine to remove. The input shaft can now be pulled out. Carefully unscrew the nylon bolt in the end of the shaft. There maybe a circlip to remove (often missing as not really needed). Screw in a steel bolt where the nylon bolt was and pull. The shaft should slide out. Apply copper grease to the splines and reassemble in the reverse order. Should take about 15 minutes.
Great car, but gearbox was the Achilles heel. Needs regular tlc with lots of greasing of splines. use very gloopy gear oil. Otherwise the judder will only get worse and the whole gearbox will fail eventually.
Aren't they gorgeous😍
Britain’s roads are a disgrace , drive into europe and you can see the difference. The instruments on that car are such a super design. The rotary light switch if very modern and now adopted in modern cars.
The state of this country’s infrastructure is a disgrace. Governments and local governing bodies should be ashamed of themselves for how our money has been wasted. For example, we now have ugly structures running down the high street in Huddersfield but loose paving slabs and uneven surfaces on the high street which must be a nightmare for the disabled. I tripped up yesterday and I have no mobility issues.
Here in Western Australia, they never stop with repairs , improvements, or making new.
It's bloody inconvenient .
The one thing that I really hated with cars above 1980 was their overly lit console panels.
The brighter the dashboard the harder it was for me to focus on the road so the older cars in their original state I LOVED cause the console panel lighting was low & didn't glare in your eyes & a simple dashboard such as this triumph was very pleasing to the eye. These cars had little interior distraction.
Handsome elegant small cars with good solid engineering - what is there not to like?
Nice Triumph, and seems to have been looked haft very well. Kev will have it singer very soon. Good luck. Bob