Canley’s luxury compacts: what goes wrong and what to look for
Canley’s modern small car for the 1960s is a forgotten classic, as Malcolm Mckay explains
Triumph’s 1300 was a brave venture. It lacked the character and Diy-friendliness of the Herald, but the company’s first front-wheel-drive model – and first small monocoque – was well engineered, with semitrailing arm rear suspension and a comfortable, quality feel that received rave reviews on test. Front drive was the obvious way to go after the success of the Mini, and the arrival of the BMC 1100 confirmed its packaging advantages. But Triumph, then part of Leyland but not yet joined up with BMC, wasn’t going to follow blindly. Instead, Harry Webster placed the Herald motor in-line – with the gearbox below and partly behind – and the final drive immediately under the sump. It meant a fairly high bonnet, but could use the engine unchanged bar crank and sump.
To get good performance in what was a heavyish bodyshell for its class, the 1147 unit was taken out to 1296cc and fitted with an eight-port head, based on that developed for the Le Mans Spitfires. The 1296cc engine would soon be used in the Spitfire, too, and would eventually give the Herald a new lease of life as well, as development costs forced Leyland to take the 1300 upmarket. Four doors and luxury trim, with innovative fold-flush window winders, added to the appeal.
Michelotti penned sophisticated (if chunky) mini-2000 styling, and the in-line engine meant no loss of Triumph’s trademark tight turning circle, with double-wishbone front suspension.
The model’s sporting stardom came with a clever 4x4 adaptation using 2000 rear suspension and a Weber-carburetted motor. It wiped the board in its first televised outing in rallycross, but shortly after was rolled, and no more were made. A small 4x4 off-road vehicle, the Pony, was also developed using 1300 running gear; it would eventually be built by Autocars in Israel.
Sophistication was weighty and expensive, however; in the end Triumph reverted to rearwheel drive and even a live axle. Front drive ceased in 1973 after 214,703 cars had been built, and the rear-wheel-drive small Triumphs were simplified into the Dolomite range in 1976.
Prices are modest and there are still nice, lowmileage examples to be found. Rust is the main flaw, plus specific weaknesses such as the 1300’s quill shaft, but those can be overcome. Volumes are too low for much spares remanufacture, but most parts can be found and long-term owners often have stockpiles, accessible via the clubs.