Triumph 1930s Dolomite Roadster

The Triumph Motor Company went into receivership in July 1939.  Then World War 2 intervened, soon halting car production.  In 1940 the Triumph works were destroyed by German bombing.  The Standard Motor Car Company acquired the Triumph name along with a few assets in 1944, leading to the postwar TR sports cars many of us are aware of.

Triumph's last major gasp while independent was the Dolomite line (Wikipedia entry here).  Technically, the line appeared in 1934, but consisted of only three cars.  Main production was 1937-1939, with a few leftovers sold in 1940.  There was a range of Dolomite types, including coupés, roadsters, drop-head coupés and even saloons (sedans).  Today's post features the Dolomite Roadster, or Roadster-Coupé, as it has also been called.

As for styling, Dolomites featured a flashy grille theme that was briefly in fashion in the USA around 1936, and was far from typical English design conservatism.  I posted "Triumph Dolomites Wearing a Hudson Fencer's Mask" here.  The grille design was by Walter Belgrove.

Gallery

1938 Triumph Dolomite Roadster - Brightwells Auction photos
Yes, it does remind one of a 1936 Hudson.


Behind the seat is what appears to be a high, generous-size trunk (boot), but isn't.  Note the arrow design of the hood air vents -- suggesting speed, I suppose, even though Dolomites could not reach 80 miles (130 km) per hour.


But the hight is what was needed for a rumble seat (dickey, in the UK).  Note the open fold-down dickey step abaft of the door.  Not very welcoming for women wearing dresses in those days.

1939 Triumph Dolomite Roadster - car-for-sale photos
Front end.  The grille design too complex for the space allowed for it.


The dashboard, cockpit and dickey seat.

All Dolomites were built on 110-inch (2794 mm) wheelbases.  A more serious sports car would have had a shorter wheelbase and no dickey seat -- therefore a shorter trunk zone.  Other British sporty cars such as the postwar Sunbeam Alpine had similarly inappropriate proportions due to being based on saloon chassis'.

The spare tire sits behind the dickey seat.  As best I can tell, trunk access is either via it or the dickey seat, there being no other obvious cutlines.

1938 Triumph Dolomite Roadster-Coupe - Bonhams Auctions photo

Here's a view of a Dolomite Roadster with its top attached -- not raised.