COMPANY

For a long time in its wonderful history, the company name literally mirrored its performance. Triumph certainly had numerous winners coming out of its assembly line. Though the company itself became defunct in 1984, the Triumph marque is currently owned by BMW.

Triumph was founded in 1885 by Siegfried Bettmann, who along with this partner Moritz (Maurice) Schulte were instrumental in establishing the Triumph name. The company was later taken over by Standard Motor Company. It continues as a division of Leyland Motors Ltd and its successors.

Like several car companies of the time, Triumph started out as a bicycle importing company under the name of S. Bettmann & Co., which imported bicycles from Europe and traded in London. The Triumph name came into being in 1886. Moritz (Maurice) Schulte became a partner in the venture the following year and together, they started manufacturing the company’s own bicycle brand. Fittingly, the company was then christened as the Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd in 1897.

From 1902, Triumph expanded into production of motor cycles, initially with third-party engines and subsequently using their own engines. Over the next decade and half, the motorcycle business flourished and made Triumph the largest motorcycle producer in Britain.

Making cars was only a logical extension for the company, which they duly did in 1921- a mere two years after the end of the First World War. Triumph started its car venture by purchasing the assets and Clay Lane premises of the Dawson Car Company.

The first Triumph car produced was the Triumph 10/20, which had a 1.4 litre engine. However, the sales volume of this car as well as its immediate successors was quite modest. Fortunately, in 1927, the sales volume shot up with the launch of the Triumph Super 7. The successful foray into car production resulted in another change of name for the company to Triumph Motor Company.

In a strategic shift, Triumph decided to make high-end and expensive cars. The Southern Cross and Gloria were outcomes of this shift. In the initial period of the new endeavour, the company chose the designs by Coventry Climax. However, they soon began producing cars with their own designs, the credit for which is due to Donald Healey, who had joined as the company’s Experimental Manager.

The meteoric rise of the company was followed by an equally steep fall as the company fell into severe financial hardships. The company had to sell its Triumph bicycle and motorcycle businesses in 1936. The motorcycle division was acquired by Ariel and it was running under the name of Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd. Triumph went into receivership in 1939 and was sold to T. W. Ward. World War II made matters worse; the entire work place was devastated in 1940 bombing.

Four years later, the Standard Motor Company purchased the firm’s remaining assets and trade- name. In 1960s, Leyland Motors took over the company. Currently, the Triumph brand name is held by the BMW Group.