Designed under the visionary Donald Healey, the Gloria played a pivotal role in cementing Triumph’s reputation as a manufacturer of exquisite sports cars. Its name is rumored to have been inspired by a Selfridge’s fashion model who posed alongside the cars for promotional purposes.
Introduced in 1933, the Gloria featured a conventional cruciform-braced chassis with a rear under-slung design. It boasted state-of-the-art 12″ hydraulic brakes on all four wheels and was adorned with sleek, low-profile coachwork, showcasing an elegance not typically associated with the brand. According to Holbrook, the Gloria embodied a ‘modern conception, revealing lines never before achieved.’ It’s widely agreed that, after Donald Healey’s refinements, the Gloria became exceptionally handsome.
Triumph manufactured the four- and six-cylinder IOE engines based on designs from Coventry Climax, who supplied the raw castings. The four-speed synchromesh gearbox and spiral bevel rear axle were sourced from ENV. In a tuned configuration with twin carburetors, the 10hp 1,087cc inlet-over-exhaust four-cylinder engine produced 46bhp at 4,600rpm. With this setup, the Gloria Special Tourer could reach a top speed of 75mph.
Source: Bonhams
