Between 1933 and 1938 Triumph made a large and confusing range of Gloria sporting saloons, coupes, tourers, 2 seater sports cars, drop head coupes and golfer’s coupes. All these Glorias, apart from the final two models (1.5 litre saloon and Fourteen Six-Light Saloon) were powered by 4 or 6 cylinder Coventry Climax overhead inlet and exhaust valve designed engines (modified and built by Triumph).
Apart from August 1934 to 1936 the Gloria range included “Gloria Vitesse” models (not to be confused with later Vitesse’s) which were up-rated (engines and equipment) versions of the equivalent Gloria and slightly different bodywork in the case of some saloons.
4 Cylinder Gloria August 1933 to July 1934
9.5 h.p. 1087cc 4 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve engine with free-wheel pre-selection 4 speed gearbox.
These 4 cylinder Glorias were all 9.53 h.p. models apart from the Gloria Monte Carlo Tourer which when introduced in January 1934 had a larger capacity 1232cc 10.8 h.p. engine (but could be ordered with the 9.5 h.p. unit if requested).
They all had twin carburettors apart from the Gloria Ten Saloon which had a single carburettor.
We estimate that 1850 4 cylinder 1933/4 Glorias were produced, and the models available were :
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORK | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Saloon | 308 | 21 | 12 | £285 | |||
| Ten Special Saloon | recorded numbers included with those for the ten saloon | £300 | |||||
| Competition tourer | 3 | 1 | 1 | £325 | |||
| speed model tourer | 35 | 13 | 12 | £285 | |||
| MONTE Carlo tourer | 27 | 13 | 13 | £325 | |||
6 Cylinder Gloria August 1933 to July 1933
12.95 h.p. 1476cc 6 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve engine with free-wheel pre-selector 4 speed gearbox.
All these Glorias had twin Solex downdraught carburettors apart from the Gloria Six Saloon which had a single Solex carburettor. We estimate that 650 6 cylinder 1933/4 Glorias were produced, and the models available were :-
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORDK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIX SALOON | 102 | 8 | 3 | £325 |
| SIX SPECIAL SALOON | RECORDED NUMBERS INCLUDED WITH THOSE FOR THE SIX SALOON | £300 | ||
| SIX SPEED MODEL TOURER | 8 | 2 | 2 | £325 |
4 Cylinder Gloria August 1934 to July 1935
10.8 h.p. 1232cc 4 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve with free-wheel preselector 4 speed gearbox.
These 4 speed Glorias were all 10.8 h.p. models apart from the Gloria Ten Saloon (a “facelift” version of the 1933/4 Gloria Ten Saloon) which continued with the smaller capacity 1087cc 9.5s h.p. engine. Glorias hd single S.U. carburettors and Gloria Vitesse’s had twin S.U. carburettors. Visual differences from the preceding Glorias included restyled radiator surround with a black honeycomb grille (instead of the vertical painted slats) and smaller hubbed wire wheels.
We estimate that 1,600 4 cylinder 1034/5 Glorias were produced and the models available were :-
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEN SALOON | 29 | 1 | £285 | |
| SALOON | 203 | 20 | 14 | £298 |
| VITESSE SALOON | 94 | 22 | 18 | £320 |
| COUPE | 8 | 1 | £288 | |
| VITESSE COUPE | 3 | 0 | £310 | |
| SIX LIGHT SALOON | 0 | £298 | ||
| VITESSE SIX LIGHT SALOON | 0 | £320 | ||
| TOURER | 13 | 3 | £298 | |
| VITESSE TOURER | 8 | 3 | 2 | £320 |
| MONTE CARLO TOURER | 10 | 3 | 2 | £335 |
| SOUTHERN CROSS | 31 | 15 | 12 | £275 |
| GOLFERS COUPE | 0 | £335 | ||
| VITESSE GOLFERS COUPE | 2 | 1 | £355 | |
6 Cylinder Gloria August 1934 to July 1935
15.72 h.p. 1991cc 6 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve engine with free-wheel pre-selector 4 speed gearbox.
These 6 cylinder Glorias had single Solex carburettors and Gloria Vitesses had twin Solex carburettors (later models had S.U.) Visual differences from the preceding Glorias included a restyled radiator surround with a black honeycomb grille (instead of the vertical painted slats) and smaller wheels.
We estimate that 800 6 cylinder Glorias were produced and the models available were :
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SALOON | 59 | 8 | 6 | £350 |
| VITESSE SALOON | 68 | 9 | 8 | £385 |
| COUPE | 3 | 1 | 1 | £340 |
| VITESSE COUPE | 1 | 0 | £310 | |
| FREE FLOW SALOON | 11 | 1* | £425 | |
| VITESSE SIX LIGHT SALOON | 0 | £ UNKOWN | ||
| TOURER | 4 | 1 | £350 | |
| VITESSE TOURER | 3 | 1 | £320 | |
| MONTE CARLO TOURER | 4 | 2 | £320 | |
| SOUTHERN CROSS | 16 | 5 | £275 | |
| DROPHEAD COUPE | 1 | £410 | ||
| GOLFERS COUPE | 0 | £385 | ||
| VITESSE GOLFERS COUPE | 0 | £420 | ||
* The Free-flow body is now mounted on a later 1938 2-litre Vitesse saloon chassis.
4 Cylinder Gloria August 1935 to July 1937
10.8 h.p. 1932 4 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve engine with free-wheel pre-selector 4 speed gearbox.
These 4 cylinder Glorias have now been renamed as the Gloria Twelve, even though the power output remained 10.8 h.p. They had single S.U. carburettors and the Gloria Vitesses had twin S.U. carburettors.
Visual differences from the previous marks included restyled front wings and running boards (now two piece rather than the single front wing & running board panels) and vertical radiator grille slats instead of the black honeycomb.
Gloria Twelves produced in 1937 were the last Triumphs to be powered by the Coventry Climax engines. 2 Gloria Southern Crosses have been recorded and survive with Triumph’s 1767cc o.h.v engine fitted from new and several club members have successfully made this relatively easy conversion to their Souther Crosses.
We estimate that 1100 4 cylinder 1935/37 Gloria Twelves were produced and the models available were :
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SALOON | 127 | 21 | 13 | £315 |
| VITESSE SALOON | 75 | 8 | 2 | £345 |
| VITESSE SHORT SALOON | 23 | 4 | 3 | £325 |
| SIX LIGHT SALOON | 66 | 6 | 5 | £315 |
| VITESSE TOURER | 19 | 7 | £325 | |
| SOUTHERN CROSS | 29 | 16 | 12 | £295 |
| DROPHEAD COUPE | 3 | 1 | £335 | |
| VITESSE DROPHEAD COUPE | 12 | 3 | £365 | |
| GLOFERS COUPE | 2 | 1 | £ UNKOWN | |
| VITESSE GOLFERS COUPE | 0 | £ UNKOWN | ||
6 Cylinder Gloria August 1935 to July 1936
15.72 h.p. 1991cc 6 cylinder overhead inlet & side exhaust valve engine with free-wheel preselector 4 speed gearbox.
These Gloria 2 litres were renamed as the Gloria Six and had single S.U. carburettors and the Vitesses had twin S.U. carburettors. Visual differences from the previous marks included restyled front wings and running boards (now two piece rather than the single front wing & running board panels) and vertical radiator grille slats instead of the black honeycomb.
We estimate that less than 1,000 1935/6 Gloria Sixes were produced and the models available were :-
| GLORIA MODEL | RECORDED | SURVIVING | WITH ORIGINAL BODYWORK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VITESSE SALOON | 66 | 8 | 5 | £425 |
| VITESSE SHORT SALOON | 0 | £ UNKOWN | ||
| SIX LIGHT SALOON | 11 | 1 | 0 | £395 |
| VITESSE SIX LIGHT SALOON | 6 | 0 | £425 | |
| VITESSE TOURER | 1 | £ UNKOWN | ||
| DROPHEAD COUPE | 3 | 2 | £415 | |
| VITESSE DROPHEAD COUPE | 7 | 3 | $445 | |
Gloria 1.5 Litre Saloon Early 1937 to July 1937
11.81 h.p. 1496cc 4 cylinder overhead valve engine with 4 speed syncromesh gearbox.
This was the first of 2 Gloria models to use the new Triumph overhead valve engine. It’s bodywork was almost the same as the proceeding Gloria Twelve Saloon, but now had a full width rear bumper instead of quarter bumpers, and a more rounded radiator grille surround as used on Vitesses.
We estimate that 250 were produced and have recoded 41 with 3 surviving with their original style bodywork.
1 model available :-
1.5 Litre Saloon – £285
Gloria Fourteen Six-Light Saloon August 1937 to July 1938
13.95 h.p. 1767cc 4 cylinder overhead valve engine with 4 speed gearbox.
This was the last Triumph to bare the Gloria name. Apart from the radiator badge, it’s external appearance is identical to the Vitesse 14/60 Six-light Saloon. The only difference appears that the level of interior fittings was lower than the Vitesse.
We estimate that 200 were produced and have recorded 32 with 4 surviving, of which 2 retain their original style bodywork.
1 model available :-
Fourteen Six-Light Saloon – £298
