Meet The Owner – Craig Piercy and his Triumph Toledo

Craig is a classic car enthusiast aged 29 who one day decided to take a walk on the mild side. Throwing down his copy of Reader’s Digest and his quarter-pound bag of Mum’s and Dad’s Winter Mixture, he donned his tweed jacket, lit his pipe, and strode forth to buy a car suited to the hip young motorist. And what better choice than a 1973 Triumph Toledo?

One of the reasons, aside from its innate charm, that Craig’s Triumph is such an appealing car is that it is an entry-level model. In the Hampshire of the 1970s, it was this writer’s experience that he seldom encountered a new Dolomite Sprint, for this was a car for go-ahead young solicitors or Lewis Collins in the first series of The Professionals. But the Toledo was a far more familiar sight; transport for retired civil servants, deputy headteachers and anyone who believed that Chicory Tip records represented the end of civilisation.

The story of the Toldeo is part of the extremely complex Triumph ‘Ajax’ family. The original FWD 1300 debuted in 1965; five years later, two models replaced it. The 1500 had a 1,493cc engine driving the front wheels, a longer bonnet and boot, plus quad headlamps. The Toledo had the 1.3-litre engine in a RWD layout, a more Spartan interior and a short version of the Michelotti-styled body. It was also initially only available in two-door form.

Triumph hoped the Toledo would be the heir to the Herald 1200, and Autocar thought it offered a ‘considerable bonus to anyone who is prepared to spend that little more on it in the first place.’ The original price was £902 15s with radial-ply tyres costing another £8 10s. The Observer described the Toldeo as: “A surprisingly good car, though rather expensive”.

But the Toldeo offered the proud owner the social cachet of driving a car with the Triumph badge. As one brochure put it: “Indeed, its style, gentility and interior refinements would do credit to many a so-called ‘prestige’ saloon”. In other words, the Toledo owner could look down on anyone who drove a Ford Escort Mk. 1, Hillman Avenger or Vauxhall Viva HC.

A four-door version joined the line-up in 1971, while front disc brakes became a (very welcome) standard fitting in 1972. Three years later, Triumph discontinued the two-door Toledo, while the four-door gained improved transmission, a reversing lamp, reclining front seats, and a dipping rear-view mirror. There was even a ‘Fasten Seat belt’ warning light to cause amazement in the Sainsbury’s car park.

The last of 119,182 Toldeos departed the factory in 1976 (the New Zealand Motor Corporation continued assembly from CKD kits into 1977). The Dolomite 1300 and 1500, with the longer body and single headlamps, served as the Toldeo’s replacement. Meanwhile, Craig is still becoming used to his Toldeo’s ways and means:

I have only owned her for four weeks, but I have always wanted something British Leyland since I was a child. The gear change feels decidedly odd compared with my Peugeot 306, and, of course, the front seats do not recline. But at least there are front disc brakes! At the same time, the attention the Toledo receives is incredible, especially from young people who have never seen such a car before.

But such reactions are only to be expected. After all, as the launch advertisement put it, “Triumph has a reputation for quality cars”.

With Thanks To: Craig Piercy for their time and permission to use the images in this blog.