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‘I always get the “nice Dolomite mate” - I can’t help but put them right by telling them it’s a Toledo’. Andrew Jones Turton‘s 1973 example is now an unusual sight, but in their heyday, they were the Triumph that you were most likely to encounter outside of the Co-op. A Sprint was for that go-ahead young property developer at Number 83 while a Toledo exuded quiet respectability.

And while many BL enthusiasts associate the year 1970 with the launches of the Stag and the Range Rover, it was also the year that Triumph revitalised its small saloon range. The 1500 retained the FWD layout of the soon to be discontinued 1300 but now boasted a 1,493cc engine, a longer boot, and quad headlamps. Meanwhile, Leyland intended the Toledo as an heir to the Herald 1200, and it combined the shorter body with the 1,296cc plant and rear-wheel-drive.

When Autocar evaluated the Toledo in August 1970, the price was £902 15s 4d; radial ply tyres were an extra £8 10s. This made it more expensive than a Herald, but BL evidently hoped the potential customers would trade-up to the new model. The scribe regarded it as ‘easy to drive; so much so that the timid driver will soon feel at home’. Five years later, What Car, possibly the most sensible motoring title of the decade, thought the Toledo ‘simple and rugged’ and a ‘reliable uncomplicated car with a dash of style’.

Fifty years ago, the Toledo faced strong competition from the Ford Escort and the equally new Hillman Avenger and Vauxhall Viva HC. However, none featured the prestige of the Triumph badge on a car that offered you ‘peace and quiet’. This was transport for the retired school teacher, bank manager or anyone else who revelled in the ‘easy to understand heating and ventilation controls’.

A four-door version debuted in 1971 and until its demise in March 1976, Toledo gained detail improvements – disc brakes in 1972 and the decadence of a heated rear window in 1973. The two-door was discontinued in 1975 while the four-door now offered reclining front seats, a cigar lighter, revering lamps and even a “Fasten Seat Belt” warning light.

The Toledo, in its modest way, had served the Triumph marque well, and Andrew was an enthusiast from an early age. ‘My uncle had one and any chance I got I would be sat in it - I drove him mad’. Naturally, he would seek a Toledo of his own and ‘eight years ago I was browsing the classic car adverts on eBay when the car popped up. She was looking a little beaten up and abused as she had damage to the front nearside corner, so I contacted the owner and worked a price’.

Naturally, VTC 96  L always prompts a reaction, which varies from the ‘my dad /grandad had one of those’ and ‘I learnt to drive in a Toledo’ to being ‘followed by people taking photos and waving as I drive past’. The most memorable response to the Triumph occurred in Goathland; ‘a coach full of people stopped got of the coach then surrounded the car taking pics’. But then, as the brochure promised, it was a ‘gala performer’.

With Thanks To: Andrew Jones Turton

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We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

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