1936 Triumph Gloria Drophead Coupe

Description

From a deceased estate; current owner 50+ years; extremely rare Coventry Climax 2-litre six-cylinder model; Cross & Ellis coachwork; only 10k miles on rebuilt engine; good running order; use and improve 

Produced from 1933 – 1938, the Gloria was designed to take Triumph upmarket and into the medium-size sporting car sector dominated by the likes of Riley and Alvis. The great Donald Healey was poached from Riley to oversee the project, bringing several of the top Riley engineers with him.

The Gloria came in a large and confusing number of variants including saloons, coupes, drophead coupes and open tourers. All but the last couple of models were powered by four- or six-cylinder Coventry Climax engines modified and built under licence by Triumph, ranging from 1,087cc to 2,000cc.

The chassis came in two lengths (short for the four-cylinder models; long for the sixes) and had conventional non-independent suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs and Lockheed hydraulic brakes with large 12” drums. Four-speed transmission was standard, with optional ‘free-wheel’ for clutchless gear changes.

Exact production numbers are uncertain, but it is thought that only around 2,450 Glorias were made with six-cylinder engines, of which only around 45 are thought to survive, according to the Triumph Motor Club.

First registered in London in August 1936, this Gloria Drophead Coupe has coachwork by Cross & Ellis and has the 2-litre straight-six Coventry Climax engine fitted with a single Solex carburettor. On offer here from a deceased estate, it has been in the current ownership for at least 50 years.

Always in regular use, it comes with four notebooks documenting virtually every journey made in the car from May 1973 until October 2022. These were mainly local runs around the West Midlands, with the odd longer run to attend major club events and shows, the mileage rising from 18,950 to 61,490 over this 49-year period. The notebooks also detail routine maintenance, although it never seems to have needed much other than the usual service items until 2006.

In November 2006, at c. 51,350 miles, the engine was rebuilt, an invoice showing that the machining was done by Kingswinford Engine Services (see last photo). Other more recent invoices include: new radiator core in 2017; two new suspension springs in 2018 (the other two were renewed in 2012); reconditioned starter motor in 2019; reconditioned brake master cylinder in 2020; new electric fuel pump, water pump and front brake shoes relined in 2021.

Notes from the owner dated August 2023 state that the engine was overhauled in 2016. The notes also advise that the rear brakes will need relining; the universal joints need replacing; the hood needs replacing and the wings and running boards need renovation. A quantity of spares and show trophies are included in the sale if desired (engine block; cylinder head; crank; gearbox etc), but these will need to be collected from the West Midlands area.  

Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil pressure, it has not been driven on the road for the last couple of years so some precautionary checks are advisable before it ventures forth once more. We noted that the driver’s seat is not secured properly and will need attention.

Any Gloria is a rare sight these days and this six-cylinder Drophead Coupe is one of only three or four thought to survive. On offer here at a modest guide price, it now needs an enthusiastic new owner who can continue to give it the regular exercise it has enjoyed over the past 50+ years and smarten it up over time as desired.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com