Triumph 1800 - British television celebrity for sale at Bilweb Auctions

Quite a few probably thinks ”Haven’t I seen that car on television?” when looking at a Triumph 1800. They remember right. This convertible played a central role in the BBC show ”Bergerac” in the 1980:s. Now there is a chance to become your own Jim Bergerac when a 1948 Triumph 1800 is up for bidding at Bilweb Auctions.
 
For 9 seasons and in 87 episodes Bergerac´s maroon car roamed the narrow roads of the island Jersey in the British channel. And since this was a time with a limited number of tv channels, the impact was big. The Triumph 1800 became ”Bergerac´s car”.
 
When it was launched in 1946 it was Triumph’s first post-war model. It was considered quite old fashioned with a design rooted in the 1930:s. The large separate headlamps, the radiator well back from the front and the large ”coal scuttle” wings felt a bit dated. But the Triumph 1800 had a strong personality and character that makes it a sought after collectors car today. It was the last car in production with a ”dickey seat” where two passengers can sit by themselves behind a folding windscreen. In the front there is place for a three-abreast seating, an arrangement demanding that the 4-speed gearbox is maneuvered through a column gear change. The body is built from aluminium over an ash frame. There was a surplus of aluminium after the WWII air plane production and it became natural to use it in the post-war car industry. Under the sweeping hood there is a 1.8-litre four cylinder engine producing a modest 65 horse power, supplied with petrol through a Solex downdraught carburetor.
 
The auction car was registered in Sweden in May 1950, despite the fact it is a model year 1948, not unusual at the time. The present owner acquired it in 2006 and has kept it in a very good condition.
 
Triumph 1800 was manufactured in Coventry in only 2501 examples during the years 1946 to 1948. The car was to a high extent hand built.
 
Bilweb Auctions estimates the value of the car to between 240 000 and 260 000 SEK. The auction closes 2 February.

To the auction