The Triumph Toledo is a 2-door Sedan (automobile) / saloon / 4-door saloon from Triumph, built from 1970 to 1976, as the oil crises and the first emissions rules rewired the industry. Under the bonnet: 1296/1493 cc I4.
The background
The Triumph Toledo is a compact car which was produced by the Rover-Triumph division of British Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1976. The Toledo was introduced in August 1970 as a cheaper version of the Triumph 1300, which was at the same time replaced by the Triumph 1500. The Toledo, like the front-wheel drive 1500, came with a new split grille at the front, but instead of the 1500's twin round headlamps, it had single rectangular units set in a grey plastic grille. The rear end was like that of the 1300 except for the tail lights, which were of a simpler, flat-faced design. The biggest change for the Toledo was a move to rear-wheel drive and live rear axle (still with coil springs), in the interest of simplicity and low production costs.
The interior was also cheaper, with wood confined to a dashboard consisting of a simple plank with holes drilled for the quite basic instrumentation but the interior was a cut above most other small cars at a time when black plastic was commonplace. Initially, the Toledo was only available as a two-door saloon with the 1296 cc engine Standard SC engine of 58 bhp (43.3 kW) net. Drum brakes were fitted all round and there was no overdrive or automatic option available. In March 1971 a 4-door "special export" version was launched at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring a 1500 cc engine in single and twin carburettor "TC" form producing 61 and 64 bhp (45 and 48 kW) net, respectively. From late August 1971 the four-door model was also available on the home market. The four-door Toledo featured the same side body pressings as the Trium
The engineering
Power comes from 1296/1493 cc I4. It weighs 1960 lb. It shifts through a 4-speed manual. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 97 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Where it sits
Its family tree is legible: it took over from the Triumph 1300; its successor was the Triumph Dolomite; assembly was at Canley, Coventry. Its contemporaries in the catalogue — the American Motors Corporation AMC Gremlin, the Suzuki Jimny, the Chevrolet Impala — show what else the money bought that year. Its Triumph stablemates include the Triumph SD2 and the Triumph Renown.
What it costs now
There is no federal ownership record for the Triumph Toledo — it predates the complaint database or was never sold in the United States — so MotorJury publishes no running-cost figure for it. For a car of this age the price is set by the collector market and the condition of the individual example, not by a formula.