Triumph does not build many cars like the Triumph Vitesse: a Two-door saloon / Two-door convertible / Three-door estate (by special order) with 1596 , built from 1962 to 1971 in the decade that gave the world the pony car and the mid-engined supercar. Its designer of record is Giovanni Michelotti.
Where it came from
The Triumph Vitesse is a compact six-cylinder car built by Standard-Triumph from 1962 to 1971. The car was based on the Giovanni Michelotti designed Herald and was available in saloon and convertible variants. After the initial launch in 1962, the 2.0-litre was launched in 1966 and was improved in 1968 and was sold as the Mk2.
The Vitesse name was first used by Austin in the 1914 to 1916 Austin 20 hp and 30 hp Vitesse models. This was followed in 1922 by G. N.(Godfrey & Nash) on their GN Vitesse Cycle-car, and then by Triumph on a car made from 1935–1938. After the last Triumph Vitesse was made in 1971, the Vitesse name remained unused until 1982 when Rover began to use the name on their more sporting models including the SD1, the 216, and finally on the Rover 800 until 1998.
Under the skin
Under the skin sits 1596 other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 2072 lb. The gearbox is a Four-speed manual with / Optional overdrive. 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 91.5 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
In context
Where it sits in Triumph's history is not in doubt: the Triumph Dolomite followed it; it was built at Canley, Coventry, United Kingdom. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Aston Martin DB5. Nearby in the Triumph catalogue sit the Triumph SD2 and the Triumph Renown.
The money
MotorJury scores cars on the United States complaint and recall record, and the Triumph Vitesse has none: too old, too rare, or never sold there. Its value today is a collector's question, decided by provenance and condition rather than by a class average.