As an independent company, Triumph's finances sagged in the 1930s, yet its cars became more and more elegant, including the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite.
For 1937, Triumph's stylists took a long look at the SS Jaguars being built only hundreds of yards away, adopted similar lines, then grafted on a Hudson-like waterfall grille sometimes unflatteringly referred to as the "fencer's mask."
Lifting the Dolomite name from its Alfa-inspired supercharged straight-eight roadster of 1935, the firm offered a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines and three different wheelbases on these successors to the previous Gloria and Vitesse models, which were similar in engine and chassis design.
The 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomites boasted all the middle-class British virtues, including wire-spoke wheels, "tasteful" interiors, and -- at last -- gearbox synchronization. On the other hand, they lacked independent front suspension, typical of the UK in this period.
Body styles included the Foursome convertible coupe with a three-position folding top, and the rumble-seat Roadster Coupe, plus various close-coupled sedans. The Roadster was a fine rally car, and all Dolomites could be considered useful alternatives to equivalent Rileys and SS Jaguars.
Alas, Triumph went broke in mid-1939. The company was revived after the war, but not these cars.
Pluses of the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite:
- A famous name in its heyday
- Real British elegance
- Handsome styling
- Simple engineering
Minuses of the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite:
- Limited performance
- Rot-prone coachbuilt bodies
- Parts almost impossible to find
Production
of the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite:
1,000
(estimated)
Specifications
of the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite:
Wheelbase, inches: 108.0/110.0/116.0
Length, inches: 168.0-181.5
Weight, pounds: 2,800-3,300
Price, new: NA
Engines for the 1936-1939 Triumph Dolomite:
| Type | Size | Horsepower | Years |
| ohv I-4 | 1,496 cc (91 cid) | 50 | 1938-1939 |
| ohv I-4 | 1,767 cc (108 cid) | 60/65 | 1936-1939 |
| ohv I-6 | 1,991 cc (122 cid) | 72/75 | 1936-1939 |
Want more information about classic cars? See:
- Classic Cars
- Triumph Sports Cars
- Muscle Cars
- Sports Cars
- Consumer Guide Auto
- Consumer Guide Auto Used Car Search
