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Siegfried Bettman, German born of Jewish parents, arrived in the United Kingdom in 1883 where he started building bicycles, first using the Triumph name in the 1890's. He built his first motorcycle in 1902. Triumph became well established in Coventry and had German connections with a cycle factory in Nuremberg. The first three-wheeler was produced at Coventry in 1903.

Some twenty years were to pass before a four-wheel Light Car was made, this was based on the Dawson, a make that had failed, and had hydraulic brakes on the rear wheels.

The bicycle business was sold at the end of the 1920's and in 1936 the motorcycle and car businesses were separated.

The multi story motorcycle factory at Priory Street, Coventry (now the site of the new cathedral) was not suitable for car production, so Bettman bought the Dawson Car Company's premises at Clay Lane and the first Triumph car appeared in April 1923. Arthur Alderson, previously at Singer and Lea-Francis, designed it.

In 1929 Triumph competed in the Monte Carlo Rally and Tourist Trophy Race in Northen Ireland. Single seaters were raced at Brooklands. In the 1930 Monte Carlo Rally Donald Healey was 7th from a field of 87 in a Super Seven thereby being the highest place British car. During the 1930's Triumph competed and won many events. Despite this Triumph were in financial difficulties by 1939 and for a time the company was owned by Thos W Ward (A well known Sheffield steel concern).

Although initially making their own engines they turned to Coventry-Climax in 1932 but reverting again to their own in 1936/7.

Triumph realised they could not compete with the likes of Austin and Morris and concentrated on the top end of the family market. In mid 1933 Colonel Holbrook took over from Siegfried Bettman as managing director. (Bettman bought the motorcycle arm in 1936 at the age of 72). The Technical Director was Donald Healey.

The company went into receivership in 1939 and The Standard Motor Company bought Triumph in 1945.

Experiments were carried out to try to revive the former sporting image of Triumph and eventually led to the TR2 in 1953. This car was a success selling well in export markets. The TR3 became available in 1955 to be followed in January 1958 by the well-known TR3A.

In 1959 the Herald was announced to replace the Eight and Ten, this car had a separate chassis and boasted a 25 foot (7.6 m) turning circle.

Three TR3S's (based on the standard TR3 but with the twin overhead camshaft engine) were entered in the 1959 Le Mans. None finished due to engine failure (car 25) and punctured radiators (cars 26 and 27). In 1960 three TR4S's were entered but all retired due to dropped valve seat inserts. The buying department had made a cost saving by using different materials to that tested. Three TR4S's were again entered in 1961, finishing 9th, 11th and 15th taking the Team Prize.

In December 1960 the company was taken over by Leyland Motors.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk