Date |
Chassis
Number |
Details
of modifications and changes in specification |
MAY 1963 |
O/5/101 |
The GT 2+2 was introduced. This was a sports
saloon based on the Triumph Herald chassis. It had all-independent
suspension, front disc brakes and the Mark I Spitfire
1147 cc engine fitted with twin carburettors. The body
utilised the Herald floor, bulkhead, windscreen and
doors with the roof, rear body and front, forward hinging,
bonnet being designed and manufactured by Bond. The
front had an oval mesh grille and rectangular side flasher
lights below single headlamps. From the windscreen,
the roof sloped rearwards to finish with three separate,
round, rear lights each side of the number plate. There
was no external opening boot lid and luggage access
was from inside with the rear seat folded down. Pre-production
and very early production vehicles had fixed,  non-opening, rear side windows.
Length
12' 11", width 5' 0", height 4' 5", wheelbase
7' 7½".
Colours initially available:
Signal Red, British Racing Green, Dover White, Powder
Blue and Opalescent Silver Grey. The first production
GT was Opalescent Silver Grey, with the registration
number 516 FYL. Price was £822 4s 7d (£822.23p),
which also included £142 4s 7d (£142.23p)
purchase tax.
 NOTE: It is believed that at least seven pre-production
cars were built prior to MAY 1963 with the registration
numbers SRN 999 (Signal Red), SRN
998 (Powder Blue), SRN 990 (British
Racing Green), TCK 888 (Dover White), TCK
300 (Signal Red), TCK 301 (Powder
Blue) and TCK 302 (unknown, maybe Opalescent Silver Grey).
|
SEPT.
1963 |
O/9/176 |
A
full rear floor was fitted. |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/193 |
Standard
White was substituted for Dover White. |
OCT. 1963 |
O/10/207 |
A
“Motor Show” vehicle, body colour Opalescent Silver
Grey. Registration number believed to be UCK 368 |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/211 |
A
“Motor Show” vehicle, body colour Cherry Red. |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/223 |
The
angle of the door pillar was altered. |
OCT. 1963 |
O/10/242 |
Positive
lock catches were fitted to the rear quarter lights
in place of the friction type. Wedgwood Blue was substituted
for Powder Blue. |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/247 |
A
mechanical stop lamp switch was fitted in place of the
oil type switch. |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/248 |
Cherry
Red was substituted for Signal Red. |
OCT.
1963 |
O/10/255 |
Rear
springs with a modified “set” were fitted. |
JUNE 1964 |
P/6/492 |
This
vehicle was fitted with a Mark II Spitfire engine and
tested on 26th September 1964. Body colour Cherry Red.
(Also fitted with a Mark II engine were 534 and 542,
Cherry Red and Conifer Green respectively.) |
JUNE
1964 |
P/6/508 |
The
bulkhead was modified - ref. the heater outlet. |
SEPT.
1964 |
P/9/533 |
The
solid prop. shaft and a gearbox tie rod were refitted. |
SEPT. 1964 |
P/9/1001 |
 The GT4S was introduced. Mechanics and chassis
were as for the GT. 2+2, but with a restyled bodywork,
giving increased headroom for the rear seat passengers.
It also featured a “sawn-off” rear end with an opening
boot lid, twin headlamps and a slatted grille of five
horizontal bars. A higher output C40-L dynamo and a
RB340 control box were fitted (except 1003 and 1006).
Length was increased to 13' 4".
Colours available:
Conifer Green, Cherry Red, Wedgwood Blue and Standard
White.
A price tag of £817 3s 9d (£817.18p)
included £142 3s 9d (£142.18p) purchase
tax.
|
OCT. 1964 |
P/10/544 |
The
GT 2+2 was discontinued. The last produced was Standard
White, tested on 31st October 1964. The last recorded
price of £786 19s 7d (£786.98p) had decreased
from the original due to changes in the rate of purchase
tax – down to £136 19s 7d (£136.98p). |
NOV.
1964 |
P/11/1010 |
A
baffle was fitted in the petrol tank. |
NOV.
1964 |
P/11/1017 |
The
“Les Leston” steering wheel was fitted. |
NOV. 1964 |
P/11/1023 |
The
flasher unit was repositioned on the bulkhead (rear
of the battery) and a heater outlet deflector plate
was fitted (immediately above gearbox cover). |
NOV.
1964 |
P/11/1027 |
A
large boot stay was fitted (from the boot lid to the
floorboard). |
DEC. 1964 |
P/12/1049 |
A
rubber seal was fitted to curtail the overflow of water
into the boot (top edge of the aperture flange). |
FEB.
1965 |
Q/2/1148 |
The
front seat base tubes were welded in position (to reduce
seat creak). |
FEB. 1965 |
Q/2/1184 |
The
Mark II Spitfire engine was introduced. The Standard
Triumph exhaust pipe assembly had to be extended by
2" (to give the silencer clearance from the chassis
members at the forward end) and an additional support
was fitted from the rear of the gearbox. A hazard sign
on the underside of the spare wheel cover was now included
and the front wheels were balanced. |
MAR.
1965 |
Q/3/1225 |
The
“pull off” coil spring was removed from the clutch pedal. |
APR.
1965 |
Q/4/1294 |
A
full metal bulkhead was fitted between the boot compartment
and the inside of the car. |
APR. 1965 |
Q/4/1322 |
Castrol
“Storage” oil was used in the engines. (Topping up was
not recommended - drain at first the service.) |
JUNE 1965 |
Q/6/1484 |
A
new housing for the horn push was introduced. This had
a Bakelite boss, including a brass extension piece,
for the horn contact on the “Les Leston” steering wheel. |
JUNE 1965 |
Q/6/1515 |
Wire
wheels were introduced as an optional extra and cost
£30 5s 0d (£30.25p) |
JULY
1965 |
Q/7/1546 |
A
strap drive prop. shaft was fitted in place of the solid
prop. shaft. |
AUG.
1965 |
Q/8/1595 |
A
metal dynamo pulley was fitted in place of the Bakelite
type pulley. |
AUG.
1965 |
Q/8/1621 |
The
steering shaft flexible coupling bolts were changed
from ¼" to 5/16". |
AUG.
1965 |
Q/8/1633 |
A
water drain tap was fitted to the engine block in place
of the blanking plug. |
SEPT. 1965 |
Q/9/1735 |
The
clutch slave cylinder to bell housing bolts were changed
from 5/16"
to ¼". (To allow the cylinder to be repositioned
slightly, improving the operation of the clutch.) |
SEPT. 1965 |
Q/9/1758 |
A
solid prop. shaft and the inclusion of a gearbox tie
rod, was fitted in place of the strap drive prop. shaft. |
OCT.
1965 |
Q/10/1793 |
Cactus
Green officially replaced Conifer Green. |
OCT.
1965 |
Q/10/1809 |
Golden
Sand introduced. |
OCT.
1965 |
Q/10/1813 |
Antifreeze
was added to all radiators. |
OCT. 1965 |
Q/10/1819 |
All
bolts and fitments on the bulkhead tray, including the
heater box securing bolts, were now sealed. (To eliminate
ingress of water to the inside of the car.) |
OCT. 1965 |
Q/10/1859 |
The
rain channel above the front windscreen header rail
was modified. (To eliminate the rain channel and to
enable the metal nib to be clenched around the edge
of the glass fibre.) |
NOV. 1965 |
Q/11/1935 |
A
revised Service Voucher book, along with the Bond three-part
Customer Preparation Service and Warranty form was supplied. |
NOV.
1965 |
Q/11/1937 |
An
11 leaf rear spring was fitted in place of the 8 leaf
spring. (Also to 1935) |
DEC. 1965 |
Q/12/2012 |
The
Instruction book, Service Voucher book and Bond three-part
Service/warranty form were now supplied in a plastic
bag. |
JAN. 1966 |
R/1/2093 |
The
clutch slave cylinder was changed from 5/8" dia. to 7/8" dia. The “rat trap” spring was removed
from the clutch pedal and the pull-off coil spring refitted. |
FEB. 1966 |
R/2/2145 |
The
Triplex heated rear window was introduced as an optional
extra and cost £18 2s 6d (£18.13p) |
APR.
1966 |
R/4/2349 |
A
Weathershields sunroof was offered as an optional extra
and cost £29 10s 0d (£29.50p) |
JUNE 1966 |
R/6/2637 |
This
vehicle was without an engine number, colour or test
date but was recorded as being for Standard Triumph
International, New Zealand. No other details are known. |
OCT.
1966 |
R/10/2837 |
Quartz
Blue officially replaced Wedgwood Blue in the standard
colour range. |
JAN. 1967 |
S/1/2934 |
The
last chassis number for the GT4S with the Mark II Spitfire
1147 cc engine. Body colour Cherry Red. |
FEB. 1967 |
S/2/2935 |
The
introduction of the GT4S 1300. A Mark III Spitfire 1296
cc engine was fitted giving an increase in b.h.p. to
75. The rear suspension was improved and the front disc
brake calliper area increased. Map pockets were added
to the door trims, a polished walnut gear knob replaced
the plastic one and “1300” badges were added to the
front wings. The seat belt anchorage points were also
upgraded to conform to the latest Ministry of Transport
regulations.
New standard colours of Winchester
Blue, Dolphin Grey, Signal Red and White replaced all
previous colours. (Mark III engines were also fitted
to 2886, 2914, 2915, 2917, 2925 and 2930.) Price was
£889 3s 6d (£889.18p). |
JULY 1967 |
S/7/3121 |
This
was the last recorded entry in the surviving production
records. Tested on 15th July, the body colour was White. |
AUG. 1967 |
S/8/4000 |
 The Mark I, 2 Litre GT Sports Saloon was introduced.
A completely new, restyled two-door fastback bodywork
(including windscreen and door skins) mounted on the
Triumph Vitesse chassis and powered by the 1998 cc,
95 b.h.p. six cylinder engine using an all-synchromesh,
four-speed gearbox. Externally, a full width grille
with horizontal bars, twin head lamps, wrap-around bumpers,
new rear lamps and large rear window. Inside, the Vitesse
instrument fascia, new design of front seat trimmed
in “Ambla”, a three-spoke leather covered steering wheel
and the radio aerial fitted as standard but mounted
internally inside the roof.
Length 13' 10",
width 5' 1½", height 4' 4½"
and wheelbase 7' 7½".
Colours were as
GT4S: White, Signal Red, Winchester Blue and Dolphin
Grey. (Prairie Beige was substituted for Dolphin Grey
on both models of Equipe from the 1967 Motor Show onwards.)
Price was £1095 13s 6d (£1095.68p), which
included £205 13s 6d (£205.68p) purchase
tax.
|
MAY 1968 |
T/5/4304 |
“Ambla”
trimmed door cappings and fascia panels with a recessed
switch panel replaced the veneered type.
|
SEPT.
1968 |
T/9/4590 |
The
Mark I was discontinued. The last chassis number.
|
SEPT. 1968 |
T/9/4591 |
The
Mark II saloon was introduced utilising a new lower-wishbone
rear suspension and the engine power increased to 104
b.h.p. Other minor improvements were the “Rostyle” wheel
trims, new back seat armrests, larger side pockets and
a centre glove compartment.
Colours available initially
were Bermuda Blue, Signal Red, Prairie Beige and White,
but later Bahama Yellow, Caribbean Green, Manhattan
Blue and Satin Silver. The price of £1196 16s
1d (£1196.81p) included £261 16s 1d (£261.81p)
purchase tax.
|
SEPT.
1968 |
T/9/4614 |
 The Mark II convertible was introduced. Identical
mechanical and interior specification but with a new
rear body that allowed the hood to be completely stowed
away behind the rear seat. Price initially was £1277
6s 1d (£1277.31p).
|
FEB. 1969 |
U/2/3??? |
Due
to a serious shortage of rubber padding, the 2 Litre
seats were specified for all GT4S vehicles.
|
AUG. 1969 |
U/8/???? |
The
Triumph door sill tread plates were deleted and a new
type in chequered aluminium, made by Bond, were introduced.
The Mark II steering wheels were changed to a new type
supplied by Clifford Coverings.
|
JAN. 1970 |
V/1/4??? |
All
2 Litres were to have the “EQUIPE” and MK II badge deleted
and the ciphers “B” “O” “N” “D”, with a new “2 Litre”
badge added.
|
AUG.
1970 |
V/8/3505 |
The
GT4S 1300 was discontinued. The last chassis number.
|
AUG.
1970 |
V/8/5431 |
The
Mark II saloon and convertible were discontinued. The
last chassis number. |
