Triumph Super 9
Encyclopedia
The Triumph Super 9 was first introduced by the Triumph Motor Company
in 1931 at a price of £185. It continued through into 1933. It had an RAC
rating of 8.9 hp.
There were three significant models on the same chassis, a 4 door six light saloon, a 4 door tourer and a 2 door 4 seat tourer known as the Southern Cross.
The Super 9‘s were the first Triumphs
to use 12 volt electrics (early Southern Cross’s still used 6 volt for a short period) and the first to be fitted with a Coventry Climax
engine, which was made under licence by Triumph. They had a track of 3 ft 7 ½” and a wheelbase of 7ft 8”. The front doors on the saloon were hinged at the front while those at the back were hinged to the rear. A sliding sun roof was standard, operated by a rotating handle above the driver. Folding rear arm rests were fitted but do not appear on the prototype
. The most noticeable differences between 1931 cars and the later models was a change to the radiator surround and different profiling of the front wings. Two 6 volt batteries were housed under the rear passenger floor, while the prototype had a single 12 volt battery on the bulk head. (Very advanced for the period.) Many of the chassis and transmission components were left overs from the Super 7’s
and 8’s.
Optional extras were a luggage rack, chrome bumpers and Stevenson Jacking system. The upholstery
was leather cloth with leather seating. The only known Super 9 to have Bedford Cord throughout is the prototype; this also has a smokers vent in the roof which is shown on brochures, but is not seen on any production 9’s. Instruments consisted of a speedometer
, clock, oil gauge and ammeter
. After 1931 a petrol gauge was added, prior to this a fuel tap was incorporated to give a reserve supply. Dash switches consisted of, a dash light, interior light, ignition
, and a starter button, also choke and fast running control. External lights switching, battery charge rate, and ignition timing were all at the centre of the steering wheel
.
side draught carburettor was fitted. During 1931 the rear of the engine was supported on a 3/16” steel plate spanning across the chassis, consequently the gearbox bell housing
was deep and with the starter along side. Later cars had a cast iron
flywheel housing and a much shallower bell housing, the starter was then repositioned alongside the engine. (This being the adopted arrangement for the following Super 9s & 10’s and the Glorias). Cooling is by thermal syphon aided by the sloping shape of the aluminium water manifold on the head. The dynamo is driven by a Duplex chain with the distributor mounted at the rear end of the dynamo. A top speed of 60 mph was obtainable with a cruising speed of 45 mph. Petrol consumption in the region of 35 mpg for a car weighing 19 cwt. unladen.
which had a gravity tank. Fuel was pumped either by Autovac or SU Petrolift. Suspension consists of 4 semi elliptic springs on rubber bushes damped by Luvax hydraulic shock absorbers. Cars after 1931 replaced the rubber bushes with bronze bushes and grease nipples. Wheels were of the Magnum type with 5 studs fitted with 4.50 x 19" pneumatic tyres.
Triumph Super 9 - 6 Light coachbuilt saloon prototype, built 1931
Triumph Super 9 - 4 Door Tourer 1933, price new £198
Triumph 9. Southern Cross 1932, price new £225
Pre 40 Triumph Motor Club - Contact:- Archivist Graham Shipman (registrar@pre-1940triumphownersclub.net)
Ref book: 1940 Triumph Motor Cars (ISBN 0-9550422-1-6)
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
in 1931 at a price of £185. It continued through into 1933. It had an RAC
Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club is a private club and is not to be confused with RAC plc, a motorists' organisation, which it formerly owned.It has two club houses, one in London at 89-91 Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, Surrey, next to the City of London Freemen's School...
rating of 8.9 hp.
There were three significant models on the same chassis, a 4 door six light saloon, a 4 door tourer and a 2 door 4 seat tourer known as the Southern Cross.
The Super 9‘s were the first Triumphs
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
to use 12 volt electrics (early Southern Cross’s still used 6 volt for a short period) and the first to be fitted with a Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
engine, which was made under licence by Triumph. They had a track of 3 ft 7 ½” and a wheelbase of 7ft 8”. The front doors on the saloon were hinged at the front while those at the back were hinged to the rear. A sliding sun roof was standard, operated by a rotating handle above the driver. Folding rear arm rests were fitted but do not appear on the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
. The most noticeable differences between 1931 cars and the later models was a change to the radiator surround and different profiling of the front wings. Two 6 volt batteries were housed under the rear passenger floor, while the prototype had a single 12 volt battery on the bulk head. (Very advanced for the period.) Many of the chassis and transmission components were left overs from the Super 7’s
Triumph Super 7
The Triumph Super 7 was a car manufactured from 1927 to 1934 by the Triumph Motor Company. It was produced as a response to the success of the Austin 7 and was Triumph's first car to be made in large numbers...
and 8’s.
Optional extras were a luggage rack, chrome bumpers and Stevenson Jacking system. The upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
was leather cloth with leather seating. The only known Super 9 to have Bedford Cord throughout is the prototype; this also has a smokers vent in the roof which is shown on brochures, but is not seen on any production 9’s. Instruments consisted of a speedometer
Speedometer
A speedometer is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a land vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the 1900s, and as standard equipment from about 1910 onwards. Speedometers for other vehicles have specific names...
, clock, oil gauge and ammeter
Ammeter
An ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the electric current in a circuit. Electric currents are measured in amperes , hence the name. Instruments used to measure smaller currents, in the milliampere or microampere range, are designated as milliammeters or microammeters...
. After 1931 a petrol gauge was added, prior to this a fuel tap was incorporated to give a reserve supply. Dash switches consisted of, a dash light, interior light, ignition
Ignition
Ignition may refer to:*Making fire*CombustionEvents* Ignition , a Burning Man regional event held in Montreal, QuebecIn Media* Ignition , a top-down racing game for PC published in 1997...
, and a starter button, also choke and fast running control. External lights switching, battery charge rate, and ignition timing were all at the centre of the steering wheel
Steering wheel
A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
.
Engine
The Coventry Climax engines are of the OISE configuration, with a bore of 60mm and a stroke of 90mm, giving 1018 cc. Generally a SolexSolex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
side draught carburettor was fitted. During 1931 the rear of the engine was supported on a 3/16” steel plate spanning across the chassis, consequently the gearbox bell housing
Bell housing
"Bell housing" is a colloquial/slang term for the portion of the transmission that covers the flywheel and the clutch or torque converter of the transmission on vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. This housing is bolted to the engine block and derives its name from the bell-like...
was deep and with the starter along side. Later cars had a cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
flywheel housing and a much shallower bell housing, the starter was then repositioned alongside the engine. (This being the adopted arrangement for the following Super 9s & 10’s and the Glorias). Cooling is by thermal syphon aided by the sloping shape of the aluminium water manifold on the head. The dynamo is driven by a Duplex chain with the distributor mounted at the rear end of the dynamo. A top speed of 60 mph was obtainable with a cruising speed of 45 mph. Petrol consumption in the region of 35 mpg for a car weighing 19 cwt. unladen.
Steering
Steering is a worm and wheel, the drop shaft attached to the wheel is on three keyways so it can be turned through 120 deg. to compensate for wear. Also adjustment is provided for engagement of the worm to the wheel.Transmission and suspension
Transmission is through a single 8 ¼” clutch plate along with a 4 speed and reverse gear box. The hand brake operated a transmission brake attached to the rear end of the gear box. A conventional Hardy-Spicer prop shaft connected it to the axle. The rear axle is a worm and wheel with under slung worm making for a low floor. The brakes are Lockheed hydraulic acting on 9 ½” drums with one leading and one trailing shoe on all 4 wheels. The petrol tank is at the rear, unlike Super 7’sTriumph Super 7
The Triumph Super 7 was a car manufactured from 1927 to 1934 by the Triumph Motor Company. It was produced as a response to the success of the Austin 7 and was Triumph's first car to be made in large numbers...
which had a gravity tank. Fuel was pumped either by Autovac or SU Petrolift. Suspension consists of 4 semi elliptic springs on rubber bushes damped by Luvax hydraulic shock absorbers. Cars after 1931 replaced the rubber bushes with bronze bushes and grease nipples. Wheels were of the Magnum type with 5 studs fitted with 4.50 x 19" pneumatic tyres.
Triumph Super 9 - 6 Light coachbuilt saloon prototype, built 1931
Triumph Super 9 - 4 Door Tourer 1933, price new £198
Triumph 9. Southern Cross 1932, price new £225
External links
Pre 40 Triumph Motor Club - Contact:- Archivist Graham Shipman (registrar@pre-1940triumphownersclub.net)
Ref book: 1940 Triumph Motor Cars (ISBN 0-9550422-1-6)