Civil Engineer Jon Boucher, from Northamptonshire, shares his experience of borrowing a Triumph Renown from owner Harry Beacall.
Jon and the Triumph Renown at the British Motor Museum (Image by John Lakey).
Applying to the Classic Car Loan Project
I’ve always had an interest in older cars, particularly those with classic curves & and styling, partly because, as a young child, my father, who is also an enthusiast, often spent time working on, servicing or repairing friends’ and neighbours’ cars. After many years of ‘threatening‘ to get himself a classic car, my Dad persuaded my mum, who finally succumbed and, for their 54th wedding anniversary, actually bought him his Mk 3 Triumph Spitfire in October 2022. Since he got it, he and I have been regularly attending the local classic car club meetings.
It was at these events that I first met Harry Beacall, who set up and runs ‘The Long Buckby & Surrounding Villages’ Vintage & Classic Car Club’, and who is also the Company Secretary and Treasurer of the Triumph Razoredge Owners’ Club (TROC). He was already involved with the Classic Car Loan Project with one of his other cars, which was approaching the end of its loan period.
At one event in mid-September 2023, Harry, my dad, and I were talking about “car stuff” said, and he mentioned, “I’ve just been given a car’’. Because he already had four or five classic cars, he said he was, ‘’going to put it in the Loan Scheme’’.
This car was a Triumph Renown TDC, which he’d already christened ‘The Duchess’ because of how high class and stylish it looked; it wouldn’t look out of place with a Duchess in the back being chauffeur driven around the town.
He asked me if I’d be interested in borrowing it through the CCLP as I’d been going to several meetings with Dad. He reckoned I’d be ideal because Dad had done his motor vehicle mechanics apprenticeship with ‘Whites of Grimsby’, a ‘Mercedes and later Standard Triumph Dealership, in his early working life.
Harry was, therefore, keen for us to do this together. One initial worry was that it wouldn’t fit in the garage because it’s quite a big car, but over a couple of months, we had a much-needed garage clear out, made space, and worked out it would just fit with an inch or so to spare. It went from there. I just signed up for my interest, filled out the necessary paperwork, and awaited a decision.
A few weeks later, Harry said I’d been selected and could use the car; it was a natural progression. The CCLP is a great scheme, and I appreciate it very much. Having the mechanical expertise of both Harry and my dad on hand, who live 5 minutes down the road, is a real bonus as well if I ever need to talk through a problem or get some mechanical assistance.
Period advert for Renown and Mayflower.
The car was donated to Harry by Louis Anthill, who was in his 90s because he wasn’t getting it out to drive it anymore. He knew Harry through the club, and Harry has a Triumph Mayflower, which, stylistically, is like a smaller version of the Triumph Renown. Sadly, a week after I got the car, Louis passed away, and on that day, the car wouldn’t start; I thought, crikey, it must be linked! I like to think it was the Duchess paying her respects to Louis in the only way she knew how. It was quite a strange thing; it would just not go…
The next day, it was fine; there appeared to be no reason why it wouldn’t work the day before. Sadly, I didn’t get to know Louis, but he and a couple of his friends had taken the car to pieces and rebuilt it, finishing in 2014. There’s a charming little plaque on the car’s bulkhead commemorating this.
I’ve enjoyed using the car so far, and Harry keeps asking me to keep it! So, I polish it, clean it, fix it, and generally do all the regular checks and maintenance you need to do to classic cars to keep them healthy and running.
David Boucher working on the Renown
Triumph Renown – The Experience
As expected with a car this age, there have been a few minor issues along the way with it; for instance, the brake lights have just stopped working again, which, after doing some checking, we worked out was a dodgy connection on the brake light switch. I like it, it’s not like modern cars, is it? You can work on it, and I find that very satisfying. I wouldn’t even know where to start on a modern car.
My dad is in his seventies now, and he’s not as flexible as he used to be, but I think he’s enjoyed helping and passing on some knowledge, and I’ve enjoyed getting stuck in & learning on the job. I’ve had a company car most of my life, so I’ve not had anything to play with before now; I’m used to dropping it off and getting it back clean and serviced.
It’s a very different driving experience as well. Like in the old American films, where it looks like they are steering too much, it does have a lot more play in the steering than a modern car, and it does not have power steering, so I should have arms like Popeye at the end of the year.
Triumph Renown History and Information
She has a 2-litre engine, the one used in other Triumphs such as the TR2 and also in the Standard Vanguard, and she rolls and bounces like a boat as well but will do 50mph downhill at a push! Although I believe the published maximum is 75mph, I’ve never got near that and don’t intend to, but I don’t hold that against her; let’s not forget she is 72 years old.
The Renown was launched in 1946 as the Triumph 1800 saloon and wasn’t called Renown until October 1949, when it was updated, although people often call the early cars Renowns as well because they look so similar. The bodies on this family of cars were all coach-built with a wooden frame and alloy panels by Mulliners of Bordesley Green, Birmingham, who also trimmed them.
They were then transported to Triumph’s factory in Canley, Coventry, and fitted to a chassis on the production line. Mulliners of Bordesley Green shared its name with other coach-building firms, H J Mulliner and Arthur Mulliner, but there was no financial connection.
Using the Renown at shows with Dad’s Spitfire
I’ve also learnt the changes that led to the change of name were actually quite extensive. The bodyshell looked very similar but was mounted on a new Vanguard-style box section pressed-steel chassis with independent coil spring front suspension, and used many other Vanguard parts, including the engine, transmission, brake system and the majority of the steering components.
It also received a new dashboard that incorporated Vanguard rectangular-shaped instruments. There were also new seats and charmingly a small flap to hinge over the rear-view mirror to prevent dazzle from following vehicles’ headlamps at night. They also moved the 3-speed gear change to the left of the steering column.
The razor-edged styling, which was typical of a Rolls-Royce and Bentley just before and after the war wasn’t a cheap thing to do. Steel was difficult to get after the war, though, so it made sense to use aluminium. It wasn’t a direct competitor to the RR or Bentley, but I guess it was very much a homage.
The easy way to recognise a TDC model like mine is that it’s 3-inches longer in the rear doors, has push button door handles, and a larger rear screen. Mulliner’s own Leslie Moore did most of the styling and engineering of the saloon body in 1946, with some influence from Sir John Black, Chairman of Standard Triumph, and some detail changes enacted by Triumph’s own designer, Walter Belgrove.
One quite rare thing about this car is that it has black painted headlamp housings instead of being chromed as most were. Harry did some research and said it was at a time when Triumph had experienced an increase in the cost of chrome plating and that painting the housing became the cheaper option. Only 2,100 or so cars, of the 15,491 made, had black-painted headlamps.
I took over the car on November 28th, 2023, and have really enjoyed my time with it so far. We’ve been to the Hollywell Steam Rally and camped overnight with it as well as events at Gaydon and other local shows with Dad, who takes his car. My wife has enjoyed days out & picnics in it as well.
I’ve done two prom trips this year, taking Harry’s friend’s daughters and my own daughter to their respective prom nights, so the Triumph was full of very excited prom girls, giggling & waving at their friends & people as they drove by, saying, look at us! So, yeah, they were having a really good time, and it was great to be able to use ‘The Duchess’ for what she was born to do, give people who get to ride in her the chance to feel like a star. The car just makes people happy.
Even the chassis plate has style
As you’d expect, it’s not all been plain sailing. I’ve had to mess around with the wiring for both the indicators and brake lights, and they tend to fail when it’s wet as they run underneath the car, so I tend not to drive it much in the rain. I’ve changed the coil after some initial starting problems, but fortunately, Harry had one in his shed and said ‘’try this before going to the expense of buying one…. I don’t know if it’ll work.’’ I put it in, and it worked! We’ve also had a few punctures. The tyres have tubes in and one that came out was a red one which I’ve never seen, so maybe they were a bit perished! The jack doesn’t quite fit in the jacking holes anymore because they’ve all rusted up, so just in case I have to temporarily steal the jack from my wife’s car whenever I go out on a trip… But Shhh ! Just Don’t let her know.
The loan scheme has a WhatsApp group, where we send pictures and say, ‘I’m going to this event, anyone else going’’. I’ve enjoyed meeting the other people involved and hearing about their trips, problems, and escapades. The project is run by a really nice, friendly and knowledgeable group of people and the loan scheme is a great thing to be involved with.
What’s not to like? The project is supported by Peter James Insurance who can assist you with arranging insurance. You get to meet & make lots of new friends, visit places you otherwise wouldn’t and get the chance to get hands-on with the joys of classic car ownership. Let’s face it: it’s almost too good to be true!
Charming plaque commemorates the restoration by long time previous owner.
A part of me doesn’t want to give it back, but there’s a part of me that thinks it’s a loan scheme. Am I being selfish? Harry says he doesn’t mind me keeping it longer… I’ll have a chat with Harry nearer the time and see what he thinks.
I’d like to own my own classic, although not one that needs major restoration because I don’t have the time. I was thinking about another Triumph, possibly a GT6, coupe version of the Spitfire, with that lovely 6-cylinder engine. When I was a kid, I always wanted a Lotus Esprit, and that desire has never gone away, maybe the James Bond thing had an influence… But I am fond of the Duchess; she’s not a bad old girl and brings a smile to my face whenever I drive her. They’re very rare to see… Just the other day, when I was parked up at Watford Gap Services, an old couple parked up at the side of me, and the man said ‘’oh, I had one of those when I was a kid! We had a good 15 minute chat about his and my memories of the Triumph Renown, and before he left I used his phone to take pictures of him and his wife stood next to the Duchess. ’I love those experiences; classic cars bring people together.
I’d highly recommend getting involved with the Classic Car Loan Project. I can honestly say that it’s been nothing but a fun and positive experience for me and all my family.
Peter James are proud to sponsor the Classic Car Loan project and help to inspire and enthuse tomorrow’s classic vehicle owners.
https://classiccarloanproject.co.uk/cars-in-the-project
