TESTERS' REPORT
Page 79
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ANYONE who wants luxury in a small package will find the answer in the Triumph 1300. At a
basic price including tax of £835 the 1300 is one of the more expensive cars in terms of £ per cu. ft. of body but few who drive the car would say that the money is not well spent. Upholstery and trim are first-class, seating is extremely comfortable and the range of adjustment to the seat and the steering wheel position (up and down and fore and aft) should meet the needs of every driver.
The 1,300 c.c. engine in this Triumph pulls well and is hardly heard when cruising in the 60s although there is some transmission noise in lower gears. Handling could be described as superb and there is little roll when cornering fast, although the transmission is prone to harshness on bumpy roads. Synchromesh on the four forward ratios of the gearbox is unbeatable but there is some stiffness in the gearchange on the test car although the floor-mounted lever was considered to be well-placed.
Controls and instruments are conveniently placed but here the car got its only criticism -that the window winders, which are hinged and recessed for safety, are difficult to operate, a particularly bad point in the case of the driver's door. All-round visibility is very good in spite of an inadequate rear-view mirror.
The only fault on the car provided for test was on the driver's-side quarter-light which was difficult to close due to misalignment of the catch and striker plate. The car was best summed up by one of the users who said at the end of his report: want one".