1973 Triumph 2500 Pi Fuzz/Gordon Birtwhistle ‘the best classic car I’ve ever driven’ Fuzz Townshend

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[@tombankwel4822]

One of the most gifted triumph 2500 pi mk2 ever made, what a stunning car

[@kaferere]

Anybody who doubts the British Car industry was deliberately sabotaged needs to properly evaluate this car. Comparing it to the BMW's of the day is a mistake, it was streets ahead of them, and along with the Triumph 1300, had so many "firsts" that both BMW. Mercedes and lots of others copied, a centralised warning light system for example, interior door handles that didn't injure occupants in an accident, a variation of which is used on most cars today. The fuel injection was so much better than BMW's awful Kugelfischer effort that flooded the engine on cold days. The suspension was way more surefooted and more modern too. Modern stalk controls for lights and wipers, adjustable steering column, and some of the most comfortable seats ever. The visibility was amazing and the car was so much easier to service. It amazingly had a lower profile yet a higher ground clearance than BMW's. A combination of sabotage and corruption saw the lead this car and others took, disappear. The Germans are far superior ......... at propaganda. And British management is far superior at taking bribes.

[@cogboy302]

One of my early memories was of my Dad taking me for a spin in one of these around some country roads in Northern Ireland. The car was at our place for a glass out respray and it had not a single piece of glass in it, and the exhaust had been removed too. It felt like being in a rocketship. The wind and the noise from the 6 pot motor. I must have only been about 3 or 4 years old, but I still remember it well.

[@jamesdonald7485]

I bought a new 2.5 PI in Auckland, NZ in 1974. One of the nicest cars I have ever owned. Good looking and great to drive.

[@smitbar11]

My dad had one, 'ORR 26L' was the reg, I still remember it. He went into Mitchells garage in Nottingham, they were Leyland dealers. He went to buy a P6 Rover, not sure which, probably the 2000TC one. He came away with the 2500Pi ! Preferred it. He kept it for years until eventually high mileage and the beginnings of body rot persuaded him to trade it in. His favourite car ever, I can never remember any breakdowns and pretty solid, at ten years old only minor rusting. It was a chocolate brown car, lovely car

[@pm8465]

Remember the 2.5Pi back in the 70's when I was a Police traffic officer. Even with the engine issues I loved it. Comfortable and fast with great road holding.

[@niceviewoverthere4463]

One of the most attractive cars ever built. Quick in the day - could catch any wayward Austin 1100 driver - not to mention the A30 or cortina 1300/1600 driver. Was booked on my motorbike in 1975, was put in the back and though "this is nice". It was almost worth the paltry fine for 43 in a 30 zone :) What goes around comes around and I now own a 2500S.

[@johnnunn8688]

I love Triumph cars. The only one I had was a 1500, loved the circular warning thingy on the dash.

[@007JHS]

I bought one of the last 'new delivery' 2500S saloons in Aust... manual overdrive... With the overdrive it was a fast car and ate up the miles. I completed 300,000+ km in it and never had the head off. I replaced the clutch and also the overdrive clutch and UJs on the prop shaft... Wheel bearings were a simple job...and cheap... exact same size as the Holden Kingswood. A beautiful car to drive and always a head turner.

[@LeithElliott]

Same here. Did upgrade the suspension though which was worthwhile.

[@GL-xz3xk]

My grandfather and my dad had Australian 2000’s and 2500’s. Aside from some clutch issues, they both loved them.

[@rogergrey7761]

My father had a 2.5PI estate in the early 1970's and it remains the best car I’ve ever driven. He liked high power cars - he’d had Rover 3 litre saloons before this one - HFT 175 G if I remember correctly. I loved Triumphs and convinced him at one stage to buy a Vitesse which was absolutely hilarious. Memories!!

[@astront917]

Fabulous, i had one when i was 18 in 1989 and my college mates loved it Reminds me of my dad who had loads of these up until the early 2000's Lovely to see and reminds me of my wonderful dad who isnt here anymore. ❤

[@timhood6684]

I worked with Gordon at Canley many years ago in the Experimental Department - great to see him again!

[@larrybain5934]

Had pretty much the same vehicle on an L reg running on twin carbs in the late 90s. Absolutely glorious!

[@johndavey72]

I said in your previous coverage these are one of the most underrated cars ever. I had one as a19year old in 1973 . Fuzz has only recently discovered and enjoyed these fabulous motorcars . I also remarked this would pass £20 k . I'm now certain it will . Fuzz would love this ! So would l ! I paid £600 for mine in 1973 . FXF 99 H . Happy days ! Thanks .

[@manorparkclassics5420]

Always an underrated car, we’ll see what it goes for......

[@MyJon64]

My father's HTE362K

[@firsteerr]

my dad had one of these , it was an ex police car and it stuck to the road like the brown stuff of a stick !!! comfortable and very rapid

[@rohanighanian3901]

I miss the classic car. If only one opportunity that petrols car will continue forever. Even the classic car will be on road again.

[@tommysmith5479]

What a cracking looking car... and those wheels look fabulous.

[@timhancock6626]

I took my driving test in my dads Mk1 facelift Triumph 2000 with overdrive in April 1971. It was a very nice car overall, obviously with a lot less power than the 2.5/2500PI. That one is a beauty for sure. I seem to remember the "go to" company back then for Triumph performance upgrades was S.A.H. Conversions.

[@1258-Eckhart]

= Sam Hurrell

[@zodgzod]

My Dad had a maroon one. It was great, but the fuel consumption and need for 5* fuel killed it. He kept it a year and replaced it with an Audi 100 Coupe (a wonderful car).

[@BRI535D]

Born in 1952 just a mile away from Canley factory.In my early 20's these appeared as traffic police cars all around the major roads locally and you could tell they just loved them.Superb machine.

[@MyJon64]

They were always very quick cars as standard, that's why the police had so many as pursuit cars. The trouble was their reliability. Petrol injection was very rare on production cars in the 1960's and 70's, your average garage mechanic hadn't got a clue or the right equipment to solve any injection issues, hence the car letting a bad reputation. My father owned a 2.5pi for 6 years, back in the day. As a young boy I remember the running issues the Pi system gave! I also remember how they were resolved! I would really love to have this car also. I hope it sells to someone who takes care of it.

[@MyJon64]

I know these cars so well, the cars beautiful but I wonder if Gordon knows the lower stainless steel sill trims are upside down!

[@MrDodgedollar]

The problem was the foolish “BL management “ left it to the triumph dealers to sort. They blamed Lucas and refused to send their technicians over to train with Lucas, and give feedback... all the stuff that modern manufacturers do... and so to to the grave yard with British Leyland

[@LesD9]

@@MrDodgedollar No point in sending them to train at Lucas! They couldn't solve the problems either. Back in the day my TR6 Pi was in Plume Street more often than not and had the whole fuel system changed and still they couldn't sort it. Lumpy running, fuel smell, you name it. I agree the BL management was the problem for the T2500 concept. They were always Rover fans.

[@1258-Eckhart]

I'm told that the basic problem was not the injection unit at all, but the Lucas fuel pump.

[@steveaustin6467]

a thing of beauty, my dad had the mark 2 saloon, then a mark 2 estate,

[@martiniv8924]

I had the 2000 version, great comfort, and quite sporty, succumbed to the brown stuff !

[@jokergame]

I owned an L reg 2.5 Pi and the engine sounded fabulous and performance with the overdrive was phenomenal. It was ruined by the utterly useless Lucas injection system and I know some owners of the TR6 have had a Bosch injection conversion fitted

[@1258-Eckhart]

Those Triumph sixes sound good too, whatever you put them in.

[@robertkirk4387]

There was a chap who lived opposite us back in the seventies who had one (Dark blue) and I always thought that was a beautiful car even though my old man had a Rover P6 (the same colour)

[@ErgonBill]

Had one until the birth of my 3rd child. Would still happily trade said child to get it back. Seriously though, I find it inconceivably that BL made this car work, and could never sort out the issues with the Stag.

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

I have loved these cars and all Triumphs since was a boy in the 1970's, they must have been good, The Police had them. An absolutely Gorgeous looking car, I wonder how they were/ are in standard tune? dx

[@brusselssprouts560]

I miss my 1300TC (LKT958F). Triumph always went the extra mile.

[@silvermane9370]

Yum yum!

[@richardwigley4942]

Ad meny in the day put 2500 in a 2000 gearbox very fast up to 5o mph love them good old days

[@jacobhaussmann90]

So awesome you can pick up 2500 tc autos for $4000 here in new zealand

[@andrewfitzsimons8509]

What are its figures???? 0/60 and bhp / torque???

[@dwp2250]

Just about the best modification to the Triumph cars with the trailing arm suspension is to lose those sliding spline and U/J drive shafts and replace them with CV jointed shafts. It stops spline lock up when cornering.

[@henktulp4400]

Wouldn’t that be,very typically,something that should ‘ve been sorted out around halve a decade ago before bringing this car to the market??!.....and isn’t that just exactly what it sets apart???....that what it COULD ‘ve been....and that what it actually was??

[@kasseyr1]

The only thing I didn’t like about them that spline lock up…I had two Pi’s …loved them

[@jjmac3561]

I was hoping Fuzz had bought it.

[@myredute]

I had two of these, a 1970 2.5PI & a 1976 2500 TC. Both were good cars but not top shelf . The PI had fuel pump issues along with injection nozzles not spraying properly & half shafts binding when cornering. The TC was a much better sorted car with the twin SU's & the fit & finish was better. Not world beaters by any imagination but OK as a daily driver here in Australia.

[@andyday3571]

The time Estate 2.5 pi is just the same my dad had one and I had three when was the 2.5 pi and then I have the other two with the 2500 with the carburettors I would further the manifolds injector system is a lot better I had the electronic strip it up it was about 70,000 miles on the clock then I had some work done underneath the car when the garage did some welding he posted to have another person inside the car the engine of the car had the Mark 1 manifold on the car then I how to change it mark 2 manifolds between the throttle throttle body between the baffle plates the bar inside snapped but the Mark 1 manifold are completely totally different to the mark 2 mark 2 a lot better but when the garage he caught my car light inside he did not pay for the damage I did not have any insurance with the car because I was doing to get ready for the road

[@Liam-vm9uy]

Not sure about the light blue and I think those wheels don’t suit it. I personally like the Stag alloys, the name escapes me. I think Fuzz should have his own car show. Just him and not the other tall fella!!

[@pavloarmand4070]

I think that the light blue suits it well. Why is it that English people are so scared of colours? Nowadays it's all black with black wheels and black interiors. Addams Family transport 😁

[@deelawrence1135]

how much did this achieve ?

[@manorparkclassics5420]

Hi, it sold for just over £24,000

[@brianmilligan1787]

Could not be that good comparing it to a BMW now I had both mk2 2000 & 2500 pi the 2000 I prefer ed manual like silk to drive But had BMW and they are over Rated

[@metalman4141]

So a great car because it’s nothing like the original version !

[@manorparkclassics5420]

It’s all open to opinion, we thought the discussion was interesting.

[@patrickroohan7633]

Nothing like the original vehicle!! Mate a warm cam, blue printed engine ,extractors. modern wheels and tyres.....hardly earth shaking improvements. Throughout the clip there are several references to the fact that it was not really appreciated when new. It had a lot of potential...but nothing like the original...you are kidding. Have you driven a well sorted one??

[@metalman4141]

@@patrickroohan7633 No Mate !

[@patrickroohan7633]

@@metalman4141 Well mate if you live in Australia, you are welcome to have a drive in mine. We have two modern cars a Subaru and Kia...both good cars. But I prefer to drive the Triumph. Yes, I know it is dirty, but enjoyable to drive.. It has a few improvements but the car in 1963 had very good "bones" As Gordon said it had a lot of similarities to BMW's and a lot to offer. Cheers.

[@metalman4141]

@@patrickroohan7633 Thanks for your very kind offer but I’m afraid I don’t live anywhere near you so I’ll have to decline your generous offer 👍

[@nigelgoodwin6954]

Gordon is knowledgeable but very, very dull.

[@pavloarmand4070]

Wow, you're so opinionated and rude.

[@peterelement820]

If your powers of description do not extend beyond "Absolutely amazing" you shouldn't be presenting anything

[@pavloarmand4070]

Another one on here who is so opinionated and rude.

[@TheLifeEvents]

Red Robbo killed off BL and Triumph! Loved these to bits, but why put the windscreen wipers on the wrong way. (As if it is LHD).