Jane Austen reviews the 1949 Triumph 2000 Roadster
April 1,….
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
(Really, it’s by Stuart Eastwood)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a car.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on first entering a showroom, this truth is all fixed in the minds of the surrounding salesmen, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of them.
Mr. Darcy, who was spending an inordinate amount of time perambulating between Netherfield Park and Longbourn, had decided to inquire into the purchase of a motorcar, in order to facilitate his courtship of the second of Mr. Bennet’s daughters. While enjoying Netherfield, he had come to miss the attractions of his own estate at Pemberly, particularly strolling about looking all broody, and had decided to ask Miss Elizabeth Bennet to visit, along with her elder sister Jane, as propriety dictated.
On the forecourt of Wickham Motors (Meryton High Street) was displayed a 1949 Triumph 2000 Roadster, being uncommon in that just two thousand examples had been created. The ₤995 asking price would be comfortably accommodated by Darcy’s ₤10,000 a year.
Introduced to the public at the 1948 Earl’s Court Motor Show, the Triumph was intended to be competition for the Jaguar XK 120. With steel difficult to acquire as a result of the recent war, the coachwork on the Triumph was constructed from aluminium, and was then mounted onto a steel tube chassis.
Entering the car through the narrow, rear-hinged door, Darcy found himself on what is catalouged as a three-place bench seat. While comfortable for two, a trio sharing such accommodation should be well introduced. Once in, he found the steering wheel, and the column mounted shift lever set close to the driver. The usual compliment of gauges and minor controls were displayed in the centre of the wooden dashboard. Despite sporting pretensions, the lack of a tachometer was surprising.
Having depressed the starter button, the 2088cc Vanguard engine quickly started. The engine and three-speed gearbox combine in sympathetic harmony, their operation rarely noticed within the pacific surround of the passenger compartment. From rest, 60 MPH would be accomplished in about 26 seconds, with the car continuing on to 77 MPH in top gear.
Attempting to steer the car in a straight line was at first disconcerting. In fact, the only thing in Darcy’s recent experience that had changed direction so frequently and unexpectadly, were Miss Bennet’s regards.
Wickham explained that while safe, all examples of this car wandered a little as a result of the steering box design. A few miles on, Darcy’s confidence grew, and he was soon able to keep the car within the confines of his lane. Those changes of direction that he desired, and intended, were proposed to fellow motorists by way of the stylish trafficators.
When obliged to terminate proceedings, Darcy found that gentle pressure from his expensively shod foot on the braking pedal was all that was required to cause effect. A well considered combination of springs and dampers allow passengers to arrive at their destination in a state of complete repose.