The Triumph Renown made its debut in October 1949, being the third iteration of Triumph’s larger post-War saloon model – following on from the 1800 and 2000 models. All these cars had a similar appearance, adopting the distinctive sharp lines of the then popular ‘razor edge’ styling that was to be found on prestigious vehicles of the time. Most of the body comprised aluminium panels over a wooden frame – a consequence of the shortage of steel in the UK post the Second World War.

The Renown differed from its predecessors in having a new chassis using pressed steel sections (rather than tubing as previously employed) and the independent front suspension switched to coil springing (from a single transverse leaf spring). The model retained the 2 litre, 4-cylinder engine of the earlier 2000, which was rated at 68 bhp @4200 rpm, and drove through a 3-speed manual gearbox (column change). Contemporary magazine road tests credited the car with a 75 mph top speed and 0–60 mph acceleration time of around 24 seconds.

The Renown was available until 1954, by which time production of all the ‘razor edge’ models had just passed 15,000. The number of survivors today is very small – perhaps just a few hundred – but there is a specific club dedicated to the preservation and use of these vehicles (the Triumph Razoredge Owners Club).

This car was first registered in November 1951 in Surrey, England - late in the production run. We know nothing of its subsequent history until it was imported from the UK and registered in Jersey in 1984, where it has been in the hands of just a couple of enthusiastic owners since then – the last acquiring the vehicle in 2014. Since that point the car has received much attention, including a brake rebuild/overhaul; suspension and steering overhaul and an engine overhaul/refresh. The Triumph has been lightly used, mostly locally but including touring in France, although regular use has tailed off in the last couple of years.