Trident (car company)
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Trident Cars Ltd was a British car manufacturer based in Woodbridge, Suffolk between 1965 and 1974 and after being restarted in 1976 from premises in Ipswich. The new company stopped production in 1977-78.
Their first car the Clipper was originally produced as a prototype TVR model with attractive two seater coupe steel and aluminium bodywork styled by Englishman Trevor Frost (also known as Trevor Fiore, and also responsible for the Elva GT160) and built in Italy by Fissore. It was shown at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show. In addition to three coupes, a single convertible prototype was also made.
Due to a financial crisis at the TVR company, the project passed instead to one of their dealers, W.J. (Bill) Last, who created a separate Trident Cars company to manufacture it. The cars were at first fitted with Ford 4.7 litre V8 in a chassis that was a near copy of the one used on the Austin-Healey 3000 and similar styling to the prototypes, but made instead in fibreglass. The car was claimed to have a maximum speed of 150 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. It was available as a complete car or in kit form. The cars were expensive, the kit version costing £1923. In 1967 a smaller engined version was offered with a 2.5 litre Ford V6 engine.
A second car, the Venturer was announced in 1969 with similar bodywork and powered by the Ford 2.5 litre V6 but now on a lengthened (to 93 inches) Triumph TR6 chassis giving the car independent suspension all round by coil springs. At the same time the V6 engine option on the Clipper was dropped. In 1971 the car cost £2300 in kit form.
Following problems with engine supply following a strike at Ford, Chrysler 5.4 litre V8 engines were fitted to the Venturer from 1971 and the name change to Tycoon. The car now cost £3250 fully built. Some cars were fitted with Triumph straight 6 2.5 litre engines.
The engine problems and financial climate in the 1970's resulted in the company closing down in 1974. An attempt was made to restart production in 1977 and a few more cars were made before final closure in 1977.
Between 1965 and 1978 about 39 Clippers, 84 Venturers and 7 Tycoons were produced.
A new Trident company was established in May 1999 in Fakenham, Norfolk, to develop and manufacture a two-seater sports car the Iceni using a 3.2 litre GM V6 engine. In 2002 the company changed its name to Broadley Performance Vehicles plc. Series production has yet to start.
