Interesting Old Triumph Ad Circa 1972 or so

[Scoobynut_imp]

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/Honda-Triumph_zps0b5zf9xh.jpg.html]

I like how the Triumph owner 'understands them completely' and is an 'expert' whereas the Honda owner is 'very typical' and merely an 'enthusiast.' Also the Honda has 'plenty of weight and bulk for highway cruising and an array of buttons and switches to make his life easy.' I guess the implication is that a Triumph owner's life is harder and he is more of a man than than a Honda owner? A pretty naked, not so subtle marketing appeal to ego I'd say.

I imagine by '72 Triumph sales had plunged and they were probably desperate to somehow make their obsolete twins stand apart from Honda's state of the art four cylinder CB750s. I also couldn't help but think that you probably had to be some kind of expert to maintain and repair the Triumph, but that most likely not the intent of the ad.

In any case, I thought it was an interesting period ad prior to Triumph being taken off life support a few years later.

[Chapomis_imp]

I would say that the ad sold more Honda's than Triumph's.

[Scoobynut_imp]

I would say that the ad sold more Honda's than Triumph's.

Haha, I had a similar thought too. I mean all you have to do is look at the bikes and it's pretty easy to decide.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Triumph was desperate.

At the time, Triumph had been part of the new British Leyland conglomerate - a collection of unprofitable vehicle manufacturers merged together at the behest of the ruling Labour Party government. With untenable costs; and nationalized by 1975.

Morale was in the dumper. Quality control was an alien concept at any of the BL plants. While Honda and other Japanese companies were setting new heights of manufacturing quality.

MAYBE Triumph had a superior design. I had never looked closely at one. They certainly had the tradition.

It wasn't enough. The Honda was, hands down, the superior product. And the memory of Triumph in its nadir, still stays - I wouldn't trust a Bonneville, even though, by style and design, it appeals to me.

[the Ferret]

I like them both. I'm an expert enthusiast

[JustPassinThru_imp]

I would say that the ad sold more Honda's than Triumph's.

Probably true. The Honda four, which was new AND compact and stylish, was revolutionary at the time. As opposed to the Triumph triple - which isn't so obvious in the ad.

One MORE piece of the failure of the Triumph effort. A competent organization would have stopped that proposed ad campaign - and sacked the agency.

[Scoobynut_imp]

Triumph was desperate.

At the time, Triumph had been part of the new British Leyland conglomerate - a collection of unprofitable vehicle manufacturers merged together at the behest of the ruling Labour Party government. With untenable costs; and nationalized by 1975.

Morale was in the dumper. Quality control was an alien concept at any of the BL plants. While Honda and other Japanese companies were setting new heights of manufacturing quality.

MAYBE Triumph had a superior design. I had never looked closely at one. They certainly had the tradition.

It wasn't enough. The Honda was, hands down, the superior product. And the memory of Triumph in its nadir, still stays - I wouldn't trust a Bonneville, even though, by style and design, it appeals to me.

JustPassin, I didn't realize they were under the British Leyland umbrella at the time. That explains a lot. It's sad really, I liked British vehicles back in the day -- I lived the first 8 years of my life in England as an Air Force brat -- and loved many of their cars. It's just too bad they didn't invest anything to compete with modern products.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

I like them both. I'm an expert enthusiast

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

Cheers

[redbirds_imp]

I remember that ad. Check out the "ATGATT".

[Inline4_imp]

I remember that ad. Check out the "ATGATT".

So true!
It also wouldn't hurt to be an electrical engineer.