Car Club Corner: Is a Triumph Toledo worth the investment?

Simply put… yes! The Triumph Toledo is the 70s saloon worth investing in for 2023.

In a world of rising costs for 60s and 70s classics, the Triumph Toledo is the classic car which has quietly not budged too far out of the savvy buyer’s budget in the last few years.

We get it: the 1296cc powered saloon isn’t as racy as the Dolomite and that puts some buyers off, but here’s the thing, there’s a lot of fun to be had on four wheels with a Toledo. Plus, the driving and ownership experience makes it a decent choice for the 2023 show season.

Unlike many of the everyday cars of the 60s, like the Minor and Anglia, with no synchro on first; the Toledo has synchro on all forward gears, it is spritely enough for a jaunt through the countryside and although a little noisy above 65mph, can hit the motorway and hold its own across all three lane disciplines.

The seating position is comfortable and although the control panel has been stripped back somewhat from the luxurious days of the 1300 FWD, the car is adequately equipped and there is always the potential to add aftermarket dials and entertainment systems, should you be that way inclined!

Although the 1300 FWD was sold with discs to front, the Toledo was fitted with miserly cost cutting drums all round, which many owners have upgraded to discs. Adequately adjusted with additional stopping distance will allow for continuation of use of drums with no fuss.

Whilst body panels can be tricky at times, the owner and enthusiast clubs are more than helpful in tracking bits down and all of your day-to-day ignition and servicing parts can be purchased at most decent classic spares parts suppliers. There are also many specialist ‘Triumph/TR’ parts places, and these can be invaluable for tracking down harder to find bits and pieces.

There are sometimes moans and groans about the 1296cc engine, but with it being shared across models, it does mean repair knowledge and parts are always plentiful!

The car is well supported by club presence and there’s no shortage of social circles to mix in and meet other Triumph enthusiasts. From Club Triumph and TR Register to Triumph Dolomite Club; the clubs are not only plentiful but readily share knowledge and advice, making the memberships well worth investing in.

Many of these saloons over winter seem to be trading for less than £2,500 for a reasonable, useable example on popular auction sites and Facebook Marketplace, which compared to the likes of some of the 80s hot hatches, anything badged Ford or something like an ADO16, which seem to go up monthly, seems rather budget friendly indeed!

Keen to take the plunge and want a little more info? Check out this idriveaclassic video on the Triumph Toledo: