TSOA Archive
The Triumph Sports Owners Association (TSOA) was the factory- sponsored club for 26 years from 1956-1981. The TSOA was originally started as a sales tool, with the TSOA Newsletter sent free to every new Triumph owner. From October of 1958 through December of 1981, the TSOA newsletter was published in the same format, changing at various times from a monthly to bi-monthly and quarterly publication. The newsletter had a peak circulation of nearly 40,000, paid for by Triumph. It ended however, with the demise of Triumph in 1981.
The Vintage Triumph Register took over the publication of Triumph information. The VTR inherited the logo, badges, and history of the TSOA.
These newsletters are interesting to read, as they describe glory days of Triumph. and its role in the fascinating, volatile, always optimistic automotive business.
| Year | 1955 |
|---|---|
| TSOA Organization Letter | |
| April, 1955 | Volume I, No. 1 |
| May, 1955 | Volume I, No. 2 |
| June, 1955 | Volume I, No. 3 |
| July, 1955 | Volume I, No. 4 |
| August, 1955 | Volume I, No. 5 |
| September, 1955 | Volume I, No. 6 |
| October, 1955 | Volume I, No. 7 |
| November, 1955 | Volume I, No. 8 |
| December, 1955 | Volume I, No. 9 |
| Year | 1956 |
| January, 1956 | Volume II, No. 1 |
| February, 1956 | Volume II, No. 2 |
| March-April, 1956 | Volume II, No. 3 & 4 |
| May, 1956 | Volume II, No. 5 |
| June, 1956 | Volume II, No. 6 |
| July, 1956 | Volume II, No. 7 |
| September-October, 1956 | Volume II, No. 8 & 9 |
| November, 1956 | Volume II, No. 10 |
| December, 1956 | Volume II, No. 11 |
| Year | 1957 |
| January, 1957 | Volume III, No. 13 |
| February, 1957 | Volume III, No. 14 |
| March-April, 1957 | Volume III No. 15 & 16 |
| July-August, 1957 | Volume III, No. 7 & 8 |
| September, 1957 | Volume III, No. 9 |
| October-Nov, 1957 | Volume III, No. 10 & 11 |
| December, 1957 | Volume III, No. 12 |
| Year | 1958 |
| January, 1958 | Volume IV, No. 1 |
| February, 1958 | Volume IV, No. 2 |
| March, 1958 | New York International Automobile Show |
| April-May, 1958 | They’re Off! |
| June, 1958 | They’re Back |
| July, 1958 | Another Triumph In The Alps |
| Special Note* | We suspect that TSOA August, 1958 and September, 1958 were not written because July, 1958 is Vol. IV, No.7 and October, 1958 is Vol. IV, No. 8. If anyone has TSOAs that contradict this conclusion, please send electronic copies to us. |
| October, 1958 | 1958 Rally Photo Winners |
| November, 1958 | 1959 Triumphs Announced |
| December, 1958 | Merry Christmas – Best Wishes for 1959 |
| Year | 1959 |
| January, 1959 | Photo Contest Announced – Enter Now! |
| February, 1959 | U. S. Monte Carlo Team Drivers Triumph |
| March, 1959 | March Photo Winner -Final Rally Itineraries Announced |
| April, 1959 | TR-3 Gets 97.40 Miles Per Gallon |
| May, 1959 | Three-Car Factory Team Entered At LeMans |
| June, 1959 | 1959 Rally Issue |
| July, 1959 | 2 Class Wins In Alpine…2nd At Marlboro |
| August, 1959 | Class Records Smashed by TR-3 At Monza |
| September, 1959 | Four Triumphs Entered in USAC American Int’l Rally |
| October, 1959 | Winter Service Issue |
| November, 1959 |
TR-3 American International Rally Team Takes 5 Awards |
| December, 1959 |
Cover: Merry Christmas |
| Year | 1960 |
| January, 1960 |
1960 Triumph Rallies of Europe Announced |
| February, 1960 |
New Member Handbooks Off The Press |
| March, 1960 | SCCA Adopts “Performance” Classification for 1960 Racing Season |
| April, 1960 | New Triumph Herald Sports Coupe and Convertible Unveiled |
| May, 1960 | Happy Americans Leave for Triumph Rally of Europe |
| June, 1960 | Yankees Go Home After Glorious European Rally |
| July, 1960 | Meet The TR-S |
| August, 1960 | TSOA 6500 Strong |
| September, 1960 | Regional TSOA’s Adopt Emblems |
| October, 1960 |
1961 Fifth Year For Triumph Rallies of Europe |
| November, 1960 | Standard-Triumph Auto Association Announced |
| December, 1960 | 1961 Triumph Rally Plans Changed |
| Year | 1961 |
| January, 1961 | Our Plans For TSOA In 1961 |
| February, 1961 | Triumph Herald Does It Again |
| March, 1961 | Northern Illinois TSOA Wins Challenge Cup |
| April, 1961 | 1961 Spring Service Issue |
| May, 1961 | TEJAS TSOA Sponsors Gala Benefit |
| June, 1961 | Herald Coupe Wins Tulip Rally |
| July, 1961 | Le Mans Team Victory To Triumph! |
| August, 1961 | Two New Local Chapters Started |
| September, 1961 | Special Edition (Triumph TR4) |
| October, 1961 | Congratulations, Phil Hill! |
| November, 1961 | 38.99 MPG, Triumph TR3 Wins Mobil Rally |
| December, 1961 | TSOA Wishes You All a Merry Christmas And a Happy And Successful New Year |
| Year | 1962 |
| January, 1962 | 1962 Is Sure To Be a Triumph Year |
| February, 1962 | Triumph Racing Plans Announced |
| March, 1962 | Yes, There Will Be a TR-4 Rally of Europe! |
| April, 1962 | European Rally Deadline Approaches |
| May, 1962 | Make Your European Rally Decision Now! |
| June, 1962 | Exciting New Car Introduced By Triumph |
| July, 1962 | Triumph Leads National And 3 Divisional Championships |
| August, 1962 | TSOA Congratulates the Rogans |
| Sept-October, 1962 | Bob Tulius Clinches National EP Championship |
| November, 1962 | Triumph Racing Plans For 1963 |
| December, 1962 | TSOA Wishes You All A Good Olde-Fashioned Merrie Christmas |
| Year | 1963 |
| January, 1963 | Triumph’s Exciting New Sports Car |
| February, 1963 | Sebring ’63 |
| March-April, 1963 | Sebring ’63 Souvenir Issue |
| May, 1963 | Star Attractions At The N.Y. Auto Show |
| June, 1963 | Bridgehampton Nationals |
| July, 1963 | TRI-O-RAMA |
| August, 1963 | Jim Spencer 1st Overall CP, DP At Watkins Glen Nationals |
| September, 1963 | Tullius Takes DP: Spencer Settles for 2nd |
| October, 1963 | British Car Trophy Day |
| November, 1963 | This Story Really Needs No Headline… |
| December, 1963 | Season’s Greetings |
| Year | 1964 |
| January, 1964 | Ten Thousand Four Hundred and Seventeen plus Charlie |
| February, 1964 | Look Out World – Here Come the Spitfires |
| March, 1964 | Competition Issue… and The Issue Is Competition |
| April, 1964 | Flash! |
| May, 1964 | Quo Vadis Triumph… and for why? |
| June, 1964 | Bob Tullius – Triumph’s two-years-in-a-row SCCA National Champ |
| July, 1964 | TRI-O-RAMA 64 |
| August, 1964 | Team Triumph Wins MG 1000 Rally |
| September, 1964 | Canadian American Triumph Meet |
| October, 1964 | A True Story… About An Adventurous Frenchman |
| November, 1964 | A Year Of Triumph |
| December, 1964 | Season’s Greetings |
| Year | 1965 |
| January, 1965 | TSOA Membership Tops 13,000! |
| February, 1965 | Triumph At Sebring ’65 |
| March, 1965 | Welcome… TR-4A! |
| April, 1965 | Triumph At Sebring |
| May, 1965 | The New York International Automobile Show |
| June, 1965 | National Championship Races and Results That Speak For Themselves |
| July, 1965 | Triumph At Le Mans |
| August, 1965 | From The Rocker Cover |
| September, 1965 | We’re Stealing Once Again |
| October, 1965 | The Triumph 2000 |
| November, 1965 | Triumph In Competition |
| December, 1965 | Seasons Greetings |
| Year | 1966 |
| January, 1966 | 1946 |
| February, 1966 | Sebring TR-4A’s Ready; Tri-O-Rama Set |
| March, 1966 | TR-4 Vies With TR-4A At Daytona |
| April, 1966 | Triumphs Take Sebring Team Trophy; They Win What They Set Out To Win! |
| May, 1966 | Britain By Triumph |
| June, 1966 | How To Watch A Race |
| July, 1966 | Triumph Touring |
| August, 1966 | 100,00 Mile Triumph |
| September, 1966 | Cleveland Clubs Boom! |
| October, 1966 | The Kukla Kaper II |
| November, 1966 | Sebring Come Home! |
| December, 1966 | International Registration Letters |
| Year | 1967 |
| January, 1967 |
Triumph Launches New GT-6 |
| February, 1967 | The Crafty Spitfire Caper |
| March, 1967 | On Show at the Shows |
| April, 1967 | Triumph Breaks Fast In ’67 |
| May, 1967 | Triumph Mark III Spitfire here |
| June, 1967 | Corsa Nostra Takes Over Wisconsin TSOA! |
| July, 1967 |
Test Your Memory |
| August, 1967 |
The Hill Climb Angle |
| September, 1967 | TR’s Flock To Leyland-Triumph Trophy Race |
| October, 1967 | Something New’s Shaping Up Here |
| November, 1967 | TR250 Joins Triumph Line |
| December, 1967 | Season’s Greetings |
| Year | 1968 |
| January, 1968 | Kas will Keep New Year’s Resolution |
| February, 1968 | TF Prototype Slated for Sebring |
| March, 1968 |
Triumphs Win-Place-Show At Vegas National, Odds Look Good for ’68 Season |
| April, 1968 |
250-K Shines Briefly at Sebring |
| May, 1968 | Auto Show Crowds Turn On At TR-250 Psychedelic Light Display |
| June, 1968 | MK 3 Spitfire Stars Coast to Coast |
| July, 1968 | Speeders Beware! GT-6 On Patrol |
| August, 1968 | World Market Challenge |
| September, 1968 | 1968 Champions Emerge |
| Oct-November, 1968 | 1969 New Model Section – ARRC Qualifiers |
| December, 1968 | A Real Rousing Christmas! – Three For Triumph At Riverside |
| Year | 1969 |
| January, 1969 | Cover: Here’s The TR6 |
| February, 1969 | TR-6 Deliveries Held Up By Dock Strike |
| March, 1969 | Up, Up And Away |
| April, 1969 | Triumph’s Magic Box |
| May, 1969 | Car And Driver Award to MK3 |
| June, 1969 | Charlie Gates Takes Cal Club SCCA Post |
| July, 1969 | Untitled |
| August, 1969 | New Jackets Available For Style-Wise Members |
| September, 1969 |
TR-6 Conquers Nurburgring |
| October, 1969 | Ventura Group Completes Mission |
| November, 1969 | Olympic Challenge Planned |
| December, 1969 | Thanksgiving At Daytona |
| Year | 1970 |
| January, 1970 |
’70 Support Program Announced |
| February, 1970 | The 70’s…More Than Meets the Eye |
| March, 1970 | Untitled |
| April, 1970 | Spitfire Does It Again |
| May, 1970 | Auto Show Issue |
| June, 1970 |
Wisconsin Members Enjoy “Triumph Clinic” |
| July, 1970 |
V-8 Stag Introduced in England |
| August, 1970 |
Our Lucky Number Is Six |
| September, 1970 |
Wolf-Man Becomes Rallymaster |
| October, 1970 |
Road Atlanta |
| November, 1970 |
Rallies Still Tops With Local TSOA Clubs |
| December, 1970 |
Christmas Cheers For John Kelly And Don Devendorf! |
| Year | 1971 |
| January, 1971 | Spitfire Mark IV Is Here |
| February, 1971 | Now its the GT-6 MK 3 |
| March, 1971 | Triumph Stag To Debut |
| April, 1971 | Presenting… The Triumph Stag |
| May, 1971 | Kastner-Brophy Spitfire Tops DP Cars |
| June, 1971 | Triumph Sales Headed Up! |
| July, 1971 |
Resume for a Car Sales”Man” |
| August, 1971 | Mission Trail 4 |
| September, 1971 |
Triumph Sales Near Record |
| October, 1971 |
ARRC, 1971… Down To The Wire |
| Nov-December, 1971 | Best Wishes for 1972 |
| Year | 1972 |
| January, 1972 | Triumph Sells Record Number of Sports Cars |
| February, 1972 | Triumphant Bus Tour |
| March, 1972 | Early Races Won By Triumph Teams |
| April, 1972 |
Computer Selects Your Triumph |
| May, 1972 | Triumph Offers Historic Poster |
| June, 1972 | “U.S.A. Only”-What It Means |
| July, 1972 |
Racing Season Peaks |
| August, 1972 | Triumph Will Pace 1973 Sebring Race |
| September, 1972 | Triumph Sponsors M*A*S*H |
| October, 1972 | Divisional Champs Acclaimed |
| November, 1972 | 20 Years of TRs |
| December, 1972 | Best Wishes For 1973! |
| Year | 1973 |
| January, 1973 | Here Come the ’73 Triumphs |
| Feb-March, 1973 | Triumph Touring Club Charity Rally Smashes All Records |
| April, 1973 | Triumph’s Golden Anniversary |
| May, 1973 | Spitfire Rated Tops by Car and Driver readers |
| June, 1973 | Triumph Competition Victories Multiply |
| July, 1973 | 200,000 Spitfires Built |
| August, 1973 | TR6 Stars |
| September, 1973 | Nelson Ledges Gets British Leyland Bridge |
| October, 1973 | Triumphs Take Road To Atlanta Cline Qualifies There |
| November, 1973 | Spitfires Win Two National Championships At Atlanta |
| December, 1973 | British Leyland Announces 1974 Triumphs |
| Year | 1974 |
| January, 1974 | ‘The Making of a Race Driver’ |
| February, 1974 | Fuel Economy and the 1974 Triumphs |
| March, 1974 | Fuel Economy and Your Right Foot |
| April, 1974 | That’s Show Business! |
| May, 1974 | Triumph Race Team Resumes its Winning Ways |
| June, 1974 | The Short & Happy Life of the Sensational Straight 8 Dolomite |
| July, 1974 | Wimbledon Tennis Champs Awarded Triumph Cars |
| August, 1974 | For Group 44 Fans… |
| September, 1974 | Co-operative Effort Helps Nelson Ledges, Ohio, Racetrack |
| October, 1974 | Tennis Champion Gets His TR6 |
| November, 1974 | Rick Cline / Road Atlanta Wrap-Up |
| December, 1974 | British Leyland Announces New Triumphs |
| Year | 1975 |
| January, 1975 | Triumph’s Entirely New Sports Car – The TR7 |
| Feb-March, 1975 | TR7 On The Road |
| Apr-May, 1975 | Group 44 Celebrates 10th Anniversary |
| June-July, 1975 | Cover: Special TR6 Pick-Up |
| Aug-September, 1975 | Rally to Triumph — Yes Really! |
| Oct-November, 1975 | Triumph Sets New Class Records At Atlanta |
| December, 1975 | Happy New Year from Triumph |
| Year | 1976 |
| Jan-February, 1976 | 1976 Looks Big for Triumph in Motorsports |
| Mar-April, 1976 | The TR7 Sports/Racer |
| May-June, 1976 | Sliding Sunroof for TR7 |
| Jul-August, 1976 | Special TR7 Announced |
| Sep-October, 1976 | Paul Newman’s TR6 Wins at Atlanta |
| Nov-December, 1976 | TR7’s First Full Year in America |
| Year | 1977 |
| Jan-February, 1977 | Triumph TR7 Enters the Exciting World of High Performance Rallies |
| Mar-May, 1977 | 1977 Triumph Line Announced |
| June-July, 1977 | Triumph International Rally Held on Long Island |
| Aug-September, 1977 | News of Two More Big Triumph Rallies |
| Oct-November, 1977 | Spitfire 1500’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Class At Atlanta Championship |
| December, 1977 | Buffum’s TR7 Wins 1977 Pro Rally Championship |
| Year | 1978 |
| Jan-February, 1978 | Convertibles Are For Skate-Boarding |
| Mar-April, 1978 | New Triumph Line Announced For 1978 |
| May-June, 1978 | “No Title” (continues from March April) |
| Jul-August, 1978 | Sixty TR-2 and TR-3 Series Triumphs Compete At West Virginia National Meet |
| Sep-October, 1978 | Triumph TR7 Production Starts At Coventry |
| Nov-December, 1978 | A Hobby Second To None |
| Year | 1979 |
| Jan-February, 1979 | New Cooling System, New Bumpers For 1979 Spitfire |
| Mar-April, 1979 | The Story of TR7 To Date |
| May-June, 1979 | And Now – The TR7 Convertible |
| Jul-August, 1979 | New V8 Triumphs In Races And Rallies |
| Sep-November, 1979 | Lee Mueller Wins National Racing Championship with TR7 |
| December, 1979 | World’s Fastest Triumph (178 mph) TR8 |
| Year | 1980 |
| Jan-February, 1980 | 1980 Triumph Spitfire Sports Car Announced |
| Mar-April, 1980 | Triumph Introduces a V8-Powered Sports Car – The TR8 |
| May-July, 1980 | Concourse Season Off To A Hot Start |
| Aug-September, 1980 | A New Triumph Model -TR7 Sprint |
| Oct-November, 1980 | 1980 SCCA Road Racing Championships At Atlanta |
| December, 1980 | TR8 and Buffum – Champions Again |
| Year | 1981 |
| Jan-February, 1981 | Special ‘Tribute to Spitfire’ Issue |
| Mar-June, 1981 | Triumph TR7 Adds Fuel Injection for 1981 |
| July-September, 1981 | Over 100 Triumphs At TRA Annual Meet |
| Oct-December, 1981 | TSOA to be merged into Vintage Triumph Register |
| Year | 1982 |
| Jan-February, 1982 | English Channel and TSOA Merge |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following individuals (listed in alphabetical order) played a huge part in gathering and digitizing this archive. We gratefully acknowledge their contribution to the Triumph community.
Dale Fenwick
Mark Hamrick
Obin Hamrick
Terry Hamrick
Tom Householder
Leslie S. Lee
Steele Lipe
Lou Metelko
Tom Myers
Mark Silverberg
Dean Tetterton
If we’ve left anyone off the list it was not intentional and we’re glad to add others who helped! Drop an email to webmaster@vtr.org.