The Triumph Tina, also known as the Triumph T10, was a small low-performance scooter with a 100 cc two-stroke engine, an automatic transmission and a handlebar carry basket. Triumph introduced it in 1962 to attract new riders, and it was replaced by the improved T10 in 1965.
Triumph Tina at a glance
| Maker | Triumph, Meriden |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1962 |
| Designer | Edward Turner |
| Engine | 100 cc two-stroke |
| Transmission | continuously variable, centrifugal clutch |
| Patent | Turner and Triumph, May 1959 |
| Engine position | mounted on the swingarm |
| Marketing | fronted by Cliff Richard, aimed at women |
| Replaced by | Triumph T10, 1965 |
| T10 discontinued | about 1970 |
Based on the English Wikipedia article on the Tina.
History of the Triumph Tina
1962: a scooter against the odds
Despite internal opposition from those who felt it would dilute the brand’s macho image, Triumph introduced a new scooter in 1962. It was designed by Edward Turner to tap into demand identified by market research for a simple, easy-to-ride shopping vehicle. The Tina used a continuously variable transmission with a centrifugal clutch, a system patented by Turner and Triumph in May 1959, and the engine was mounted on the swingarm. An extensive marketing campaign was fronted by the pop star Cliff Richard, and advertising aimed at women stressed how easy the scooter was to operate. Even so, the Tina sold in small numbers.
The drivetrain trouble
The patented drivetrain had technical problems. The CVT drive belt could derail and seize the transmission and rear wheel, disabling the scooter and preventing it from being pushed. Starting was also awkward: a switch on the handlebar had to be moved to start before kick-starting, which activated a governor to keep engine speed too low to engage the transmission. If the switch was left in drive, the scooter accelerated immediately on starting — which happened to Turner himself, causing a crash into a kerb and a broken ankle.
1965: the T10
The Tina was replaced by the Triumph T10 in 1965. The T10 had an improved CVT and the start/drive control moved from the handlebar to inside the seat, where the drive setting was activated automatically by the rider’s weight, so drive engaged only once the rider was seated. That produced an embarrassing moment at the press launch: the switch had been set for 10 stone, but the woman chosen to ride the scooter away weighed only 8 stone, the switch did not activate and the scooter would not move. The T10 was discontinued around 1970.
Three-wheeled prototypes
Triumph built twelve prototype Tina tilting three-wheelers, similar in concept to the Ariel 3 moped, but disagreements between Triumph and the system’s designer ended any plan for production.
Design and features
- Automatic transmission — a patented CVT with centrifugal clutch, the engine on the swingarm.
- Shopping basket — a handlebar carry basket and a marketing campaign aimed at women.
- Cliff Richard — the pop star fronted the launch advertising.
- T10 improvements — better CVT and a seat-operated start/drive control.
Triumph Tina versions
- Tina (1962–1965): the original scooter with handlebar start/drive switch.
- T10 (1965–1970): improved CVT and a weight-operated control under the seat.
- Three-wheel prototypes: twelve tilting three-wheelers, never produced.
The Tina was Triumph’s small machine alongside the Tiger Cub and the bigger twins such as the Thunderbird. More in the Triumph collection.
Sources
- Triumph Tina, English Wikipedia: design, CVT problems, T10, prototypes
