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In the slow-motion cultural implosion of post-modernism, we’ve seen retro everything over the past, say, quarter century. From the Plymouth Prowler to the youths of today bumping Deftones through wired headphones while shooting on a crappy point-and-shoot from 2003, the retro trend cycle is so been-there-done-that that it’s basically collapsed in on itself. However, just as we thought we’ve seen it all, along comes a small British firm with something completely different. This is the Triumph TR25, a one-off concept made by British design firm Makkina being shown off at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Managing director Michael Ani said that “Our aim was to update the true character of the original record-breaking ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 with our design,” and if you’ve never heard of the Jabbeke TR2, here’s a brief primer. See the original Triumph TR was, um, rough. Not content with this first shot, Triumph refined the design into the TR2, then proved it to the world at a speed trial on the Jabbeke highway in Belgium. The car chosen was fitted with a series of streamlining parts and sailed to a record speed of 124.899 mph. The Triumph legend was born.
Underneath this homage to a bygone era sits the skateboard chassis from a BMW i3S. Not only is this lightweight, nimble rear-wheel-drive platform a great base for a new body, BMW retains rights to the Triumph name, so the technology beneath the skin should’ve been granted an automatic blessing. As for the styling, that’s always a gamble, but clearly it worked since Makkina’s project bears the Triumph name.
Mind you, just because the Triumph TR25 has an i3S platform doesn’t mean it uses an i3 interior. The dashboard is bespoke, an almost Nixie tube-like UX displaying all the information you need to know just like an old alarm clock. Offside of the steering wheel are a few capacitive touch controls which make sense for an independent project on a budget strictly from a cost perspective, but the overall effect is clean, crisp, and suiting of a car meant to recall runway circuits and leather caps.
Of course, being based on a BMW i3S means there’s no giant combustion engine with giant cooling airflow requirements, so Makkina has served up a strikingly minimalist take on the classic Triumph face. Two friendly headlights, a tiny strip of trim, and a relief in the fascia echo iconic Triumph features without having to shout. Think a dab of retro when many would’ve applied a dollop. Needless to say, I like it.
Sure, the wheels are large and the vertical door outrageous, but the Triumph TR25 doesn’t come across as heavy-handed. It’s instead a suitable tribute to an iconic little British car, updating a thing of beauty for the 21st century without altering an original. More importantly, it points towards a potential future for custom cars that’s ripe with excitement.
Skateboard-style electric car platforms could usher in a new era of coachbuilding. For those unfamiliar with the process, back in ye olde days, manufacturers like Bentley and Daimler would supply chassis and running gear to customers, who would then pick a coachbuilding firm to design and build individual bodies. Imagine taking an existing electric car and rebodying it without having to worry nearly as much about packaging as you would with a combustion-powered platform. The small truck, pared-back roadster, or large luxury coupe of your dreams could be just bodywork away.
(Photo credits: Makkina)
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