Best of  Le  Mans

Please note: This photo is printed from the original archive image and therefore may
contain the occasional imperfection and blemish.

Best of Le Mans

BMIHT Reference Number:

Code: A153475

A compilation of classic original promotional films from the Standard Triumph archives remastered for DVD

Le Mans 1955 (19 minutes)
This can lay claim to being one of the most remembered motor races in history because of a crash that killed 80 spectators. Up to that point the 24 Hour race had been the scene of a titanic struggle between Germany and Britain. The Mercedes 300SLR driven by Stirling Moss and Juan-Manuel Fangio held off the challenge of the D-type Jaguar driven by Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb. After the accident Mercedes withdrew their team and the Jaguars went on to score a 1-2-3 clean sweep. Of the 21 finishers 13 were British, including a team of three Triumph TR2s which ran the full distance without troubling the mechanics, finishing 14th, 15th and 19th, an excellent result for production sports cars.

Le Mans 1960 (24 minutes)
Three experimental 1.9 litre TRs joined a superb collection of exotic machinery - the fabulous Birdcage Maserati, twelve works Ferraris and a 4.6 litre Briggs-Cunningham Corvette. These were the days when the drivers sprinted to their cars from the start line. A mystery last-minute modification proved to be the Achilles Heel of the Triumph team, although they did all finish, the only team to remain intact throughout the race.

Triumph at Le Mans 1961 (35 minutes)
The Triumph team of experimental cars returned one year later and this time excelled themselves by not only taking the Team prize for the second year in succession, but also finishing 9th, 11th and 15th overall with the leading car maintaining an average speed of 98.9mph. One point of interest is the Gendarme Motorbike Display Team, another is historic footage of racing legend Jim Clark in the Border Rievers Aston Martin which held the lead for part of the race.

Total running time 1 hour 18 minutes approximately

(c) British Motor Industry Heritage Trust