The "Sports" badge was first seen on the Sports 6 [below far left], the US version of the Vitesse 6 (a total of 679 cars -- all convertibles). From around 1965 on, the Herald 1200 became the Sports 1200 [below left center] in the US. Standard-Triumph USA's advertising campaigns for the 1200 model downplayed the Herald name, usually referring to the car simply as the Triumph 1200 in advertising and sales literature. [Note that the original 948cc, twin-carb Coupé had been advertised (but never badged) as a "Sports Coupé."]
Oh, and then there's the Sports 12/50 [below right center] and the Sports 6 saloon [below far right], apparently only offered in Canada. If you have any further information regarding these Canadian Sports models, let me know!
Recently, an inquiry about a replacement "Sports" badge for a US-specification Sports 6 led to a discussion of the Sports badge itself. In the left and center pictures above, the two badges look pretty much the same, except for the angle at which they are mounted. Well, they're not! :-) Here's how. Thanks to everyone who assisted, including Dave Pearson of Canley Classics, Randall Young, Léon Guyot, Mark Joslyn and others....
From Léon Guyot, regarding the Vitesse badge:
Andy, I can't answer about the rear stud spacing on the Sports badge, but that on my spare (original/rechromed) Vitesse badge I have here is as follows:
Looking at the reverse side, with the 'e' on the left, and the 'V' on the right, between the outermost two studs, the spacing is exactly 4 inches. Looking from left to right, between the stud on the back of the 'V' and the center stud, on the back of the 't', there is a spacing of 1 & 7/8 inches, and Between the center stud on the back of the 't', and the left stud, on the back of the 'e', there is a spacing of 2 & 1/8 inches.
Total is therefore 4 inches.
Compare the above measurements to Mark Joslyn's report on the Sports [6] badge, p/n 613292:
Outside studs are 4 inches apart with inside one 2 1/8 from tail "s" and 1 7/8 from front "S." I also can now see another # on the badge ,# 613292 on the cross of the "T." The pins are located on the following letters:
- S @ upper main curve (front, capital)
- o @ top (middle)
- s @ middle (rear, small)
The above two badges, therefore, do seem to be interchangeable
on original boot lids.
As for the Sports [1200] badge, p/n 618060, I determined:
The Sports script badge ... measures (left to right) approx. 2 5/16" between the first and second mounting pin and approx. 2 1/8" between the second and third pins. Pin #1 is almost at the tip of the lower part of the "S"; pin #2 is almost to the left edge of the "o"; and pin #3 is almost directly above the tail of the last "s." This badge is interchangeable, on original boot lids, with the Herald badge.
Again, there is no part number cast into the back of the Sports [1200] badge, but there is one on the Sports [6] badge. So there will be two easy ways to spot original badges at a quick glance (of the back): location of pins, and presence (or absence) of a six-digit Triumph part number.
It all makes sense, actually. Presumably, it would have been
cheaper to alter a mold to move the location of the pins than to create
an entirely new mold...or to alter the hole punch spacing on bootlids destined for the production lines at the
time. And I'll wager the Vitesse
badge was conceived first, and it would have been particularly the shape of the letter "V" that dictated
the original pin spacing.
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revised 12/15/02