At the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show, London the Triumph Mayflower convertible / ragtop made its world debut.

Sir John Black, having instructed the Standard Triumph Experimental Shop to create a Coupe by cutting the roof off experimental body X496 and a Drophead Coupe from experimental body X500, repeated the same instruction to Mulliners who duly complied. However, the large amount of work involved in production was the downfall of both models as the time and cost of the work to cut and strengthen the saloon bodies sealed their fate at the end of a 'production run' of just 10 Coupes and one Drophead Coupe (Roadster?). A total of just thirteen 'rag top' Mayflowers have graced the roads of the world - unless you know different?

There is a photo of one of the Drophead Coupes (Roadster?) in the archive at the Motor Heritage Centre at Gayden with Sir John stood proudly next to it. It has detachable canvas (?) side screens in place of the fixed rear quarters which formed part of the canvas (?) roof. Press-studs held the screens in place, which could be removed when the roof was up for the Roadster effect. I do not believe there were any other differences to the Coupe - as far as I could tell from the photographs.

The 'rag top' Mayflowers were marketed collectively as the Drophead Coupe.

The Coupes and Drophead Coupes were the only Mayflowers (other than the prototypes) to have ashtrays (pull down type in each door) and door pockets (elastic edged leather below the door arm rests).

With its enormous roof, blind rear quarters, landau bars and dramatic 'twist' when driven it is doubtful that had production been economical that it would have sold in any numbers. I have spoken to a gentleman who drove a Coupe and he stated that "The twist and movement in the body was quite alarming, if not a little challenging. But it was good fun." He drove this Coupe in the early sixties and unfortunately doesn't know what happened to it.

So little is known about the Drophead Coupes that I can't elaborate further - other than speculation. Do you know of anything? Please let me know!

If you have any photographs, advertisements, magazines etc. relating to or containing the Triumph Mayflower Drophead Coupes and you are prepared to share them with the Triumph Mayflower Club and myself please contact me. Thank you.

Due to the amount of SPAM and unwanted emails I receive I am now, regrettably, only responding to correspondence sent via the simple form on the Home Page. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused. Thank you.

Emma - now sadly off the road due to 'structural / body problems'.