Bond Equipe 2 litre

Although I really should have known better, in 1989 I purchased a Bond Equipe 2 litre Mark 1. It was a 1968 model with Mark 1 Triumph Vitesse running gear (as opposed to my earlier Equipe GT4S which was Herald/Spitfire derived). I had great “fun” installing a replacement overdrive gearbox, replacement radiator and stainless exhaust system. I drove it for a few years until new toys came my way (cars that will be future classics such as a Mk11 Ford Granada, Rover SD1 3500, Opel Monza etc.) but although other cars have come and gone I have kept hold of the Bond.

Approx 600 2 litre Mk1s were assembled before Bond began using the Mk11 Triumph Vitesse chassis. The numbers of roadworthy ones (mine isn’t at the moment) must have now diminished to perhaps only a few dozen. Even Triumph classic car clubs (Triumphs were once as popular as MGs and Jaguars especially in the USA) are beginning to lose cars and members as indifference/the recession takes hold.

I keep meaning to check out someone else’s car to see if all the Mk 1 dashboards are the same. On my car the ignition and choke knobs are almost on the passenger’s side which makes for intimate moments when starting the engine. As with Triumph cars of the time operating the wipers and the water squirter is a two-handed operation. I still prefer the Mk1 wooden dashboard/steering wheel/gearknob to the black plastic/ambla as seen on the Mk11s.

Here is a pdf file of a brochure from 1968 listing the benefits (???) of being brave enough to purchase a brand new Bond Equipe 2 litre convertible. The precise number of cars that were convertibles out of the 1431 2 litres built is unknown. As they were all Mk11  versions I’m sure only a few hundred can have been built in 1968 and 1969 and there aren’t too many survivors now …..

PS: Here is a brochure from 1964 for the original 1200cc Bond GT.

PPS: Here is a brochure for the Bond Equipe GT4S which in 1200cc and 1300cc form was produced between 1964 and 1969.