Trident Cars
British specialist sports-car manufacturer associated with low-volume, high-performance coupés and the later Iceni project.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Trident Cars was a British specialist automobile manufacturer that produced a small number of sports cars between the late 1960s and the late 1970s, before being revived as a new venture in 1999. Its roots lay in a sports-car project originally commissioned during the troubled final years of the early TVR businesses. Designer Trevor Fiore created a compact coupé body for a proposed development of the Griffith 200, and Carrozzeria Fissore built a prototype that was displayed at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show. When Grantura Engineering, the company then connected with TVR, failed, the project was not immediately continued by the new TVR owners. Instead, TVR dealer William “Bill” Last acquired the design rights and body moulds and established Trident Cars. The new company initially operated from Woodbridge and subsequently moved to Ipswich in Suffolk. After further prototype displays, Trident began selling the Clipper in 1967. The production car retained the distinctive Fiore/Fissore styling but departed from the original TVR-based engineering layout. Early Clippers used Austin-Healey 3000 chassis and Ford V8 engines, while later cars were based on lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis. The Ford-powered cars were positioned as unusually fast and comparatively exclusive British sports cars, and the model could be supplied either as a complete vehicle or in kit form. Trident later offered a Chrysler V8-powered version, although the scale of actual production is uncertain. The Venturer, introduced in 1969, became Trident’s most successful model. It used a lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis, independent suspension and a 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 connected to a manual gearbox. Production estimates differ substantially, but most accounts place total Venturer output at roughly 84 cars, while the marque’s owners’ club gives a lower figure. The Tycoon followed in 1971 with a fuel-injected Triumph six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, but only a handful appear to have been built. Across all of its first-generation models, Trident is generally understood to have sold approximately 130 vehicles between 1967 and 1977, although period and later sources disagree over the exact total. The company’s first phase was undermined by several pressures: reported engine-supply and reliability problems, the 1970s oil crisis, high prices, and a difficult financial environment for small British manufacturers. Production stopped in 1974, and the business was reorganized in 1975 after American investor Ernest Stern acquired a majority interest. Trident attempted to return to the North American market with a redesigned Clipper featuring safety bumpers and a large Chrysler V8. The project produced only two cars and did not develop into a viable export program. A proposed later Venturer was announced, but there is no reliable evidence that it reached meaningful production. The original manufacturing effort ended after only a small number of cars had been assembled during the 1976–1977 restart attempt. Trident Cars was re-established in Fakenham in May 1999. Its principal modern project was the Iceni, an intended two-seat spider first shown as a prototype at the 2000 Birmingham International Motor Show. The concept initially used a 3.2-litre V6 and was later associated with a 6.6-litre General Motors turbodiesel V8. A closed-bodied derivative, the Iceni Magna, was presented in 2014. Despite repeated development and promotional activity, funding difficulties prevented the revived company from commencing established series production. Trident therefore remains best known as a low-volume British sports-car marque whose historical cars combine Italian-influenced styling with British chassis components and American or British engines.
History
Trident Cars emerged from a sports-car body project connected with the early TVR organization. During the early 1960s, TVR and its successor Grantura Engineering experienced insolvency and ownership changes. A proposed replacement body for the Griffith 200 was commissioned from designer Trevor Fiore. Fiore produced a compact hatchback-style coupé, and Carrozzeria Fissore constructed a prototype on an extended TVR chassis. The design was shown at Geneva in 1965, followed by additional coupé and convertible prototypes. Grantura Engineering’s collapse interrupted the project. Although the new TVR owners initially appeared likely to take it over, TVR dealer William “Bill” Last obtained the design rights and moulds instead. He founded Trident Cars in 1966, first operating in Woodbridge and later moving to Ipswich. Following further public prototype appearances, the company put the Clipper into limited production in 1967. The car’s styling remained close to the Fissore prototypes, but production engineering changed from the original TVR arrangement. Early examples used Austin-Healey 3000 chassis and Ford V8 engines sourced from an earlier Grantura order. Once that supply was exhausted, later cars used other mechanical combinations, including Triumph TR6 chassis and, for an attempted higher-powered derivative, a Chrysler V8 and automatic gearbox. The Venturer arrived in 1969 and was based on a lengthened Triumph TR6 platform. Its 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6, four-speed manual transmission and independent suspension gave it a more conventional British sports-car specification than the V8 Clipper. It was the most numerous Trident variant, although published production totals range from approximately 49 to 84 cars. The Tycoon, introduced in 1971, used a fuel-injected 2.5-litre Triumph six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. Only around six or seven examples are generally attributed to this model. Estimates for total production during the company’s first period vary, but approximately 130 vehicles is the commonly cited overall figure. Trident’s business model was vulnerable to the economics of specialist-car production. The cars were expensive, production was highly limited, and reports identify engine difficulties and challenging road behavior in some configurations. The oil crisis and broader 1970s financial conditions further damaged demand. Production stopped in 1974. A 1975 restructuring brought Ernest Stern in as majority investor, and Trident attempted to restart the marque with a restyled Clipper. The 1976 version incorporated a revised front end and US-style safety bumpers and was intended to support entry into North America. Only two were built, and the proposed export strategy did not succeed. A new Venturer was also announced around 1977, but its production is not documented. The original company finally ceased meaningful activity after the attempted restart. In May 1999, Trident Cars was re-established at Fakenham. The revived company concentrated on the Iceni, a two-seat spider intended to combine distinctive styling with a large-displacement engine. The first public prototype appeared at the 2000 Birmingham International Motor Show with a 3.2-litre V6. Later development material associated the project with a 6.6-litre General Motors turbodiesel V8, and a closed-bodied Iceni Magna was shown in 2014. The project remained constrained by funding and did not progress into documented series production. Trident’s legacy consequently consists primarily of its rare 1960s and 1970s coupés, supported by a later but unrealized attempt to revive the brand.
- 2014
Iceni Magna presented
[1]The closed-bodied Iceni Magna was displayed, although funding issues prevented documented series production.
- 2000
Iceni prototype presented
[1]The revived company showed the Iceni two-seat spider prototype at Birmingham.
- 1999
Trident Cars re-established
[1]A new Trident Cars venture was formed in Fakenham.
- 1976
Revised Clipper displayed
[1]A redesigned Clipper was shown at the London Motor Show as part of an attempted restart and North American expansion.
- 1974
First production era ends
[1]Regular production stopped amid financial pressure, the oil crisis and technical difficulties.
- 1971
Tycoon introduced
[1]Trident added the Tycoon, a six-cylinder automatic coupé produced in very small numbers.
- 1969
Venturer launched
[1]The Venturer joined the range with a lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis and Ford Essex V6 power.
- 1967
Clipper production begins
[1]Trident commenced limited production of the Clipper sports coupé.
- 1966
Trident Cars is founded
[1]William “Bill” Last established Trident Cars after acquiring the project’s design rights and body moulds.
- 1965
Trident prototype shown at Geneva
[1]Carrozzeria Fissore displayed Trevor Fiore’s prototype body for a proposed TVR-related sports car project at the Geneva Motor Show.
Products and positioning
An independent British specialist marque focused on distinctive, high-performance sports cars built in very small numbers, often using externally sourced chassis, engines and transmissions.
Sports coupé · 1967
Clipper
Trident’s first production model was a sharply styled sports coupé derived from the Fiore/Fissore design. Early cars used Ford V8 engines and Austin-Healey 3000 chassis; later examples adopted lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis. The model could be purchased as a complete car or in kit form. A later Chrysler V8 version was proposed and a revised US-oriented Clipper was built in only two documented examples.
Sports coupé · 1969
Venturer
Introduced in 1969, the Venturer was based on a lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis and used a 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 with a four-speed manual gearbox. It was the most successful Trident model by production volume, though published totals differ. Its combination of independent suspension, British running gear and Italian-influenced bodywork defined much of the marque’s identity.
Sports coupé · 1971
Tycoon
The Tycoon was a limited-production variant introduced in 1971. It used a 2.5-litre fuel-injected Triumph six-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission rather than the V8 or Ford V6 combinations used elsewhere in the range. Only approximately six or seven examples are generally reported.
Sports spider · 2000
Iceni
The Iceni was the principal product concept of the revived company. It was conceived as a two-seat spider and first shown publicly in 2000 with a 3.2-litre V6. Later development used a large General Motors turbodiesel V8. The project remained a prototype and did not enter documented series production.
Sports coupé · 2014
Iceni Magna
The Iceni Magna was the closed-bodied derivative of the revived Iceni project, presented in 2014. It represented an effort to broaden the concept beyond the original open spider, but funding limitations prevented a confirmed production program.
Brand decisions
1999
Revival of the Trident marqueStrategyBackground
A new venture was established in Fakenham to revive the name after the original manufacturer had ceased meaningful production.
Action taken
The revived company developed the Iceni sports spider and subsequently the Iceni Magna closed version.
Aftermath
The concepts were displayed publicly, but funding difficulties prevented documented regular production.
1975
Attempted North American expansion with a revised ClipperStrategyBackground
After the end of the first production period, Trident sought to restart the business and target North American customers.
Action taken
The company revised the Clipper with a new front end, US-style safety bumpers and a large Chrysler V8, while also considering Ford V8 power.
Aftermath
The export plan did not become viable. Only two revised Clippers were built and the intended restart ended after very limited output.
Recent events
- 2014
Trident presents the Iceni Magna[1]
Product launch
A closed version of the revived Iceni concept was shown under the Iceni Magna name, but funding constraints continued to prevent regular production.
- 2000
Revived Trident displays the Iceni prototype[1]
Product launch
The re-established company presented the two-seat Iceni spider prototype at the Birmingham International Motor Show.
- 1975
Trident is reorganized under majority investor Ernest Stern[1]
Leadership change
The company was restructured and sought to revive the business with a revised Clipper aimed at the North American market.
- 1974
Trident production is suspended amid financial difficulties[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Production was halted as the company faced a combination of engine-related problems, the oil crisis and unfavorable economic conditions.
- 1971
Trident introduces the Tycoon[1]
Product launch
The Tycoon added a fuel-injected Triumph six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission to the small Trident range.
- 1969
Trident introduces the Venturer[1]
Product launch
The Venturer entered the range with a lengthened Triumph TR6 chassis and a 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6. It became the marque’s highest-volume model.
- 1967
Trident Cars begins production of the Clipper[1]
Product launch
After a series of prototypes derived from a TVR-related design project, Trident began limited production of the Clipper sports coupé.
Sources2 sources
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