1967 TRIUMPH TR4A
Registration No. French registered
Chassis No. CTC 75694L
Engine No. TBA
Dark blue with blue leatherette interior.
Engine: four cylinder in-line, 2138cc, pushrod overhead valves, two Stromberg carburettors, 104bhp at 4,700rpm; Gearbox: manual all-synchromesh fourspeed; Suspension: all-independent, front, wishbones and coil springs, rear, semi-trailing arms and coil springs; Brakes: hydraulically operated disc to front, drum to rear; Steering: rack and pinion. Left hand drive.
Tough, great fun to drive, the 1953 TR2 sports two-seater was shrewdly concocted from well-proven production parts and the simplest of all-steel open bodyshells. It was a formula that served Triumph very well for eight years, bringing great success in international rallying and sports-car racing, selling briskly around the workd. At the same time it evolved, in the process losing much of its early rugged simplicity. In 1961 there was a new body, in 1965 an advanced chassis and suspension. As its market had matured, so had the TR. Meanwhile, the company had been looking outside for styling inspiration. They commissioned the admired Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, who prepared a clean new outline that was used for the Le Mans Triumph prototypes of 1960-61 and adapted for the production TR4 in 1961. Underneath the new shape were other important improvements; the chassis was stiffened at the front, the wheeltrack front and rear wider, and there was positive rack and pinion steering for the first time on the TR series. Independent rear suspension came along in 1964. With wind-up windows, comfortable bucket seats and a little more room for an occasional passenger behind the seats, the TR4A was an appealing fast tourer with close to 110mph on tap. Acknowledging modern safety concerns there was provision for safety belts and a collapsible steering column. It was a great success; 28,460 were sold before it had to give way to the six-cylinder TR5 of 1967.
This late TR4A gives the impression of being in a very good overall condition. The engine starts and runs well. It has not been driven by Christie's, but is said to perform very well on the road. This attractive example of a very English type of production sports-car is equally suited to the long-distance classis tours now so popular, or to field and social events.