1965 Triumph TR4A

“ A proper mid-60's sports car that's benefitted from an extensive restoration. ”
There is a vast gulf between the best-restored cars and everything else – and this is very definitely one of the best we’ve seen.

Still looking fresh after 41 years, it simply wouldn’t be possible to buy a ratty one and restore it to this standard for our guide price of between £22,000 and £27,000.

And this one is ready to use this summer; even if you didn’t mind writing a considerably bigger cheque than necessary, with labour shortages and a disrupted parts supply chain you’d be lucky to get one restored before the turn of the decade.

So why not treat yourself to a day out to take a closer look at one of the most impressive restorations we seen this year?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Background
The Triumph TR4 marked a significant change of direction for Triumph being a much more modern car than the TR3 it replaced. As such, it was something of a gamble but one that paid off handsomely: the press, public and dealers all loved it with more than 40,000 eventually finding homes across the globe.

With hindsight, the TR4’s success was guaranteed; it looks sensational, goes like stink, yet is still simple enough that the talented home mechanic can maintain and repair it with only a few simple hand tools. Remember, not only was the world still struggling to haul itself out of post-war austerity, but cars of the period still needed regularly fettling with 3,000-mile oil changes and routine de-cokes being the rule…

The TR4 was upgraded in 1965 with independent rear suspension to create the TR4A like the example you see here.

Regardless of model, all Triumph TRs benefit from some of the best support of any make or model. Values are solid but restoration costs for rusty ones can still exceed what the car’s worth, so rust-free, restored examples like this are worth seeking out.

Overview
The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust production record trace certificate records that it was built in Signal Red with black hood and trim on the 5th of August 1965 as a right-hand drive, UK-spec car.

It was fitted with disc wheels, a heater, and windscreen washer plus the independent rear suspension that marks this as a TR4A. Goodyear 5.95-15 tyres helped make the most of the improved chassis, and Berkeley Square Garages would have had no trouble finding it a home.

Restored in the early nineties when it arrived back after a sojourn in the United States, it was reregistered with the DVLA in 1995 and has been in the same keeper’s care ever since.

As an engineer – his father started an engineering firm 66 years ago, which he then took over before passing it into his daughter’s hands a decade ago – he restored the chassis and mechanical components, leaving the restoration of the bodywork to Northern Healey.

A local trimmer then fitted out the interior – and not wanting to spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar, he insisted they use the same mohair that Mercedes do.

He thought long and hard about what he was going to use it for, and elected to have the boot trimmed in carpet to protect his golf clubs – and he even had the gearlever surround trimmed in black leather simply because he thought it would look nice.

He was right.

Sadly, while he loved the finished article his wife didn’t, so he never really got to use it as he intended.

But, he kept is safely stored in a dry garage (“It’s never been left outside”) and it still looks absolutely stunning; we’ll go into the details throughout the advert but the TL:DR is that it might have been finished a couple of years ago rather than three decades.

Estimate: £22,000 - £27,000

View The Current Bid Price HERE