Description
According to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, this Triumph TR4, chassis number CT/ 17901-L and engine number CT18118-E, was built in Coventry, UK, and dispatched to the Standard Triumph Motor Company in Los Angeles, California, on 14 December 1962. The car was first registered in Los Angeles in early 1963 and retains its original California registration plate, 548 LJR within its history file.
This TR4 is a matching-numbers example that spent the first 27 years of its life in the dry climate of California before being imported back to the UK by Brown & Gammons in 1990. At the time of import, the recorded mileage was just 49, 000 miles. Brown & Gammons subsequently sold the car to Mr C. Pegler of Walsall, UK on 21 April 1990. He commissioned a no expense spared comprehensive restoration, including a conversion to right-hand drive, which was completed in 1992. The car was registered in the UK as WSU 575 on 27 December 1990, and photographs documenting the restoration remain within the history file.
In September 1996, the TR4 was sold to a Mr Meijer of Brussels, Belgium. After a short period of ownership, he sold the car to a Dutch enthusiast in 1998. The car saw limited use during his ownership and was stored for approximately five years before undergoing a photographed bare-metal restoration in the Netherlands in 2006, at a cost of more than £5, 000.
In 2009, the car was entrusted to Southern Classics of Twickenham, UK for an extensive mechanical refurbishment. The work included an engine rebuild with increased compression and an unleaded cylinder head conversion, together with a new performance manifold, stainless steel exhaust system, gearbox rebuild, replacement overdrive unit, new wiring loom, steering column, steering rack, radiator, Kenlowe electric cooling fan, fuel pump, speedometer and numerous other components detailed within the accompanying invoices. The work totalled close to £20, 000.
Today, having had five previous UK owners and covered just 6, 773 miles since its restoration and mechanical rebuild, this 1962 Triumph TR4 remains a well-presented and highly usable example. Finished in Triumph Signal Red, the bodywork is straight with consistent panel fit and a good paint finish showing only minor age-related imperfections. The brightwork remains in very good order throughout, complemented by chrome bullet mirrors and a chrome fuel filler cap. The car sits on a recent set of MWS chrome wire wheels fitted with Michelin XAS NO 165 R15 tyres, manufactured in 2023 and still in excellent condition. A matching spare wheel is housed in the boot. Also included are a black double-duck hood and a full black mohair tonneau cover.
The interior has been tastefully trimmed in tan Connolly leather with dark red piping, complemented by matching door cards. A rear bench seat has been fitted and trimmed to match the front seats, while front and rear seat belts provide additional practicality. Dark red Wilton carpets remain in good condition throughout. The painted metal dashboard and centre console present particularly well, while a Nardi 15-inch wood-rim steering wheel and aluminium gear knob with integrated overdrive switch add to the period quality character. The dashboard is equipped with a full set of Jaeger instruments, including speedometer, rev counter, fuel, oil pressure, temperature and ammeter gauges. Provision remains for a radio, and Sony speakers have been discreetly installed in the front footwells.
The boot is neatly finished with black carpeting and houses the spare wheel, tool kit, hood and tonneau cover.
Under the bonnet, the show field ready engine bay is clean and well presented following the mechanical refurbishment and Weber carburettor conversion.
On the road, the TR4 performs as a well-maintained and properly sorted example should. The engine is strong and responsive with healthy oil pressure, while the gearbox offers smooth and positive engagement. The overdrive operates correctly, and the combination of the engine, transmission and braking upgrades makes for an enjoyable and confidence-inspiring driving experience. Suitable for touring, club events or regular use, it is an attractive and distinctive TR4 with a well-documented history and substantial restoration record.
MOT History On File:
2026 : 6, 760 Miles (01. 06. 2027)
2025 : 6, 526 Miles
2017 : 4, 281 Miles
2016 : 3, 919 Miles
2015 : 3, 560 Miles
2014 : 3, 395 Miles
2012 : 2, 207 Miles
2009 : 801 Miles
Pre-restoration UK :
1996 : 50, 681 Miles
1995 : 50, 543 Miles
1994 : 50, 265 Miles
1993 : 49, 968 Miles
1992 : 49, 397 Miles
1990 : 49, 154 Miles
Documents Included With Sale:
History Files, Heritage Certificate, V5C, Owners Manual, Restoration Photographs, Californian Number Plate, Invoices As Listed Below.
Invoices On File:
01. 06. 2026 : £478. 73 - Malton Coachworks (Service & Preparation)
18. 05. 2023 : £96. 05 - Redgate Garage at Rudston (Service)
09. 08. 2021 : £313. 64 - Redgate Garage at Rudston (Service)
09. 08. 2021 : £18. 12 - Rimmer Bros (Fuel Bowl)
15. 06. 2021 : £18. 30 - Rimmer Bros (Filler Cap)
28. 10. 2019 : £77. 25 - Kwick Fit (Battery)
27. 08. 2019 : £125. 16 - SC Tyres (2 x Tyres)
04. 09. 2018 : £353. 46 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Fit New Petrol Tank, Check Fuel Lines, Clean Sender Unit)
21. 08. 2018 : £352. 36 - Rimmer Bros (Aluminium Fuel Tank & Accessories)
29. 05. 2018 : £749. 83 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Service, Fit New Fuel System Components, Tune Carburetors)
05. 05. 2018 : £180. 00 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Health check & Engine Tune)
25. 04. 2018 : £15. 30 - Rimmer Bros (Distributor Clamp Plate)
04. 04. 2018 : £825. 00 - TR Shop (Front & Rear Bumper Set)
04. 04. 2018 : £228. 00 - TR Shop (New Rear Lamps)
04. 07. 2017 : £254. 16 - THG Vehicle Repairs (MOT and Change Diff Oil)
18. 06. 2017 : £19. 64 - Rimmer Bros (New Throttle Rod)
15. 06. 2017 : £43. 32 - Rimmer Bros (Petrol Pump)
15. 16. 2017 : £599. 76 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Fit Carburettors & Linkage Kit, Inlet Manifolds)
31. 05. 2017 : £1, 461. 00 - Southern Carburetters & Injection (TR4 Weber Conversion Kit)
30. 05. 2017 : £178. 00 - Flannery Speedometer Repair (Speedometer Repair)
21. 05. 2017 : £13. 40 - Rimmer Bros (Diff Pinion Oil Seal)
15. 05. 2017 : £461. 52 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Remove & Clean Cylinder Head)
28. 04. 2017 : £33. 34 - Moss Europe (Gasket Top)
21. 04. 2017 : £48. 83 - Rimmer Bros (Head Gasket, Rocker Cover Gasket)
20. 04. 2017 : £85. 01 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Fit Differential Gasket)
17. 03. 2017 : £270. 56 - Moss Europe (CSI Distributor)
30. 06. 2016 : £269. 39 - THG Vehicle Repairs (Service & MOT)
08. 02. 2016 : £158. 55 - Rimmer Bros (K&N Air Filter)
02. 10. 2015 : £22. 19 - Moss Europe (Fan Belt)
10. 08. 2015 : £95. 03 - Rimmer Bros (Inner Tube, Rim Band, Bonnet Badge)
03. 08. 2015 : £14. 93 - Rimmer Bros (Retainer)
30. 07. 2015 : £79. 20 - Pitstop (Static Engine Tune)
29. 07. 2015 : £21. 00 - Rimmer Bros (Triumph Badge)
21. 07. 2015 : £84. 42 - Rimmer Bros (Boot Lid Handle, Owners Handbook)
18. 07. 2015 : £26, 000 - Classic Chrome Limited (Car Sold, 3, 550 Miles)
29. 08. 2014 : £481. 00 - Len Griffin Mechanical Services (Health check, Service, MOT)
06. 06. 2012 : £400. 00 - Len Griffin Mechanical Services (Mechanical Work)
23. 09. 2009 : £1, 093. 83 - Southern Classics (Restoration Work)
25. 06. 2009 : £17, 707. 13 - Southern Classics (Restoration Work)
29. 05. 2009 : £6, 900. 00 - Southern Classics (Restoration Work)
30. 04. 2009 : £2, 300. 00 - Southern Classics (Restoration Work)
Restoration work included:
June 2009 - Remove bonnet and various items to gain access. Further remove engine/ gearbox assembly. Send gearbox away for specialist overdrive conversion. Send engine away for specialist rebuilding (includes gas-flowing head, vernier timing gear, 244 camshaft, lightening flywheel and balancing crankshaft etc.) Remove steering column, rebuild column upper & lower sections, modify bulkhead to ensure correct fitting. Fit new steering rack, modifying mounts & fittings as original racks are no longer available. Remove dashboard and fabricate support brackets. Carry out a full rewire of vehicle; fabricating various sub-looms that were no longer available. Supply and fit a Halogen headlamp conversion kit and adjust headlamp beams. Refit engine/ gearbox assembly. Fit all new water hoses and new fan belt. Recommission and tune carburetors. Refit previously removed serviceable items and fit new parts listed in invoice, making any necessary adjustments to ensure correct fitting as some reproduction parts supplied were not the same quality as the original parts. Supply and fit a 2" large-bore stainless steel exhaust system and fit a 4-branch manifold, adapting various brackets to suit. Replace leaking oil seal on RH rear hub. Replace contaminated rear brake shoes and wheel cylinder. Adjust handbrake mechanism. Fit new stiffening bracket to lower wishbones. Strip and repair light switch. Fit bracket to RH rear bumper. Fabricate a radio housing and fit new radio, fit cigar lighter socket and supporting bracket. Strip, clean and grease wiper motor, refit motor. Replace screen-wash jets and tubing. Carry out checks and road testing. Take vehicle for MOT, Wax-inject vehicle.
September 2009 - Supply and fit a new aerial. Supply and fit a new heather cable to heater valve. Supply and fit new inner bushes etc. to LH lower wishbone. Change oil and filter. Trace and rectify rough running of engine and fuel leak. Fit a new inline fuel filter and new rubber tipped needle valves in carburetors. Tune carburetors. Remove front brake pads, clean and apply anti-squeal resin to pads; refit and test. Check and adjust engine tappets. Investigate cause of noise on bumpers - rear dampers found to be loose, tighten bolts. Carry out road test.
There is further invoicing contained within the cars history file that dates back to 1990 which was when the car was imported by Brown & Gammons Ltd from California.
View full details on our website - details above where we publish a lot more images including images of the chassis.
We are based near Whitchurch, Shropshire, UK.
