Highlights
- Last right hand drive TR4A made
- Rare colour only used in the final year of production
- Well presented
- Usable British classic
- Overdrive gearbox
THE APPEAL
Triumph launched the TR4A in 1964. Similar to the TR4 in looks but quite a different car on the underside. The main giveaway was the large side lights and indicator units on the front wings, and the other giveaway was the IRS badge on the boot lid. This indicates that the suspension and chassis had been redesigned, and the trailing rear suspension was ditched in favour of the Independant Rear Suspension system (IRS).
This lovely 1968 TR4A has been restored by a previous keeper meaning all the hard work has been done, and it's ready to be enjoyed, which is exactly what the seller has been doing for the past four years, along with the odd bit of tinkering here and there to keep everything in check. The 2.1 litre engine has been tuned by the seller, who has an ear for setting classics up, and it is now reported to return approximately 35mpg on a long run using the overdrive gearbox.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- V5 is present
- Registered 16th April 1968
- Letter from the TR register confirming the last right hand drive TR4A made
Having been restored several years ago by a previous keeper who is no longer with us, unfortunately, a lot of paperwork was lost when his estate was divided up, part of which is the history of this TR4A. It is believed to have had many new parts during the restoration, but there is no paperwork to see what exactly was fitted.
The V5 is present along with a letter from the TR4/TR4A register stating that this car is in fact the last right hand drive and penultimate car. It is also in the rare colour of Valencia Blue, which was used for the last year in the production of the TR4A.
THE INTERIOR
- Retrimmed seats
- New carpets & door cards
- Moto-Lita steering wheel
- Well presented
Inside, the TR4A is well presented, having had the seats recovered and new seat diaphragms and rear trim parts fitted during the restoration, and there are no apparent signs of any wear to mention. The door cards have also been replaced and are in good order.
The dashboard has a wooden fascia which is in good order, although a light polish may freshen it up a little to restore the lustre. The instruments are working correctly, with the odometer showing 21,182, which is believed to be 121,182 miles. A Moto-Lita steering wheel keeps you on the straight and narrow with no excessive wear to the rim.
The carpets were also replaced, which completes the interior of this British icon. Inside the boot is clean and tidy with the spare wire wheel, jack and wheel brace present, and not forgetting the all-important Thor knock-off hammer.
THE EXTERIOR
- Finished in rare Valencia Blue
- Restored several years ago
- Mohair roof
- Wire wheels
Resprayed in the original Valencia Blue, the TR4A car presents well, and there is nothing untoward to mention other than the odd age related stone chip. The bumpers and overriders have been triple chrome plated and therefore have an excellent brightness. The grille is nice and straight, and the headlights have no splits to mention.The bonnet opens and closes as it should with an equal panel gap around the edges.
Around to the sides of the TR4A, the doors align as well as you would expect, and there are no dings or dents to mention when looking down the car. There are new door aperture rubber seals. The windows are generally in good order, with just some light age-related marks. The roof has been replaced and frame refurbished and so can be put up quickly by one person. This is made from Mohair, which is in good order, and has three plastic windows which have minimal marking. Once the roof is down, it is finished off with a well-fitted mohair tonneau cover.
At the rear, the correct badges are in place; they have some light tarnishing. The boot lid aligns well and is held in place with new hinges. The rear light lenses are in good condition, and again some light tarnishing to the chrome surrounds. The bumper, just like the front, has been triple plated, leaving it with an excellent shine. The previous owner fitted new wire wheels and chrome spinners and are in excellent order and fitted with a matching set of Nankang tyres with good tread remaining.
THE MECHANICS
- 2.1 litre engine
- 4-speed gearbox with overdrive
- New dampers and springs
- Superb drive
The 2.1 litre engine fires up straight away, and no untoward noises can be heard. The seller is well practised when it comes to tuning the SU carburettors, which he has done, and the car is now economical and nippy. He has recently fitted an external condenser after the previous one failed. Fitting it to the outside of the distributor made it easier to replace should it happen again.
The gearbox is the most sought after overdrive unit, which can be activated in 2nd, 3rd or 4th. The synchromesh is reportedly in good condition and changes up and down the gears as it should. There are also no noises reported to be coming from the transmission. The suspension has seen new dampers and springs to the front and is an absolute pleasure to drive. The brakes are also working as they should, bringing the TR4A to a halt in a safe manner.
A twin outlet stainless steel exhaust is fitted and new dynamo.
A twin outlet stainless steel exhaust is fitted and new dynamo.
SUMMARY
Perfect for the summer! This British classic is more than capable of putting a grin on your face as you tear down your local B roads with the roof down and the sporty note of the 2.1 litre engine. Since getting the car four years ago, the seller has maintained it well, setting it up himself, and it is now reported to return 35mpg with excellent performance to match.
The car is ready to go and can continue to be used just like the seller has. So who will become the new custodian of the last right-hand drive car? Will it be you?
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