1963 Triumph TR4

This fine-looking example of the TR4 hails from April 1963 and is noted as leaving the Canley factory on the 22nd and destined for dealers Rennie Lindsay Limited of Glasgow. Our car was a well specified example, too, boasting the following factory extras - heater, overdrive, windscreen washers, sixty spoke wire wheels, sun visors, black tonneau cover and……“motorway special tyres.” This haul represented a sizeable proportion of the available extras and would have added around £140 to the £1,095 list price.

The factory record notes that the TR4 was liveried in “New White” with black trim and hood, a colourway that it maintains today. Both original chassis and engine numbers remain in evidence today with the former designating the car as a home market right hand drive example. This matching number provenance and right-hand drive with extra Laycock de Normanville electrically operated overdrive specification offers the optimum form for a car of this ilk and vintage.

Not uncommonly for sports cars of this era, now sixty-one years old remember, the TR4 is in the hands of its 11th keeper currently. This has been a long-term relationship, however, with keeper David acquiring the TR4 over nine years ago. During David’s tenure a recent full engine rebuild has been undertaken with the TR having only covered around 50 miles since.

No retained records allude to earlier restorative work to the body, paintwork or interior but the general condition of the TR4 is suggestive of some having been undertaken at some point in its history. Whilst our photographic package will inform you of any areas of exception the overall presentation seems very good for a car of this age.

The internal code name for the TR4 project was “Zest,” and zest is what Michelotti brought to the task, designing a car that was hard to recognise as a successor to its divisively styled TR2 and 3 forebears. In profile the car offers up long, seemingly almost equal length front and rear platforms with the cabin appearing to sit equidistant between them.  A short front overhang and a longer rear one helps lend the car a sense of dynamic forward momentum even at a standstill.

The New White paintwork of our example helps to emphasise the car’s clean and uncluttered lines whilst providing an emphatic contrast to the black interior and hood. The gleaming brightwork lends just the right amount of gilding and the big headlamps and muscular looking bonnet bulge emphasise the sporting pedigree and potential of the TR.

The exact history and provenance of the paintwork may be an enigma, but the current condition certainly isn’t. The paintwork appears to have been appropriately thickly and evenly applied and a deep shine exudes from each and every panel. Inevitably the odd scuff, crack and chip in the paintwork is noted and photographed for your review. The bodywork is equally well presented and the panel gaps, most often a curate’s egg in 1960’s British sports cars, are pretty tight and consistent overall.

The car rides on a set of 60-spoke wire wheels, one of the valuable extras to adorn the car from the Canley factory. These 15-inch items are deeply chromed and affixed with a set of twin-eared central spinners which are embossed with removal instructions. A matching set of recent looking Pirelli P6000 radial type tyres in a 195/65 configuration are fitted.

The black hood presents well, and the rear windows appear to be free from discolouration, fogging, cracks or splits. The slightly eccentric shape of the erected hood either suggests that the hoops need reshaping or that our photographer lost the fight. A black tonneau cover, and rain cover are also included.

The TR’s cabin is an architype for the “hairy chested” sports cars of the era and presents in a duochrome of black and white. Once again, likely restored as some point, the condition of the cabin throughout appears very good.

Seat upholstery is courtesy of black, self-patterned and lightly textured vinyl arranged into vertical box pleats. The extremities of the seats are circumscribed by white piping. The seat faces are in great shape with just a little bagginess evident to the edges of the seat backs and a rear panel coming adrift on the driver’s side. The door cards are identically trimmed and feature map pockets and chromed door furniture. A carpeted luggage shelf is situated behind the seats with the latter tilting forward for easy access. The black, edge bound carpets are in decent order with the passenger side footwell carpet seemingly missing. Standard Triumph branded, rubber, protective mats are provided.

The dashboard fascia is finished in body coloured steel and sits between black vinyl top and bottom rolls. A full set of white on black, British Jaeger instruments are fitted with just one Lucas interloper noted. The convex lensed, big speedometer and tachometer are particularly evocative of the period. These sit ahead of the three spoke alloy and leather Mota-Lita steering wheel. The all-important Laycock de Normanville overdrive is deployed via a long, dash mounted toggle to the left of the wheel. For the first time in the TR4 this could now be selected for 2nd and 3rd gear as well as 4th, effectively providing the TR4 with a seven-speed manual close ratio gearbox. The directional fresh-air vents in the end of the fascia were claimed to be the first fitted to a British production car…….for any pub quizzers in attendance.

The boot is a good size and practically shaped. It is finished in a mixture of carpet and vinyl panels. A removable floor panel conceals the spare wheel and accompanying tools.

The quoted 105bhp from the four cylinder, 2,138cc engine may seem a trifle by today’s standards, but so was the car’s 990kg kerb weight (with half a tank of petrol). This combination made for sprightly progress with the 1961 Autocar test recording a 104mph top speed and an 11 second 0-60mph time.

Our car’s engine bay presents very nicely with plenty of polished metals and alloys greeting the eye. The rocker cover and K&N embossed air filter covers are particularly lustrous. The twin 175CD Stromberg carburettors sit canted up on the right side of the bay and providing ample explanation for the pronounced and off-centre bonnet hump. The data plates and engine number are evident and matching the factory build record for the car. During its current ownership the TR4 has benefitted from a compete engine rebuild at a cost of just over £7,000. This was around 50 miles ago with the car still running in following that work.

The underside of the car looks to be in decent shape with some minor, earlier repairs evident. A good level of preservative underseal appears present with some potential for further improvement easily within reach.

The TR4 is accompanied by some key paperwork and ephemera. This includes the current V5 registration document. This classifies the TR4 as an Historic Vehicle rendering it MoT exempt and zero rated for VED in the UK. Despite this the car holds a current MoT certificate valid until July 2024. A number of earlier MoT certificates in hard copy are also present. A Heritage Certificate for the car is also on hand.

A TR4 owners’ handbook and workshop manual are present together with a number of high-value invoices detailing work performed and parts sourced during its current ownership. These equate to close to £7,000 worth of expenditure. The owner notes that a tracker is fitted, although a new battery is required, together with two keys.

Michelotti was able to add more than a little Italian glamour to the TR range with the advent of the TR4, transforming it from worthy but humble to sophisticated and svelte. As such the TR4 occupies a pivotal position in the lineage and is justifiably popular as a result.

This example seems to have it all. Matching numbers, the desired overdrive and an original right hand drive specification. The overall condition makes it immediately useable, and the recent engine rebuild is a real boon for the next owner. Cars of this quality are becoming a rare commodity so bid today to avoid missing out. 

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £20,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.