1968 Triumph TR4A

Finished in Valencia Blue with chromed wire wheels and a black interior, ‘BMA 675F’ has had more than £20,000 spent on it in parts and labour in the last seven years.

Built in July 1967 and first registered in February 1968, this Triumph TR4A is showing just five previous keepers on the log book – or an average of one every 9.3 years; clearly, this is not a car that’s been handed from one desperate owner to another in a game of automotive Pass the Parcel.  

The seller, who bought it in 2022, describes his car as “not perfect but very presentable” – and given how good it looks, we think he’s selling himself short. Still, it’s always better to buy from a fastidious owner who understates his cars, eh?
 

The Valencia Blue paintwork was fully restored by RBW Classic Cars in 2019. Then bills are on file and totting them up on the back of a vape packet comes to around £15,000, so this was not a quick blowover in the hope of turning a quick profit.

And it shows. With consistent shutlines and perfect panel alignment, we doubt Triumph managed to wrangle the panels on this neatly when the car was first built.

We suspect the Valencia Blue paint wasn’t this good, either; while it might be the original factory colour, modern paint formulations combined with above-average skill in applying it means it probably looks better now than it ever did even when it was new.

The owner’s played his part too, of course; with only a little over 2,000 miles having been covered since 2019, it still looks box-fresh and is ready to grace whatever classic car show you care to display it at.

The chromework is also very good. Free of rust, scratches, and serious pitting, other shiny details such as the pressed metal black-and-silver numberplates and excellent badges – which include the ‘IRS’ badge that boasts of the improved rear suspension – add a discreet dash of flash.

Flaws on the metalwork are few: there is a small patch of bubbling on the rear wing just behind the driver’s door, with another breaking out at the bottom of the nearside front wing.

As you can see, the matching 15-inch chromed wire wheels are in fine fettle. Free of rust and kerbing damage, they glisten in the summer sun and add considerably to the TR4A’s considerable presence.

The spinners are in fine shape too, and the car comes with a new copper mallet to remove and refit them. The tyres are good too, comprising a matching set of 165/80R15 Continental Contacts, all of which have good tread on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The folding black hood is in an excellent condition. It fits very well and is good and taut when it is erected. It also folds down neatly and tucks itself away under a nicely made black cover that is piped with white, the same colour scheme that’s been used in the cockpit, which brings us neatly to the next section of the description.
 

If we say that the biggest flaw we can find are blemishes on the top of the inside edge of both seats, you get an idea of how good the cabin really is.

Trimmed in the classic combination of black piped in white, this iconic colour scheme is supported by a wood-rimmed Mota-Lita steering wheel, a walnut dashboard, and a full suite of Jaeger and Lucas instruments.

It is, therefore, every inch the classic British sportscar.

It’s still got a period twin-spindle radio too, plus brightly labelled switches and controls, a new-looking carpet, excellent sunvisors, and immaculate door cards.

The top of the dashboard is free of splits, cracks, and other sun-inflicted damage too, and the inner headlining and frame are both very good indeed.

As for the seats, they are plump and comfortable and provide enough space for the seller, who’s 6’ 2” tall, to drive it comfortably.

The seats are also located in front of a very useful luggage area. In the old days you could have fitted a couple of small children in there and we’d have loved it; these days you’d better stick to using it for nothing more animate than coats and a soft bag.

The boot is nicely finished too, and the spare wheel that lies therein is fitted with a brand-new tyre. It also holds a jack plus a tool kit that includes a new copper mallet and a wooden spinner removal tool.

We’ve already mentioned the only two real flaws but if you’re ultra-fastidious then the seat bases/runners could do with a lick of paint.
 

Recent mechanical work includes an alternator (2019), a rebuilt differential (2020), and a service (2023).

As you can see, that £20,000 investment continues to pay off because the TR4 fires into life with enthusiasm, and if the idle is considerably steadier than the rev counter, you can at least rest assured that both the ammeter and oil pressure gauge read exactly as you’d hope.

It revs nicely too and does it all while making all of the right noises and none of the wrong. Part of its aural appeal comes from the twin K&N air filters that give a wonderful induction rasp alongside the twin tailpipes that give it a surprisingly deep exhaust note; despite its relatively modest displacement, this is a four-cylinder engine that punches well above its weight in the quality of the noise it makes.

The seller also tells us that it “drives well”, an assessment we’ve found nothing to argue with, especially given the fact he drove it an hour and a half up to us from his home.

He also says it’s been very reliable. Used for runs to the pub and classic car meets with his mates, the only mechanical problem was a bolt dropping out of the throttle linkage. “It fell on top of the exhaust though,” he laughed, “so I was back on my way in minutes!”

The engine bay itself is nicely presented without being overly fussy; the paintwork is good, and there are some nice details like a chromed rocker cover.

It’s in the sweet spot, in fact, between being usable and yet still good enough to be able to lift the bonnet with shame. Therefore we can’t see many people finding much to complain about under there other than, maybe, removing some of the very light surface rust that’s on some of the steel ancillaries.

It’s much the same with the underside, which is neatly undersealed and in a very good condition. Certainly, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion.

They did mention “Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively both” during the last test though, so that’s something for your (very short) To Do list.
 

The TR4’s MoT certificate is valid until March 2026, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two sets of keys, a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust factory record certificate showing its build specification, a handwritten list of work carried out between 2018 and 2020 that totals almost £20,000, and lots of old invoices and bills.

It also comes with a few spares and a couple of books, including the handbook; please see the photos for details.
 

With a guide price of between £18,000 and £23,000, this TR4A offers solid value for the enthusiast who’s looking for a car upon which someone else has done the heavy lifting.

Which is exactly what the seller was looking for when he bought it; he’d already ticked the TR6 off his Bucket List, and can now do the same for the TR4A, a car he can look back at with nothing but good memories.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays 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’.