Chris' Triumph TR4
Designed by Italian Giovanni Michelotti, the Triumph TR4 was produced by the Triumph Motor Company from 1961 to 1964. With its “wind up windows”, it was a radical styling departure from the side-screen TRs that came before it, despite being based on the same chassis and using the same drivetrain.
Its 2,138cc four cylinder inline engine is notable for having been designed for the Ferguson TE20 tractor. In its standard form, when new, the engine would produce around 105 bhp, it was claimed. Unlike its predecessor, the TR3, the new model had rack and pinion steering, full synchromesh on all forward gears, and was available with Laycock de Normanville overdrive for second, third and fourth gears, as an option.
Club member Chris first saw the TR4 he would later buy advertised in a Triumph magazine. It was 2001 and the car was for sale in the Oxfordshire market town of Thame.
Chris says, “I had been seconded to work in London and it was on the way home, so I arranged to view the car. It was beautiful and the right colour, white. I was in love straight away and I had to have it. A price was agreed and the car was mine.”
On buying the car, Chris immediately had the engine converted to run on unleaded fuel, to avoid the worry of potential valve seat recession. And in the years that followed, he had the flywheel lightened and the bottom end balanced, changed the differential for a higher ratio one, added electronic ignition, electric fan, new hood, leather seats, and converted from the original dynamo to an alternator.
He also runs oversize 185/80 tyres, which Chris says, “… means that at 3000 rpm she is doing 80 mph, which is great for the French Autoroute speed limit.”
Buying the car was a return to the world of TRs for Chris, as in the 1970s he had owned a TR4 in British racing green. Talking of his earlier TR, Chris explained, “It was fast and could tow my Autocross car, which was a blessing, as it stopped the need for me to borrow my Mum and Dad's car, as trying to get the A60 was like pulling hens teeth. Over a period of time I rebuilt the engine, replaced the rear wings and gave it a respray. I had to sell the car in the end, as the old credit card bill got a bit large. I have regretted that to this day. When I sold it, I vowed that when I was able to afford another 4, I would try and convince she who must be obeyed to open the piggy bank …”.
Since the purchase of his latest TR4, Chris and his wife Kate have covered about 40'000 miles in it, journeying far and wide, to France, Ireland, Spain, Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and many of the other Scottish Isles. Those that know Chris will understand what I mean when I say that he is an “enthusiastic driver”, and as he says, once he has the “Viking horns on", he’s happy to cover hundreds of miles in a day.
During these travels, the car has twice returned home on the back of a transporter, once from France, and the second time from Scotland. On the first occasion, Chris explains, “It was down to a faulty condenser, which I had replaced before we left for Le Man's. From Scotland, the issue was caused by a leaf of paint blocking the fuel pipe from the tank. That took about 6 months to find.”
You’ll know Chris if you see him out and about in his TR, with his distinctive cap, his right elbow hanging over the side of the door, and often with a trailer towing behind.