Straight California car. Runs and drives very well. New interior and top. Optional wire wheels. Nice car ready to enjoy without worries.
This 1965 Triumph TR4 is a lifetime California car that was brought back to Ohio by a pair of brothers with an appreciation for British motoring in the traditional style. It’s never been restored, but rather maintained and updated as necessary, so it’s ideal for driving. The Robin’s Egg Blue paint is indeed the car’s original color and it’s a great contrast to all the red and BRG TRs you see out there, giving this particular car a grown-up attitude. The bodywork is remarkably straight, which is what you’d expect from a west coast car, and there’s no evidence of accident damage or rust repairs in its past. Things like the chrome and stainless trim are in good original condition, with a great grille and the most beautifully rendered Triumph globe emblem on the hood.
Seeing as the car is owned by a professional upholsterer, it should be no surprise that the interior is neatly trimmed in black with white piping. The low-back bucket seats are supportive and firm with a great traditional look and the door panels have been upholstered to match, including a useful map pocket in each one. New carpets help control noise and heat and the rear package shelf can’t quite be called a back seat but it’s neatly finished with matching pleated upholstery. Burled walnut on the dash is a traditional British sports car look and all the Smiths gauges are fully functional. The chrome roll bar isn’t factory-issue, of course, but it looks great and would be easy enough to remove if it’s not your thing. For weather protection, there’s a brand new collapsible top that’s never been installed as well as a full tonneau cover for the passenger compartment, a traditional part of British motoring for a century. TR4s were noted for their larger, more useful trunk and this one is neatly finished with new black carpets and a full-sized spare.
The 2138 cc inline-four under the forward-tilting hood delivers the kind of hairy-chested performance for which Triumphs were famous. There was more power on tap than in the TR3 without a notable increase in weight, so performance is lively. This one starts quickly and easily and idles well even when cold. Put both Stromberg carburetors into action and the car feels energetic on the road, with plenty of torque and a fantastic engine note. The engine bay isn’t detailed for show (that’s original paint on the fenders and firewall) but the shiny chrome valve cover and twin air cleaners look great and there’s plenty of evidence of regular maintenance throughout.
The undercarriage shows off clean California living, which is particularly critical because British sports cars seem to rust in the most demonic ways possible. There’s surface scale on the floorboards, but no structural rot or perforation and again, there’s plenty of evidence of proper maintenance over the years. Rack-and-pinion steering was a big upgrade on the TR4 and it gives this little roadster fantastic agility. Front disc brakes were also standard equipment while the 48-spoke wire wheels were optional, but what would a British sports car be without wire wheels? They’ve been fitted with recent 165R15 Kumho radials, which are appropriately tall and skinny for the right look but offer improved handling and a modern ride.
Documented with a file full of receipts for recent service work and several manuals, this handsome TR4 is a very affordable way to own a traditional roadster that isn’t an MG. TR4 prices are moving faster than almost any other early British roadster, and the great look and friendly road manners are the reasons why. A very clean little car, this is a great driver that could be enjoyed as-is or easily be upgraded over time.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
