Vehicle Description
1963 Triumph TR4A Cabriolet
A fun fact: Body plates in TR4s will state the maker's name as
Standard Motor Company Limited but from the TR4A onwards it was
frequently changed. You'll see Standard Triumph Motor Company
Limited, Triumph Motor Company Limited, Triumph Motors British
Leyland UK Limited, and Triumph Motor Company.
For consignment, a bloody British bonne beauty from bonnet to boot
in the guise of the model TR-A. This TR4 comes equipped with IRS,
or independent rear suspension, which superseded the TR4. Apart
from the rear suspension, which used trailing arms and a
differential bolted to the redesigned chassis frame and a number of
small styling changes and refinements, the two models appear nearly
identical. In fact, an estimated 25 per cent of TR4s were not
equipped with IRS, but instead reverted to a live axle design
similar to the TR4, which was adapted to fit the new chassis. Our
consignment in question was restored boot to bonnetin the 90's and
comes with receipts and photos of the work for the full metal redo,
an engine rebuild, has logged a mere 1,000 miles since. Recently
the entire brake system was rebuilt, the fluids were changed and
new spark plugs have been installed. I say, let's go motoring
British style old chap.
Exterior
Be it not for the curved in the hood headlight visors, and the
ubiquitous bump on the hood, wire wheels and egg crate grille this
iconic design cues, it becomes the TR4, and is looking decidedly
British. A horizontal ribbed chromed grille, with the single
flanking headlights floats above a lower rounded bullet turn signal
lights, framed on the bottom by a small bumper with dual vertical
bumper-ettes. A long hood works its way back to the windshield and
side and door panels are nice and straight, and rust free. These
are all bathed in Signal Red and looking good. Chrome trimmings are
smashing, (good), and mirror-like. A few minor faults are seen
overall, but it is mostly tip top notch mate. The rear of the car
borrows from the Sunbeam tiger with vertical torchlights at the end
of each pointed boxed off fender, and a squared off trunk. This is
a precursor to the TR-6 and Karmann rear design. Gone are the
cutaway doors and now straight sills with roll up windows keep the
belt line horizontal. Above all this Brit menagerie' is a clean
structure for the convertible but no canvas is installed, but a zip
in cockpit cover in black vinyl is on for those rainy days. Seen on
all 4 corners are polished wire knockoff hub 15-inch wheels wrapped
by 165/80R15's all around.
Interior
With this sports car being sans top, we see dual bomber style vinyl
bucketed cockpit. Tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolsters present
in charcoal gray and are like new for these vinyl covered seats. A
central hump races from the back of the cockpit forward, and houses
the gear shift lever. This meets up with the wood veneer dash
showing beautifully and doing its job of covering the dash front
and creating a nice background for the original round Jaeger black
faced gauges with shiny chrome bezels. A nice black bakelite rimmed
banjo style steering wheel with 3 thin chromed rod spokes fronts
the dash. The dash also sports a lower panel with black framing and
brushed aluminum to house pulls and knobs in the dash center. Black
carpets floods all the floors and is clean with a few areas of
wear. The door panels are black vinyl and are just a bit wavy but
are very clean and unmarred.
Drivetrain
With a forward pop of the bonnet we get our jollies with the
rebuilt inline 4 banger underneath in 2138cc configuration. This
has dual side draft SU carburetors feeding it and a 4 speed manual
transmission popped on to the rear of the mill. A 3.70 geared rear
axle is reserved to turn the tires. The bay is in supreme condition
as are all the engine, and bolt ons. There is a glasspack style
single exhaust to help expel the spent fossils and air. Now we know
why that bump up is on the top of the hood!
Undercarriage
Nearly perfect for this undercarriage with straight framing, solid
black painted rust and dirt free floor pans and other structural
steel undercarriage parts. Independent suspension along with disc
brakes are seen upfront and drums with leaf sprung suspension on
the rear.
Drive-Ability
I fancy a drive in this car from across the pond as I had one of
these, and wanted to relive the memory. It fired right up, and ran
like a charm to make even the royals have envy. Good acceleration,
smooth shifting, good handling with the suspension and brakes
working together to give me my thrills. It cruised smoothly up to
speed, and came to an abrupt halt when standing on the brakes. A
good memory was brought back. Quite Right, Your Bloody Well
Right!
No rust on the fully redone exterior, a well restored and preserved
interior and a rust free and restored undercarriage. But the
overall highlight for me is theengine bay with a rebuilt engine and
is backed by extensive receipts. Overall a stunner and all that is
left to say is Bob's yer uncle! Hop in and drive away but only
after ponying up the quid.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.