Vehicle Description
1968 Triumph TR250 Roadster
Thanks to emissions rules and tighter regulations, America received
a carbureted version of Britain's TR5 with considerably less
horsepower. The good news is, we still got a great little car with
a lot of appeal and charm and enough power to have fun. The TR250
is the American version and with less than 9,000 produced in 1968
for the U.S. market, it's a relatively rare car. That encourages
clubs and those that share the interest around the country in
actively participating in meets, rallies, regular meetings, and
tech sessions.
For consignment, a car originally from south Florida and garage
kept for the past 37 years. It has a number of upgrades for
performance and reliability and presents an exciting opportunity to
purchase a well-sorted British roadster for some open-air
enjoyment!
Exterior
The body was taken down to bare metal and Valencia Blue, a factory
color, was applied. It's a fantastic shade of dark blue/green and
our car has an added silver nose stripe that lends contrast and
picks up nicely on the metal parts of the car. The chrome bumpers
are in good condition with noticeable specks, and we love how the
rear bumper wraps around the entire stretch of the rear quarter
panels. The metal rocker panel along with the fender-mounted side
mirrors, trim and other brightwork are in very good condition.
TR250 emblems appear on the hood as well as the trunk, where a
Union Jack flag and "Triumph" emblem also reside. A nickel-colored
gas cap is magnetic, taken from the Triumph truck line in 1968. The
black canvas convertible top is in near flawless condition and the
three rear plastic windows are clear. 15-inch Konig wheels with
their argent gray spokes and polished rim look fantastic. We note
some imperfections in paint including scratches, chips, spider
cracks.
Interior
Barley colored seats from a 1972 TR6 are covered in vinyl, the
color and pattern of which is repeated on the door cards. It's a
nice upgrade that blends well with the tan carpet that is protected
by black mats. The three spoke steering wheel is black and
foam-based and leads to a beautifully stained wood dashboard. The
speedometer and tachometer are large and simple while a cluster of
four small gauges sit in the center of the dash. A pod of square
control knobs is under the cluster and the ignition is there as
well along with an aftermarket AM/FM/CD head unit that falls just
below that. The shifter is floor mounted in a molded plastic shroud
and the parking brake is perched on the center hump between the
seats. The rear shelf behind the seats is carpeted and occupied by
a large speaker unit. The trunk holds the spare tire and a shelf
with a black, carpeted cover.
Drivetrain
The original 2.5 liter inline six is at home in the bay and fed
petrol by 2 SU carburetors that regulate the fuel through
piston-controlled venturis. Pertronix electronic ignition provides
the spark and a gear reduction starter turns the engine. A 4-speed
manual transmission gets her in gear and a Nissan 3.60 differential
lives in the back where power is transferred to the rear wheels. A
TR6 wiper motor is another upgrade to the mechanics of the car. The
engine bay is spectacular, just gleaming and colorful and a lovely
showcase of the inline six. Disc brakes live up front, drums in the
rear. Many of the original parts including transmission,
differential, starter, wheels, and tires come with the car to the
new owner.
Undercarriage
A rust-free bottom is a welcome sight and all looks jolly good
under here. A single exhaust trails along the frame into a stock
style muffler that sends out two tailpipes for that twin tip
goodness! Both ends have independent suspension with coil springs
up front and trailing arms and coil springs out back. 215/65/15's
are on all four corners.
Drive-Ability
British reliability is always the butt of jokes but with some nice
upgrades, this car is going to buck the trend. It started right up
and once warmed up a bit, we shifted into gear and took a lap
around our test loop. The car did not disappoint, rated at 104
horsepower, but feeling like a bit more than that, the car leaped
into action and rolled through the gearbox with ease. The ride is
pleasant for a sports car that is 56 years old! The brakes worked
as expected and before we knew it, it was time to return the spry
little foxhound back to the barn...er...mall.
This is a beautifully appointed Brit that has been well maintained
and fitted with some tasteful upgrades. As a bonus if you want to
go back to bone stock configuration, the parts to do that will be
included at no extra cost! British sports cars are the benchmark
and really the origins of the world's best sports cars. This is one
example that has many more "smiles per gallon" in her tank!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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