1955 Triumph TR2
California Car • Same Owner Since 1960 • Black Plate Survivor
Some cars have a story, and this Triumph has one that spans more than six decades.
This beautiful 1955 Triumph TR2 was purchased by its current owners in 1960 while they were living in Long Beach, California. According to the family, their neighbor, the original owner, sold them the car when he left to serve his country. Remarkably, it has remained with the same couple ever since.
Included with the sale is the original California ownership card issued in 1960, documenting the transfer into the current family's name. It also retains its desirable black and gold California license plates, making this an exceptional long-term California survivor.
Although built as a 1955, it was titled as a 1956, standard practice if a new car was first sold the year after production. As was also common on imported British cars of the era, the California title identifies the car by its engine number (TS7228E) rather than its commission number (TS6843L), which is the Triumph equivalent of a VIN. The Body Number is EB7039. You'll also notice the 1960 California title references the car's original yellow-on-black license plates. In 1963, California required motorists to surrender those plates in exchange for the now-iconic black plates with yellow lettering, which this Triumph still proudly wears today. The original 1960 California ownership card documenting the transfer into the current family's name accompanies the car.
The odometer currently reads just over 20,000 miles. While we have no documentation to verify the mileage, it is certainly possible and likely that it has turned over. If so, it has averaged only about 1,700 miles per year over the last 71 years.
The car had been stored since approximately 2021, and before offering it for sale we performed a proper mechanical recommissioning rather than simply trying to get it running, including the fuel system and carburetors cleaned, new ignition points, new battery, fresh engine oil and filter, and a general tune-up and inspection. We completed a complete brake system overhaul, including rebuilding the master cylinder, new brake shoes, pads, wheel cylinders, brake lines and new drums all around.
Today the car starts easily, idles smoothly, shifts beautifully, and drives exactly the way an honest TR2 should. It has excellent oil pressure, strong acceleration, and a wonderfully mechanical, vintage sports car feel.
Power comes from Triumph's legendary 1991cc wet-liner inline four-cylinder equipped with twin SU carburetors and backed by a four-speed manual transmission.
The engine is stamped TS7228E, which appears very likely to be the original engine installed in this car. According to the Vintage Triumph Register, original engines on late-production TR2s are commonly found within approximately 400 numbers of the commission number, this example is 385. This engine falls within that accepted range. While we cannot state with certainty whether it has ever been rebuilt, it runs exceptionally well with excellent power and smooth shifting.
The exterior shows well. The body is exceptionally straight and appears to have lived a remarkably rust-free California life. The car was professionally repainted in 2003 in its original color by Marshall's in Glen Ellen, California, a shop well known locally for quality work. The repaint included body disassembly and stripping while the body remained on the frame. The panel fit throughout the car is excellent. It rides on painted wire wheels wearing an older set of period-correct Dunlop SP20 165R15 tires. The top, tonneau, side curtains, and cockpit cappings appear original, though they may be older replacements. It's a nice-looking example ready to enjoy. Also included below is a fun photograph showing the car in the 1970s with its current owners before the repaint, providing a wonderful glimpse into its long history.
The cockpit remains wonderfully honest and retains much of its original character. The seats were recovered and the carpeting replaced at some point during its life, while much of the remaining interior appears original, including the original dash padding, door panels, and rear trim panels. It has working Jaeger gauges and switches, and functional turn signals. A smaller aftermarket steering wheel has been fitted, requiring an auxiliary turn signal switch mounted beneath the left side of the dash.
Under the dash, everything appears solid and original. It features a replacement glove box insert, and the under-dash heater appears to have been rebuilt at some point. Period rally and club plaques dating back to the late 1950s still grace the glove box door. The car also retains its original key set, including the desirable T-handle key for the boot, bonnet, and spare tire compartment. (Please note: A small amount of water visible on the passenger floor in the photos was the result of washing the car immediately before photography. Nothing is leaking under there!)
The boot remains beautifully preserved and highly original with its factory cardboard trunk liner and original trunk pad, and spare tire carrier with its original leather retaining straps, which houses the jack, factory tools, and spare wheel.
The underside is exactly what we hope to find on a lifelong California sports car. It remains solid, clean, and largely unrestored with a rust-free chassis. The floors appear largely original, with the front footwells properly repaired during the repaint. It has a nice stainless steel exhaust system as well.
As a British car enthusiast/owner who has been selling collector cars for more than twenty years, one thing I've learned is that originality and ownership history matter. That's exactly why this TR2 appealed to me. Finding a two-owner California TR2 with 66 years of continuous ownership by the same family is extraordinarily rare today. It's an honest, well-preserved California car that has remained with the same family since 1960. It retains its original character and the wonderful feel that makes these early Triumphs so enjoyable to drive.
If you're looking for a beautifully preserved early British sports car that can be enjoyed immediately while still appreciating its remarkable history, this Triumph deserves a close look.
Be sure to check out all 330 photos and the video at www.leftcoastclassics.com.
Call or text Donn with questions, shipping, and financing options or for a link to the hi-resolution photos at 707-332-8331.
CHASSIS: TS6843L
