The Triumph TR4 Sports Car

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TR4 On The Track

                                               1963 Triumph TR4                                                                                   This great shot shows driver Tony Drews during a                                                           Group 3 Sprint Race in the 2015 Jefferson 500. Nice

                                                 1964 Triumph TR4                                                                                      A great shot as it was lining up at the Brighton                                                                     & Hove Motor Club's Eagle Sprint at the                                                                                              Goodwood Circuit

     

     The Triumph TR4 sports car. By the late 1950's, the image of a roadster with cut away doors and side curtains was seen as outdated. 

     Features such as adjustable facia ventilation and wind up windows were regarded as a necessary requirement in the important, but competitive, US market where the majority of TR4's would be sold.

     In 1961, the Triumph TR4 was launched. The body was redesigned, with modern styling, by Michelotti who also designed the ill-fated Triumph Italia 2000.

     The new body styling no longer used the cutaway doors characteristic of the TR2 and TR3. As a result, wind up windows were now a feature, as was a large capacity boot.          

     An important improvement was a four inch wider track at both front and rear which would help to reduce the problem of over steer experienced in the TR3.

     Since the height of the body had been reduced, the bonnet incorporated a necessary bulge to provide adequate clearance for the carburettors. 

     The interior was more spacious due to the body being four inches wider. A welcome addition was an air scoop, activated from inside, which allowed fresh air to enter via the facia.

     It shared the same chassis and drive train as the TR3B. The worm and peg steering of the TR3 was replaced with rack and pinion.

     The suspension used coil springs at the front and a live axle at the rear. Initially, two SU carburettors were used, but were replaced with two Strombergs later on.

     Following on from the TR3A, it used disc brakes at the front and drums on the rear.

     A particularly unique optional extra was a hardtop with a glass rear window and a detachable centre panel which, when removed, could be replaced by a vinyl insert covering the open top. This insert was referred to as a Surrey top.

Technical data                          TR4                   TR3A

Production:                         1961-1965         1957-1962
Output:                                  40,253                58,236
Engine: cc                                2138                   1991
Cylinder, bhp:                         4, 105                 4, 100
Speed mph                               110                     106

Performance                              TR4                     TR3A

0-30 mph                               3.7 secs                  3.7 secs
0-50 mph                               8.3 secs                  8.8 secs
0-60 mph                              10.7  secs               12.5 secs
0-90 mph                              20.9 secs                33.8 secs
Standing Quarter Mile            17.5 secs                18.7 secs
Overall Fuel                           22.5 mpg                28.0 mpg

                                                 1962 Triumph TR4                                                                            This gritty TR racer was driven by Mike Moore                                                           during one of the Sprint Races in the 2015                                                                                    Jefferson 500

                                                1962 Triumph TR4                                                                           Seen at a race meeting at Crystal Palace in 2015                                                                                      Great!

                            This stunning TR4 was seen at the Bailey Sprint                                                                                         at Goodwood

                             An eye-catching TR4 as part of the pre 1966                                                                   GT Cars in the Silverstone Classic        

                                                1962 Triumph TR4                                                                                     This beautiful example was seen at the Lingfield                                                                                          Show in 2014

                                            1964 Triumph TR4 Sports                                                                     This very nice example of the less common TR4                                                              was spotted at the Goodwood circuit

                                                 1964 Triumph TR4

                                                 1964 Triumph TR4


     The TR4 used the same 4-cylinder, pushrod operated Ferguson tractor engine, as used in the TR2 and TR3, but with the cylinder bore increased from 1991 cc to 2138 cc.

     The compression ratio was increased from 8.5:1 in the TR3 to 9.0:1.

     The TR2 to TR4 were all fitted with wet liners so that the engine's capacity could be easily changed by replacing the cylinder liners and pistons.

     In this way, a competitor could continue to race under different rules relating to the engine capacity, such as above or below 2 litres.

     Since the three bearing crankshaft was liable to seize if revved above 6,500 rpm, the TR4's used for racing were fitted with a supercharger, which greatly increased both power and torque at lower revs.

     A supercharged and tuned 2.2 litre TR4 engine could produce in excess of 200 bhp, compared with 105 bhp from the basic engine.

     The TR4 used a four speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward gears. An invaluable optional extra was a Laycock-de-Normanville overdrive which operated on the top three gears by throwing a switch.

     In effect, this meant that a TR4 would have the equivalent of a manual, seven speed, close ratio gearbox.

     Since, in 1961, Triumph was looking ahead to the advent of 6-cylinder roadsters, then the TR4 was regarded as a transition between the TR2/TR3 era, and the appearance of the TR6 sports car.

     The TR4 established itself as a well respected rally car, in both Europe and the UK, throughout the early and mid 1960's.

SPORTS CARS FOR SALE

     A 1961-65 Triumph TR4 sports car, in good condition, could fetch around £20,000/$32,000, whilst a basically sound example that needed additional work would be worth around £8,000/$13,000.


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