When a seller describes a project as an ‘Ambitious Restoration’, then it will either scare you away or pique your interest to find out just why this is ambitious. Digging into the project we can see that this is a rare Roadster from the late 1940s, with less than 5000 built in total. Our car was built in 1948 by the Standard Motor Company in Coventry, UK, and ended up in Central New Jersey where it’s available here on Craigslist for $5,000. Thanks to T.J. for this tip!
As this car was released just after the war and there was a huge shortage of steel, the car was constructed from aluminum over a wooden frame using tools that were used to make the Mosquito bomber a few years earlier in the same factory. However, even though it had noble beginnings, it was not popular at the time for its looks, as it was mocked as not being a Roadster, but a ‘Toadster’. Whatever the press thought of it at the time, it certainly aged well and looks quite graceful and elegant, even if it was not comparable to other good-looking cars of the time.
Our model has washed up in the US and in need of a fair amount of work. The car comes with a clear title and is partially disassembled. It could be used as a parts car or the aforementioned ambitious restoration. The seller also includes a lot of accessories and says the car is free from bumps and dents on its body. The car looks like it has been coated in primer, but you can see the original red body underneath, which is likely to have been its original color. It does look like its floor is missing in the footwell for the driver and the passenger, so this requires further investigation to see if replacement parts are available.
And that’s the issue with this Roadster – because it’s reasonably rare, parts will be difficult to come across and could be very expensive. This car will likely cost a lot more in restoration than its eventual value. So you need to be a hardcore Triumph enthusiast to rebuild this or do what the seller states, and use this as a parts car. The only suggestion is to make it a hot rod, but the car seems in too good a condition to do that – so what would you do with this rare roadster?
Wow, looks just like my 1949 Triumph TR 2000 Rumble Seat Roadster
Rare and pretty. I think it warrants a return to glory.
I owned one about 15 years ago , that had a 289 Ford, which was a good fit. Other than body panels, most of the car used parts that were in common use in the UK during the period. I’ll try to dig up some pictures when I get back next week
If I was a few years younger I’d do that…..
Sure, the restoration — especially the cosmetics and such — will be expensive. But these cars can draw pretty big money, and there’s pretty good support available from the Roadster Club in the UK. To see an 1800 with its original engine is pretty rare, but I think it would be good to keep that regardless (more than enough of the 1800 and 2000 roadsters have been hot-rodded already).
A car I have never liked. But mechanical parts are cheap from UK, the rest is well within the scope of someone experienced in restoring pre-war cars.
These cars do sell well in the UK, so should not be a complete money pit.
This actually looks pretty complete for what it is. and a good place to start for a home restoration. A couple points.
This looks like an original 1800 engine but I can’t tell whether or not this is the original, column shifted 4 speed gearbox
Floorboards are no problem to make, they are just a sheet of plywood.
Neither red nor white were available as one of the original colors.
why is there a modern brake master cyl mounted on the passenger side ???
I have three of these in similar condition if anyone is interested
I’ll go for the “2000” w/LHD & an add-on hrd top.
8^ )
(needa pipe frame chassy change for durability?)