The British motor industry didn’t buy into planned obsolescence like we did here in America. Whether the term was coined by Brooks Stevens or Alfred Sloan or someone in between, Standard-Triumph and its competing brands did the opposite, making a basic bodystyle last for years. For example, the Triumph TR4 body was fundamentally unchanged from 1961 to 1968 (when it became the TR5/TR250), and then it was heavily facelifted by Karmann to carry on through 1976 as the TR6. Don’t mess with a good thing, right? This TR4 is listed as a one-family-owned barn find on craigslist in Seattle for the seemingly reasonable price of $9,499.
There seems to be a fly in the ointment. The current ad has been listed on craigslist for 21 days, and it doesn’t seem to be based on price. Is it the interior? A replacement TR6 dashboard is mentioned, and it looks as if there’s some funny business going on around the shifter. This isn’t a very good picture, so maybe?
I don’t think it’s rust. It’s a bit tough to tell in this light, but the floorpans and rocker panels seem solid from here, as does the frame.
It’s unlikely to be the engine; the seller says that it runs great. Aside from a clear plastic fuel filter on the driver’s side wheelwell and two red battery cables, nothing looks exceptionally out of the ordinary under the hood. If it’s stock, it should be the 100-horsepower 2138cc four, which is a slightly larger version of the wet-liner engine that powered the original TR2. It’s a sturdy and reasonably powerful unit that lasted through 1967 before being superseded by the TR5/TR250 six-cylinder. As a totally unrelated digression, that’s why Morgan had to upgrade to the Plus 8; Triumph discontinued the Plus 4’s engine.
We’re running out of obvious problems to find. It apparently has a newer black paint job, and it looks straight in the pictures. There’s not enough rust underneath for it to be a Bondo bucket. The Surrey Top that I mentioned in the title is neat; it has a “hard rear window section” and “soft vinyl cover,” according to the seller. Are those magnesium wheels? They certainly look cool, so that can’t be the reason why this car has languished for so long.
I’ve long been a fan of sidescreen TRs, and by extension a fan of the later TR4. While the earlier models are typically more valuable, under ten grand seems eminently fair for a nice driver. Am I missing something? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments.
Morgan made Plus 4’s at least into the 90s. They were using an inline four sourced from Ford of UK. You could import them but only if they were converted to propane, to meet emissions standards.
Morgan did make Plus 4s later on, but there was a 15+ year gap in production. In the late ’60s when they ran out of Triumph engines, it was cancelled until the mid-’80s (or so).
Great looking. If it runs well it’s a lot of car for the money, especially when compared to some of the wrecks or thoroughly uninspiring cars featured on this site with similar asking prices.
Steve R
This car looks great from all angles. A great friend of mine had a TR4 as a teenager in the Piedmont hills. Lucky guy. But we were all lucky back then, just to be a part of it. Agree with Steve R on this one.
While not a fan of black cars, the wheels sure offset that, and what a nice looking car. Hardtop, huge plus. Some may remember my brothers ’63 Alfa Spider, early 70s I think for $500, and the seller “threw in” a very tired black ’64 TR4. I don’t recall it being very rusted, but shot in every other way. We got it running, albeit poorly, and sold it for $250, which made the Alfa an even better bargain. Ah, the 70s,,,,and the author isn’t missing anything, the steam has simply fizzled on classic British roadsters. Another 10(?) years, you won’t be able to give these away. Too bad the ones that love these cars will be gone.
Gosh Howard , I hope I got more than 10 years left in me. Grew up on the TRs and MG , then they were cheap , now I can’t afford em. If your right , I can get one fur a song when I retire in bout 10 more years 😅
This is the one sports car that looks good in black. Has pretty much everything you would want in a sports car. The battleship grey wheels don’t do anything for it but that’s what they make paint for. Nice car.
The wheels look like Americans which were used in racing in the late 60’s to late 70’s and are real magnesium which is why they are the color they are. Would be sought after by the right crowd.
Familiar with the wheels and hope they aren’t that old. Old magnesium gets brittle with age. They are making an aluminum version of the same wheel with the same color on them.
The factory wire wheels and spline hub adapters are heavier than the Titanic. Performance-wise, just about any aftermarket wheel would be an improvement. I thought that the wire wheels were awesome until I owned a 20 year old TR4A with poorly maintained wire wheels. Now I tell everyone to avoid them like the plague.
If you click on the sellers craigslist post you’ll find he also has a ‘57 XK140 that was listed at the same time for sale!
FYI, the link goes to Craigslist, not the ad on Craigslist for this Triumph.
It’s working correctly on my end, David.
The link works for me too. This Triumph has an interesting roll bar. For someone who has room in the shop, this could be a good deal.
Looks pretty good in the few pictures. Replacing the TR6 dash would likely be less than a thousand dollars. The Surry top adds value. If it had overdrive it would be worth an additional 2 grand. It also needs the interior panel that covers the fuel tank. The value of this car all depends on the details and the rust if any.
Yes, get rid of the TR6 dash. The TR4’s large, squarish vents won’t fit the round TR250/6 dash vent openings. As installed, the vents must be hanging from the ducts, flopping about. Ugh.
From add ” Removed Entirely, Just Rear Window, Rear Window with Soft “Targa” Cover, or Rear Window with Rigid Panel ” ? Are they saying those parts are not included . Also I noticed a roll cage
David, the line you quote on the Surrey top is prededed at the end of the previous paragraph
“Can be used four ways:”
What you quote are the four ways it can be used.
Unresponsive seller; multiple tries.
I see a hole in the middle of the grid, at the bottom. Could it be to operate the engine with a crank?
Yes, that’s the idea. Perhaps early cars had a corresponding hole in the radiator that made them functional? The designed carried all the way to the TR250, where it was definitely just for show.
As TomPDX indicated the hole is not functional in the TR4/4A. It’s just for looks.
Interesting aluminum top that made knowing if it was going to rain very important. Unlike the Porsche 914, you couldn’t take it with you. The soft vinyl piece that you could take along was flimsy on mine.
If this car has been sitting in someone’s barn, I would like to see photos of the barn, inside and outside. It must be a high quality barn with climate control, etc. If the car has been recently restored, the low price doesn’t make any sense. It really is a great looking vehicle.
We crank started Dad’s TR3 once. ONCE.
Nice car. And for the asking price & and ready to roll what’s nog to like?
I loved these Tr’s as a kid and they still hold a spot in my heart.