- Seller: Giordano’s Vintage Motors (Contact)
- Location: Carnation, Washington
- Mileage: 23,698 Shown
- Chassis #: CT58807L
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 2.1-Liter Inline-4
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Some British sports cars simply invite you to find a winding road, drop the top, and enjoy the drive. This 1966 Triumph TR4A certainly sounds ready for that assignment. Offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive for $29,950, the car is located in Carnation, Washington, and the seller describes it as a comprehensively restored example that was originally a California black-plate car. According to the seller, the Triumph was restored by California Triumph specialist “TR Nut,” formerly of Stockton. The restoration is described as comprehensive, and the car later received a complete engine rebuild. That’s an encouraging history for anyone looking for a TR4A that’s already had substantial attention rather than one waiting for a lengthy restoration.
The seller is equally enthusiastic about the body and chassis, describing the bodywork as terrific, with straight panels and excellent panel gaps. The frame is said to be clean and straight as well. Inside, the seller reports the interior, convertible top, and tires are in very good condition.
Under the hood is a carbureted Triumph four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 23,698 miles, and the car comes with a clean title. For an enthusiast, the combination of a four-cylinder Triumph engine, manual gearbox, and compact open sports-car package is exactly the sort of straightforward formula that makes these cars so engaging.
This particular TR4A has also benefited from an ongoing relationship with the selling dealership. According to the listing, it has been serviced, tuned, and detailed there for several years. The owner fitted a wood steering wheel, but importantly, the stock steering wheel is included with the sale. A collection of spare parts, a tool kit, manual, and battery charger will also accompany the car. One item remains for the next owner to address. The seller notes that some of the dashboard instruments aren’t functioning correctly and will require sorting. It’s a refreshingly specific disclosure in an otherwise very positive description of the car.
Best of all, this isn’t being presented as a project that needs to be completed before it can be enjoyed. The seller describes the TR4A as “ready to drive and enjoy.” For someone who’s been looking for a classic British roadster with a documented restoration history and subsequent engine rebuild, that makes this Triumph particularly tempting. The car can be viewed by appointment at Giordano’s Vintage Motors in Carnation, Washington, and the seller says transportation can be arranged at a reasonable cost throughout the Western United States, with worldwide shipping also available.
No IRS boot badge, so presumably live-axle car ?
As far as I know all TR4A’s were independent, so maybe missing a badge or not all had them? The easiest thing to distinguish is the TR4A’s have the amber lights on front fenders.
Live-axle spec 4A also offered for US market.
Beautiful car.. However for the price the dash instruments should be working correctly and not need to be tinkered with.
This is by far the nicest TR4 i have ever seen someone really loved this car.
Agreed. Although at the asking all the gauges should work IMHO.
It’s definitely a nice car and it’s my favorite Triumph. 29K is a bit too steep even though it’s a good car. I think the owner has his fishing pole out there. Good luck if he finds the right catch….
I almost forgot….it’s in a dealers hands….It might be worth 19K but he tacks on another 10!
Where’s the wire wheels? Mine came stock with wire wheels.
If you want to get $30,000 for a car, there should be nothing wrong with it. But this car has gauges that don’t work. Which means the new owner will have to do repairs, gauges are always expensive to fix. Also, you have to live near a shop that specializes in triumph, which is getting harder and harder every day. It’s for these reasons that instead of buying an old triumph, we bought a nice used Miata.
Is that hole at the bottom of the grill for a crank to manually turn the engine over?
The hole in the grill, although there, was from a by-gone era… pure nostalgia… On the ‘4A the mechanical provision on the engine and radiator for hand-crank starting was not there… The last Triumph where crank starting was possible I believe was the ’62 TR3…
Looks like a nice example… but I still think the ask is aggressive. That said, I’ve seen a few at auction in that range and higher… but I wouldn’t go there.
“…some of the dashboard instruments aren’t functioning correctly and will require sorting.” Under dash wiring can become a real nightmare, plus I really prefer the TR6 over the TR4 and I don’t trust used car dealers. This one gets a giant pass.
I believe that IRS was an option OR a late addition to the TR4. So not all TR4s are IRS. A buddy had one (IRS) high compression pistons, hot cam, headers and larger carbs. It was quite quick! And fun to drive. I always thought that there was a rear alignment problem with his as it was pretty tail happy.
TR4’s were distinguished from TR4A’s by the IRS for the TR4A’s.
Not all TR4As had IRS… at least not in the US. In fact it was a US dealer request that Triumph develop a solid axle ‘4A and have the IRS cars sold as an added option version. That said, I believe there were many more IRS versions built than the solid axle version…
The A means it is IRS. My first car in 1968 except mine had knock offs.
For an ask this high, there should be a lot of photos of the underside of the TR. That would answer the questions about the IRS vs. Live Axle, in addition to showing whether the car is really clean in reality, or just has a nice-looking topside.