What did Triumph do when the TR6 was not yet ready for prime time, but no one wanted the four-cylinder TR4 any longer? The answer was a matter of survival for the company – and it created a car that has enjoyed a wave of enthusiasm in recent years: Triumph put its six-cylinder motor in the Michelotti-designed TR4 body shell. The resulting car was called the TR250, or in Europe, the TR5. This stopgap measure was employed only in 1968, so just 8484 examples made it off the line before production was turned over to the TR6. Here on eBay is a rare car indeed, a one-owner New White 1968 Triumph TR250, with a single bid at $18,500 and no reserve. The car is located in Cypress, Texas, and you can drive her home.
This car was purchased new from a dealership in 1968 by a soldier returning from Vietnam; he recently passed away. Now in the hands of a friend who bought it from the owner’s widow, the TR250 was kept in fine fettle mechanically, apparently driven up until the owner’s passing. The odometer reads 88,000 miles. The 2.5 liter in-line six-cylinder was a big improvement over the TR4’s 2.1 liter four – in Europe! The TR5 utilized Lucas fuel injection, which gave these examples nearly 150 hp and a 120 mph top speed. Meanwhile, back in the regulation-sodden US, TR250s were delivered with dual Zenith-Strombergs, a milder cam, a lower compression ratio, and a disappointing 104 hp. In the end, the TR250 was no faster than the TR4, though the motor generated slightly more torque. The factory transmission was an all-synchro four-speed manual; overdrive was optional. Ok, yes, the engine bay needs a good scrubbing.
The interior is about as nice as one could expect in an original, unrestored car: the carpet is faded, the top of the dash needs repair, and the wood instrument panel has a few cracks in the finish, but overall the presentation is wonderful. The car has a new top, with the correct reflective strip across the back; and the tires are also brand new.
I am trying to avoid being poetic, but just look at those sills! The crisp crease of the fenders! The door shut lines! This car is straight as an arrow. Other than its gently worn-all-over patina, it looks like it came off the showroom floor. The seller has the original owner’s manual and service book too. Restored TR250s can breach $50k. If this car is half what it appears to be, it’s a bargain.
Very typical of that time-we get the weak kneed version because someone thought they knew better than anyone else what was best for all, regardless of the slanted data/statistics..
A friend had a TR4 IRS, would take pride in his ability to “whip a new one” (referring to one of these) because he meticulously rebuilt his motor with upgrades; he talked about finding a “factory supercharger” (?!) but we went directions in life so whether he accomplished that mission is another question..
Good eye, Michelle. This is obviously a well kept and lovingly cared for machine, sadly befitting one of the Urban Legends that started forums like this one and gave rise to Tom Cotter’s book series.
FINALLY! A car I want :) But then there’s that issue of priorities. Damn it! Can’t beat a one owner car as far as I’m concerned all things being equal and this looks like a beauty. Love these TR’s..
i can remember when sunsets were brown in the early 70’s only to slowly clear up because science was used to help create regulations that got it cleaned up over time, irrespective of those that ‘know’ more than empirical evidence.
gotta be one of the last one owner 250’s out there. its been on offer on CL for $24k +/- for a month or two – a very fair price i thought. wonder if the owner got offers then decided to auction to get more or if the market is drying up? unfortunately, orignal condition gets beat by restored on most cars pricewise.
This is easily a $29k+ at auction. Easily. All it needs if a full fluids flush, perhaps shocks, tires brakes, and update the fuel system to modern BMW fuel injection system, CDI ignition. If the clutch is near it’s end, do that and the seals while you’re at it. It will be getting 30mpg+ and have a great sporting performance. It’s all you need to release every weekend it’s not raining. Put it up proper in winter full tank with fuel conditioner, top off fluids, on padded jacks under chassis… Well. If only I had no other car projects, garage space and $$$(?!!!). But if this goes under $25k, it’s a steal. Even $35k wouldn’t shock me. Very interesting niche car. Why? It’s already what every TR4 owner already wanted to do mechanically, and it just needs a bit of modern reliability added that actually improves mpg & performance. Snipers watching I’m sure to nab it last 10 minutes.
Is that hood badge a factory item?
Yes.
At least the story checks out:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/27679627/thomas-dean-stieler
My family had a blue TR250 around 1971-73 when I was 7 yrs old. It was my Mom’s Daily Driver! I remember that my sister and myself could be tucked on the rear deck…but only when the top was up! I think from that moment on I was fascinated by LBCs – never able to scratch the itch until this year, when I bought a 75 MGB and just a few weeks ago a 63 Sunbeam Alpine…still need to take Mom for a ride in THAT one!
I had one of these only 2 years old when I was young and stupid. Being young and stupid I thought it’d be a cool daily driver (I was required to use my personal car for my job). All was fine until winter came in Michigan. Being young and stupid I didn’t appreciate what I had. It was just a used car and cars were cheap at the time so I traded it in on something better suited to my needs. Of all the cars I’ve have in my lifetime this is the one I regret letting get away.
I commiserate with you, Mike. But at least you screwed up in this way only once. By contrast, I managed to commit the same blunder three times.
For decades, I’ve beaten myself up about it. Alas, I’ve concluded that no amount of self-flagellation can neutralize the abiding sense of regret that has dogged me these many years. Indeed, I expect it will continue for the rest of my days. Unfortunately for us, in instances like these, life doesn’t offer do-overs.
Be careful here. I had two friends from the Texas Triumph Register go look at it. It’s a bit rough and has bondo and rust bubbling. It was Parked outside for a few years and it showed. It needs a lot to bring back to driver status and even more to do it right. We all thought it’s a 10k resto project.it was on eBay with one bid before at 20 and the seller said it fell through. They posted it after we looked at it and then it got a single bid again. Makes me suspicious. Bet the one bid falls through again.
Well, I guess that just goes to prove the by now old adage that cars always look better in internet pictures. It does look very original and straight in the pics.
I wanted a TR250 when I was a kid driving Sprites and MGBs, got one 15 years ago, fixed it the way I want it (mild performance upgrades) and will probably keep it until I can’t drive it any longer.
You realize if your post isn’t true, you’re exposed legally? Your post is exactly what some cheapskate would post to lower the bids. So you can snipe in at the last moment. The seller could sue for much more than $25k. Be fair warned. Disclosure is up to the buyer and seller to determine. Not “some guy said”. Put away the Maga Mutant cap. Integrity is incumbent on each of us.
@Jim H …..nothing like the Triumph community to flush out the story! Great example of why in person vs in photos is golden….
6 bids @ $19k and 18 hours remaining.
How long do cars remain a “one owner” for? He literally says he bought it from the widow who inherited the car from the original owner who passed away. At best it’s a 2 owner, at worse it’s a 3 owner. Once you buy a car from the original owner you are the new owner and the car is no longer a “one owner”. It also doesn’t make a difference if you are a dealer or private, the car becomes a multi owned car.
The seller is a dealer. Looking at ebay feedback, they’ve sold quite a few cars. That being said, reading the obit of the original owner (Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star recipient!!!), there is a whole family still surviving and mention of his involvement with the Richmond VA Triumph group. So I wonder about the path of sales that led to this flipper? Bought it from the widow’s friend?
I agree. If you are buying a one owner car, you are buying it from the guy who bought it new. I would accept it as a one owner from the family of the deceased if the title is still in original owners name.
A small correction, Michelle. Not your fault because so many articles and even some books you got the 104 ponies from are wrong. While it is true that the North American TR-6 put out 102 ponies–and later 104 by revising the exhaust system–the TR-250 did not have the 7.9:1 compression of the TR-6. The 250, being from 1968, managed to get away with 8,5:1 compression and therefore 113 horses. This makes a TR-250 about 10 per-cent more powerful than a TR-6, although a TR-5 with 150 will put it to shame. A relatively inexpensive way to give a TR-250 performance close to that of a TR-5 (without the hassle of the mechanical petrol injection) is to give it a TR-5 cam (available from England) and triple SUs or Zenith-Strombergs. Such upgrades would give it value, given that there are only 600 to 650 TR-250s left in the world. For example, in the Irish Republic there is only ONE TR-250 registered and not a single TR-5!
Don’t believe any post you read. Look at the pics. If it’s not as good as your eyes tell you, don’t bid. It’s a 1968 car. Be realistic and imagine what other 1968 unrestored cars look like and understand rubber and gaskets get old. Poor-mouthing to save a few thousand to snipe at the end? You can critique to a degree. Suggesting fraud by the seller if untrue is fraudulent by the commenter, and legally exposes them. Especially if they bid on it. Integrity is a personal decision. The owner had a personal profile of meticulous care. If it’s slightly less wonderful than the pics in person, welcome to every used car ever sold with a picture in a newspaper or on the internet. If you want the rare car with an obvious sporting history and unique niche, you’ll need to decide how much you personally will pay. Slanderous comments about “this party said” (something negative) if untrue is a legal issue if that said slanderous person is hoping to drive down bids to take it cheap. It’s a form of theft in court.