Unrestored British Gem: 1965 Triumph TR4

Unrestored, but un-destroyed by accident, outside storage, or life in a rusty part of the country. That’s the short version of the story on this 1965 Triumph TR4. The car resides in California, the Los Angeles area to be precise, as it has done its whole life. That claim is supported by the fact that it’s a coveted “black plate” car—wearing its license tags from when it was first registered. If you want it, all you have to do is pony up $24,500, or less if you can get the seller to agree. Would that be a wise investment? If so, you have tipster TJ to thank for bringing it to your attention.

The value question depends on several factors, with question number one being this: What do you do with the paint? If you can find someone in your area who is magic with a buffing wheel, you can hopefully bring the luster back to this sheet metal. Even if the results are not perfect, there’s nothing like originality, and this surface was sprayed by the factory. Along with a salvageable topcoat, you’ll also note that the floors in this TR4 are clear of the tin worm, as is the underside. That is almost unheard of sixty years in, but it’s what you want. That is, assuming your vibe stretches to a 1960s British convertible sports car.

This TR4 represents the last year of a run that stretched from 1961-65. It’s (almost) every bit the 1960s car in body style. Its predecessor TR3, by contrast, has the long, swoopy lines of the 1950s. You might note, however, the small tail fins on the Triumph, which were fading on American cars as the 1950s turned over to 1960. Other styling cues include the slight hint at the bug-eye headlights that made the Austin-Healey Sprite of the era famous.  Do you like how these features survived on the Triumph? As a buyer, you’ve got choices—but how often do you find a car with only  one owner in its history and the original tool kit in the trunk?

You don’t actually have to find nearly $25K if you’ve got something to trade. The seller suggests he or she will take partial exchange for your current ride. The information is all here on craigslist, so have a gander and make a phone call. You might be zipping around, British-style, before you know it. If you pay  asking price, you’ll be well above Hagerty’s guide price of $18,700 for a #3. But what price do you put on originality? I think a premium of a good twenty percent is not out of bounds. Can you snag this little car for somewhere in the $22,000 range? If so, and this car is your thing, grab it and hang on.