1964 TRIUMPH TR4, BEAUTIFUL FRAME OFF RESTORATION, MILD RACE-PREP ENGINE

Beautifully Restored

Great Cruising TR4

 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 

VEHICLE HISTORY:   While this 1964 Triumph TR4 looks like a gorgeous “Trailer Queen. in fact it was restored by one of my vintage racing friends to be his summer daily driver.   His well-known early TR3 racecar is painted the same sassy French Blue color.   He purchased the TR4 in 1981 from its original Oklahoma owner.   While an extensive restoration was always on his agenda for the car. racing pursuits (and in particular. budget considerations) got in the way. and the project was stashed away in heated storage for the next 20 years.   

Finally in 2001. another vintage racing friend of ours. “Uncle Jack” Drews. (now deceased) was commissioned to orchestrate and manage a major. professional. body-off-frame restoration.   Uncle Jack had raced a TR4 for years and knew them inside and out.   All the disassembly and meticulous reassembly was done in his shop.   All body and paintwork was done at Strong's Restoration in Swisher. Iowa.   The engine and drive train (period correct. but not numbers matching) was rebuilt by Kevin Potter. a highly respected vintage racecar engine builder in Ixonia. Wisconsin.   He both builds and maintains the engines and drive trains for the Beady Eye Vintage Racing Team.   This engine was balanced. has a lightened crank & flywheel. a hot street cam. 87mm pistons. etc. . etc.   While it is not a race engine. this TR4 has considerably more spunk than when it first left England. and is a blast to drive! 

The car has only been driven about 3. 00 miles since the restoration was completed in 2003.   The owner is downsizing and has too many vintage cars to store.   Sadly. this one must leave his stable. and it is time for a new owner to enjoy this beautifully restored TR4.  

MARQUE HISTORY:  During the 1950s the Standard Triumph Motor Company became a definite winner in the post war Sports Car market.   By 1960. over 65. 00 TR2/3s had been sold.   Changing tastes and a desire to upgrade their product led to a management decision to go for a new design with the intent to upgrade their Triumph Roadster (TR) sports car so as to boost sales.   They kept as much of the proven good features of the TR3 as possible. and searched for a new. modern-looking body.   

Giovanni Michelotti. the Italian auto designer. agreed to take it on.   His task was to design a more modern sports car body which would fit the chassis and mechanical components of the TR3.   The result was the TR4. which first rolled out of the Cranwell works at Coventry on July 18. 1961.   The new body style did away with the classic cutaway door design of the previous TRs to allow for roll-up windows and the squarer rear allowed for a larger boot (trunk).   The new interior was roomier due to the new 4” wider body and more room from front to back due to the dash relocation.  

Slightly more than 40. 00 TR4s were produced before the TR4A was introduced in 1965.   

INCLUDED WITH PURCHASE:  Custom Soft Flannel Car Cover. Triumph TR4 Owner's Handbook. Original TR4 Lug Nut Wrench. Original TR4 Jack Ratchet Wrench (no jack). Extensive Photo Documentation of the Restoration. Extra Alloy Valve Cover.  

SPECIFICATIONS:  2188cc 4 Cylinder Triumph Engine. Cast Iron Block & Cylinder Head. 2 - SU H6 Carburetors. 100 HP (Stock Engine) 86mm (now 87mm) Bore X 92mm Stroke. 117 Ft-Lb Torque. OHV. 4-Speed Synchromesh Manual Transmission. Rack & Pinion Steering. 11” Front Disc Brakes. 9” Rear Drum Brakes. Independent Front Suspension. Live Axle Rear Suspension. 154” O/A Length. 88” Wheelbase. 57. 5” Width. 2128 Lb. Curb Weight. 15” Wheels. 3. 7:1 Rear Axle Ratio. 15” Wheels.  

PERFORMANCE (Stock Engine):

Top Speed: 109 MPH

0 – 60 MPH: 10. 9 Seconds

Standing ¼ Mile: 17. 8 Seconds 

FEATURES:  Full Instrumentation. Wind-Up Windows. Removable Soft Top. Turn Signals. Vinyl Bucket Seat. Front Hinged Bonnet (Hood). Carpeting. Dash Mounted Fresh Air Vents. Painted Dash. Padded Dash Top. Embossed Aluminum Gauge Panel. Inside Door Pull Handles.  

OPTIONS:   Luggage Rack. Full Zippered Tonneau Cover. Heater.  

UPGRADES:  Offenhauser Valve Cover. RAID “Turbo” 4-Spoke Steering Wheel. Mallory Dual Point Distributor. Chrome Air Cleaner Covers. Gear Reduction Starter. ARW Silverstone Mag Wheels (with the rare decorative spinners). DOT 5 Silicone Brake Fluid. Smittys' Glass Pac Muffler. Thermostatically (and Switch) Controlled Auxiliary Electric Fan.  

 

BY THE NUMBERS 

COMMISSION NUMBER: CT24323L = 24. 23rd Built. Late 1963. Left Hand Drive 

BODY NUMBER:  24317CT (not supposed to match commission number. just be close) 

ENGINE NUMBER:  TS61057E (NOM - from an earlier TR3) 

Call Jeff at 419-344-0319 (Mobile) or 419-353-8338 (Office) or email me jsnook@wcnet. org for more information or if you have any questions.

 

VEHICLE CONDITION:  

We do a mechanical and cosmetic inspection to each vehicle before listing it for sale.   This report is included below will provide a reasonable description of the vehicle condition.   Older vehicles are subject to normal wear and tear and we have tried to indicate the overall condition of the vehicle to the best of our ability.   But. we can not always find everything that is not perfect with a vehicle. so independent inspections are welcome and encouraged.   We drive each vehicle approximately 20 miles. but this is no indication of its long term road-worthiness.   The only guarantee with an older vehicle is that someplace. sometime. something will need repaired! 

INSPECTION REPORT:

Year

1964

Make

Triumph

Model

TR4

Ext. Color

Blue

Int. Color

Black

VIN

CT24323L

Tire Info

165SR15 Michelin XZX

Odometer

43. 86

Actual

N

 KEY:     E = Excellent     G = Good     F = Fair     P = Poor 

INTERIOR

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Upholstery

X

 

 

 

Very nice. no rips. tears. or wear. Completely disassembled and redone in vinyl during restoration.

Conv. Top

X

X

 

 

Like new with only a few light marks. Rear window clear.

Carpets

X

 

 

 

Replaced with original style during restoration.

Dash

X

 

 

 

Painted white as original.

Lights

X

 

 

 

Instrument illumination all OK.

Instruments

 

X

X

 

Temp gauge reads high. Speedo and tach read high. Odo not working. Other gauges OK.

Horns

X

 

 

 

New.

Trunk

X

 

 

 

Very nice and tidy. Partial tools.

 

EXTERIOR

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Paint

 

X

 

 

Nice and shiny. only a few small defects (little fisheye & dirt. and couple chips).

Body Panels

 

X

 

 

Not show quality. but good driver quality.

Bumpers

X

 

 

 

Both bumpers nice and shiny with no dents or scratches.

Trim

 

X

 

 

Nice with only a few small dents on right side fender beading.

Floors

X

 

 

 

Very nice and solid. no rust.

Sills

X

 

 

 

Replaced during restoration. No rust. good and solid.

Tires

 

X

X

 

Good tread. but some sidewall checking from age. Tires dated 27th week of 1994.

Wheels

 

X

 

 

Vintage American Racing Wheels (ARW) “Silverstone” style magnesium wheels. Including spare.

Glass

 

X

 

 

Windshield & driver window replaced during restoration. Passenger side original with some scratches.

 

UNDERHOOD

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Fluids

 

X

 

 

 

Belts

 

X

 

 

 

Hoses/Lines

 

X

 

 

 

Filters

 

X

 

 

 

Cooling System

 

X

 

 

No stock fan. Aftermarket thermostatically (and switch) controlled electric fan. Antifreeze safe to -34 degrees.

Charging System

 

X

 

 

Charges normal for generator based system.

Appearance

X

 

 

 

Very nicely restored and detailed.

 

MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Engine

X

 

 

 

Starts easily and runs strong. Mallory dual point distributor fitted.

Transmission

X

 

 

 

Shifts and sounds good.

Electrical

X

 

 

 

Aftermarket gear reduction starter installed.

Brakes

X

 

 

 

Upgraded with DOT 5 silicone brake fluid.

Steering

X

 

 

 

 

Wipers

 

X

 

 

 

Lights

 

X

 

 

 

 

UNDER

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Leaks

 

X

 

 

Small amount seeping from gear box. dif. . and engine.

Rust

X

 

 

 

Very. very solid. no rust!

Exhaust

 

X

 

 

Slight rattle on start up – close fit in “X” frame of Smitty's glass pac muffler. (Sounds great!!)

 

MISC.

 

E

G

F

P

Comments:

Front Anti-

Roll Bar

X

 

 

 

Nice aftermarket sway bar.

Tonneau Cover

 

X

X

 

Full cover in original style that fits well with no tears. Zipper is not working properly.

  

TERMS OF SALE: 

A 25% deposit is required within 3 days from end of auction and full payment to be made within 10 from end of auction.   Payment to be made by cash in person. or bank to bank wire transfer only.   Personal. certified or bank checks are not accepted for payment.   Overseas shipments and/or finance documentation will require an additional $100 fee to cover the time and costs associated with either of these items.   

You are responsible for shipping.   Buyer to arrange. pay for. and have vehicle transported within 30 days from end of auction.   For an estimate of shipping costs. we suggest using eBay's request for a shipping quote near the top of the listing.   You can also try this site to get additional quotes: http://gigamoves. com/   Just plug in our zip code (43402). your destination zip code. and some additional info for some online quotes.   Storage is available after the 30 days for $110/month.   

Please be aware you are buying this car “AS IS – NO WARRANTY”.   Vehicle is being advertised locally and the auction may end early if sold.  

 

Also published at eBay.com

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