1964 Triumph TR4

The term 'Nut and Bolt Restoration' is nowadays used rather freely - this one is just that, evidenced by the 46-page invoice for nuts and bolts (and fixings) on file. The history file is over an inch thick and includes the Heritage Certificate that confirms the 'matching numbers' and build date of 28 January 1964. On completion, in 2003, the car was shown at the JCVC show in Jersey and won two coveted awards: "Best Restored" and "Best Two Seater Sports Car"

The restoration was undertaken by the enthusiast owner over a period of 18 months and documented in a journal telling the whole story. He undertook the mechanical disassembly and rebuild himself, utilising premier suppliers such as Cambridge Motorsports, Moss Europe, TR Shop, Skinner, etc, and he worked closely with Le Riche Restorers, Jersey, who did the body restoration, finishing in Triumph Royal Blue.

Here are the highlights of the restoration:

The heart of the car is an engine prepared and built by Cambridge Motorsport. It included a nitrided crankshaft, fast road cam, unleaded head and numerous upgrades such as uprated head fasteners, uprated valve springs, uprated oil pump, competition HT leads, etc and new Weber 45DCOE carburettors. The engine was dyno-ed on completion, the printout showing a substantial increase in power to 137bhp. To give this some context, this equates to approximately 10% better power-to-weight ratio in the TR4 than a 150bhp TR6. Its greatest strength is not, however, the power but a virtually flat torque 'curve' from 2000-6000rpm. The invoice for the work to refurbish the original engine, ancillaries, etc, covers 3 pages and was some £5364 (in 2002).

Additional upgrades include: Lowered ride height - slightly lowered front and rear springs, which are also stiffer (but not so stiff to be bone-jarring). Uprated front dampers. Anti-roll bar fitted at the front. Converted to negative earth. Electric cooling fan. Electric fuel pump. Lightweight alternator. Stainless steel big bore exhaust. Minilite alloy wheels. Inertia reel seatbelts.

A Californian car, the chassis was stripped, refurbished and rebuilt with new components. At the same time, it was converted to RHD.

A new interior was ordered from John Skinner (£1521) and the seats rebuilt as part of the process. External trim was purchased from the TR shop (£685). 

In terms of the bodywork, the file details several invoices from Le Riche Restorers over the period January 2002 to July 2003 for body restoration, totalling over £18,000. The quality of their work was outstanding and has been commented upon by the specialists who have done work on the car since the rebuild.

In summary, the invoices in period totalled £30,000, excluding the substantial labour invested by the owner over 18 months to strip the car and then the time-consuming and meticulous reassembly. I have been told it would now cost @£80,000 to re-create such a car.

As can be seen in the photographs the current condition is stunning and a testament to the quality of the original work, and careful storage since. The paint gleams, the chrome is like new, the wooden dash beautiful and the interior confirms the lightest of use. The hood has no cracking or yellowing. Equipment includes: mohair hood, unmarked tonneau, inertia reel belts, Motolita leather wheel, Minilite alloy wheels, virtually unused steel spare. It even has a period 8 track cassette player. Two sets of keys. Handbook and workshop manual.

This TR is exciting to drive. As one would expect from the engine specification, it pulls strongly with compelling acceleration. The engine's torque makes it effortless. There is little roll in even fast corners and the brakes are extremely effective, pulling the car up sharply, and evenly, without drama. Not surprisingly, it turns heads.

Offers on £32,950

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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