Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
1954 Triumph TR2
Desirable, home market, 'Long Door' example
Estimate
£20, 000 - £25, 000
Registration No: VHN 177
Chassis No: TS2304
MOT: Exempt
Acquired by the vendor, an accomplished engineer, during the Covid-19 Lockdown and treated to an exhaustive and wholly uneconomic restoration!
Potentially eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica as a 'Long Door' plus other prestigious events
Kept deliberately stock with the exception of the gearlever activated overdrive and hi-torq starter motor
Bumpers come with the car (but are not fitted)
Refinished in its factory colours (albeit with leather upholstery)
In the context of industrial Britain's post-war 'export-or-die' drive, the personal rivalry between Jaguar's William Lyons and Standard-Triumph's Sir John Black only served to increase pressure on the latter's new sportscar project. Unveiled at Earls Court in 1952, favourable public reaction saw Triumph charge Ken Richardson with the task of translating its Type 20TS show car (often referred to as TR1) into production reality. Embarking on an intensive research and development programme, he designed a bespoke chassis built around an eighty-eight inch wheelbase. Equipped with independent coil sprung front suspension, a live rear axle and all round drum brakes, it was powered by a revised version of the company's 1991cc, OHV Vanguard engine. Developing an unstressed 90bhp this torquey unit was mated to a four-speed plus overdrive gearbox. Differing from the Type 20TS in offering a boot and internal spare wheel location, the prototype TR2s proved unexpectedly fast as witnessed by the 125mph (race trim) and 105mph (road trim) maximums posted by Richardson on a closed section of Belgian Jabbeke highway in Spring 1953. Deemed ready, the first production TR2 emerged in July that year.
More information to follow
