Only produced from 1953-55, the TR2 was Triumph’s replacement for the ageing TR1. Featuring a newer drivetrain and only available as a roadster, it went on to be a real success for the company, especially in the United States.

This car was a late model TR2, being manufactured in 1955. It was then exported for sale in South Africa in the same year, where it remained until February last year, when it was imported back into the UK. At some point during its time in South Africa, it has obviously been restored, and the work has been carried out sympathetically and to a very high standard.

The current owner purchased the vehicle in June 2021 and since then it has always been kept dry-stored. They are only selling the car because they find they’re not using it as much as it needs. So they’d like it to go to a good home where it will be maintained to a high standard and used regularly.

Much of the vehicle’s early paperwork has sadly been lost during the import to the UK. What is included is the DVLA Numberplate Authorisation Certificate, the HMRC Import Clearance letter and a certificate from the TR Register confirming the vehicle’s date of manufacture and authenticity.

As the vehicle now has ‘Historic’ status, it is exempt from tax and MOT.

Trimmed in Oxblood red leather, the interior of this little roadster features a 2+2 layout. We’d hesitate to recommend the rear seats for anything except very small children or luggage, however. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and all of the interior trim – seats, door cards, dashboard fascia – are presented in excellent condition. The contrasting black carpets and red mats are likewise in fine fettle.

The dashboard is complete with dials and traditional toggle switches, all in original, unrestored condition. The owner assures us that everything works as it should. The wood-rimmed steering wheel and wooden gear knob lend a traditional, sporting look to the cabin and feel just right.

In terms of condition, the cabin is overall excellent for a car of this vintage. There is some age-related patina on the switchgear, as should be expected, and one or two minor blemishes. With a good valet, it would soon look almost showroom fresh.

According to the current owner, the paintwork  used to be red. But the South African owner preferred black, so when the car was restored they had it resprayed in gloss black. The paint is in good condition, with some minor blemishes and quite a bit of swirling, but nothing that a day with a machine polisher wouldn’t sort out.

The car’s brightwork is, as far as we can tell, predominantly original and wears its age well. It’s all present and correct, undamaged and in fine condition. Currently the car has twin speed-screens fitted. It also comes with a full standard windscreen and a factory supplied hardtop. The hardtop is in good overall condition, but has a couple of scratches to the paintwork.

As befits a traditional 50s roadster, it sits on 14” wire wheels with new tyres. It also benefits from a traditionally styled tonneau cover made from black vinyl. This is in fine condition and fits very snugly over the cabin area.

Underneath the floor, chassis and drivetrain elements look to be in excellent condition – unsurprising as the car has spent most of its life in South Africa, where the hot, dry climate is perfect for preserving older cars. We could not see any damage, corrosion or anything else that would cause us concern.

Mechanically the TR2 is a relatively simple machine, a 1,991cc inline 4-cylinder, twin-carb engine driving the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission. It’s a fun and engaging powertrain that perfectly suits the character of a classic British roadster. Here it appears to have been very well looked after and recently rebuilt. It sounds brilliant and idles well, burbling away nicely through the stainless steel exhaust.

Built traditionally, the TR2 is a body-on-chassis design, with independent front coil-spring suspension and rear leaf-sprung live axle suspension. The owner assures us that mechanically the car runs very well, driving precisely as it should, with fine handling and capable brakes.

There’s a universal, timeless appeal to 50s roadsters. As a driving experience, they’re visceral and quite unlike anything else. In terms of modern cars, there’s nothing quite like them. You can feel every inch of the road, every rev and every vibration – they’re a living machine.

Thankfully, for those of us that love classic cars, they’re still well supported with parts and expertise widely available. Which makes living with a car like this not only possible, but a true delight. It’s the sort of car that, on a sunny Spring or Summer day, would be an absolute joy to be able to pull out of the garage.

The relatively simple mechanics also mean that you can easily maintain the vehicle yourself – and do so to a high standard. This example has clearly been substantively restored at some point, and is in excellent condition. Having spent many decades in the dry South African climate, it’s little wonder that this car is so today, straight and honest - there’s not a hint of corrosion.

All in all, it’s a wonderful little car – a gem of British post-war engineering, presented in a fine specification and in superb condition. With less than a hundred 1955 TR2’s on the road in the UK, you’d be hard-pressed to find another, let alone find one in such good condition. So why not invest in a beautiful little classic roadster, just in time for Summer? We can’t imagine there’s anything else that will pay you back with quite so many smiles-per-mile.