Chapter 7 TR4 This is a car that doesn’t get the respect it deserves. ‘The TR4 is a big improvement over the TR3 but the legions of TRS fans have consistently refused to ac- knowledge that simple fact, The TR4 gets very little admiration because of the fact it’s not a TR3. The TR4 is stuck between ‘The design was handled by Triumph’s new styling con- sultant, Giovanni Micheloti. The purists were shattered: 60 kk Serial numbers CT to CT40304 (2.0 or 2.2 engine) two of the most desirable Triumphs on the market, the TR3B and the TR6. We're talking about a car that offers neither the classic TR3 looks nor the power of the TR6. The car gets glossed over as being neither. The only way to deal with a TR4 is to consider it on its own terms. rot only was there no place to rest your elbows but the car arrived with rollup windows! Plain English Archive,‘This isa very early TR4 dash. The owner has had this car ‘ew. The large vents on the ends of the dash ii fact they work a lot better than the “eye- Ralls” on the TR6. The steering wheel cover on this car Is ‘The problem for the collector is that while you can buy a TR4 for a reasonable price its going fo ost you as much as a TR3 or TR6 to restore, With, Gut oven trying you've invested more money andl effort in the car than it'll ever be worth. The TR4’s major problem was that it was @ step into the modern era. The lack of side curtains and a modem body do little to bring back memo- es of the fifties, The TR4 suffers from being just little too modern. ‘On the other hand collectors will be quick to tell you that it lacks the sophistication of the TR6, The reality of it was that the TR4 was produced with more quality than the TR6. Triumph never ‘again reached the build quality of the TR "All the prejudice against the TR4 means that you can get a nice roadster for a reasonable price ‘an obvious addition, Steering wheels can be very dificult tO restore, and expensive to replace, so always check 0 see what's under the cover. Author collection. Even better you might consider the TR4 as a daily guver, There’s no reason why this car couldn't be used every day. "The TR4 only seemed like a new car when it was introduced. Everything but the body was taken Straight from the TRS parts shelf. Mechanically the TRa is not much more sophisticated than the TR2. [es just that windows which roll up and down puts a lot of the vintage Triumph people off ‘The TR4 engine was the same 2.2 option that was installed in the TR3A. Conversely, you could Nico order a special 199Icc engine to compete in the ‘under 2-liter racing classes. Needless to say very few were ever built and they have no special im- portance today The transmission was changed so that first gear was synchronized. This alone makes the TRE 6Ra ENGINE Type: 4-cylinder, in line, water cooled, cast iron block and cylinder head Bore x Stroke: mm/inches: 86x92/3.386:3,622 Displacement: ce/cubic inches: 2138/130.5, 19910c engine available as a no-cost option Valve Operation: oh, pushrod operation Compression Ratio: 90:1 Carburetion: 2 SU H6s, 2 Strombergs on later cars BHP (mf): 100 at 4600rpm CHASSIS & DRIVETRAIN Transmission: 4-speed, optional overdrive Axle Ratio: 3.7:1 Rear Suspension: live axle, half elliptic springs, lever shocks Front Suspension: independent front suspension, tele GENERA Wheelbase: 88 Overall Length: 163.6" Track: Front: 43° Rear: 48° Brakes: Front: 11° discs Rear: 9x1" drums. Tire Size: 5.90x15 Wheel Size: 4.5115 Weight: 2,200 Ibs. PERFORMANCE ‘Acceleration: 0-20: 3.6 seconds, 0-60: 11.5 seconds Top Speed: 110mph worth considering. The truth of the matter is that any number of TR3s have had this transmission in- stalled, Overdrive was offered as an option with the switch now controlled from a handy lever on’ the dashboard. As in the past, when you ordered the overdrive you received the 4.1i:1 rear axle ratio. Overdrive remains a desirable option and is still a useful thing to have, provided you maintain it properly. Despite the all-new body, the early TR4’s ap- pointments and behavior resembled the TR3. The instruments are spread across the dash, even down to the black crackle-finish panel for the four smaller gauges in the center. The carpet in the TR4 came in one color only—dark charcoal gray. It was a loop- pile type. ‘The bucket seats on the early TR4s were really straight from the TR3A. They were changed to a flatter design for the later cars. All the proper up- holstery is available from one of the various parts suppliers. When the seats were changed the dash was also revised. The black finish was covered in a walnut veneer. This veneer usually cracked and separated with time. ‘The TRA was a very well planned and execut- ed sports car. For years people had complained about the lack of ventilation in the TR3. For the TR4, Triumph incorporated two large fresh-air vents in the outer edges of the dash. They installed The TR4 used two small lights in the grile and had no brightwork on the sides of the car. Plain English Archive. 2