Vehicle Overview
Like so many others, this TR4 made its way over the Atlantic to the USA in 1964 where it stayed until 2016. Acquired by a long-term Triumph enthusiast, the plan was to transplant a Daimler V8 engine, not only because of its creamy smooth running and extra power but also its lower centre of gravity.
It ended up taking two years, not least because the work included a full professional body, engine, and gearbox restoration. Sadly, the job faltered when he passed away mid-project but his son completed the work as a tribute to his father. All-in-all, it is estimated that the TR4 had more than 1,000 hours of professional labour invested in it.
The result is unique. While traditionalists might not appreciate the loss of the TR4’s original engine, most would agree the fact it offers 140bhp, or 35bhp more than the factory engine, plus improved road manners and a much smoother power delivery is ample compensation.
Wonderfully, it looks standard apart from the Minilite wheels and improved Mazda seats, so is a genuine wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s also barely run in having covered only a couple of hundred miles since being completed.
In the hands of its second owner (the first outside the family) since July 2020, it’s being offered with a very sensible guide price and an even more sensible reserve.
Exterior
Powder Blue was one of the original shades offered for the Triumph TR4 and it’s one we love because few hues show off Michelotti’s deft touch to better effect.
It’s in a fabulous condition, too. Still fresh from its recent restoration and respray, it presents beautifully, drawing admiring glances wherever it goes – but then what else would you expect of NDM Body Engineers in Devon, world-renowned experts whose bill not only topped five figures but are the folk that supply AC Cobra 427 chassis and bodies direct to Shelby and specialise in TR, Porsche 550, and Jaguar C Type projects?
As for panel alignment, ‘better than new’ may be an overused phrase but they didn’t assemble them this well at the factory, that’s for sure.
It’s complemented by a black hood, which isn’t only unmarked but fits well and opens and closes as it should.
You really can’t go wrong with Minilite alloys, can you? And when they’re in such good condition AND fitted with a matching set of 175/70R15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres you can add words like ‘diligent’ and ‘conscientious’ to ‘impeccable’ and ‘taste’ when thinking about the chap who spec’d them.
The rest of the details are equally sublime; the paperwork shows it was a money-no-object restoration and reading it suggests that if something was at all worn or scruffy it as replaced.
For those who absolutely have to nit-pick, there are a couple of minor drips of paint apparent in places such as alongside the offside rear light and in front of the passenger rear wheel arch and there is some slight bubbling to the panel behind the tonneau cover but our assessor still describes it as “excellent”.
Interior
The interior is just as impressive as the exterior but then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?
The most obvious change is the seats, which came from a Mazda MX-5. Using these is such a well-trodden path that brackets to mount them are available.
Narrow enough to fit in such a small car, they are way more comfortable, supportive and safe than the original jobbies – and having been retrimmed in blue leather, they’re not only in a fabulous condition but blend into the cockpit perfectly.
The rest of the upholstery is still minty-fresh, and the carpets are excellent.
It retains its white metal fascia trimmed with black vinyl; where most would have been tempted to fit a wooden dashboard, the previous owner decided to keep it stock.
The gauges look brand new although the speedometer and rev counter have been transposed from their usual positions, with the speedo to the right of the steering column rather than on the left.
The odometer shows just 92 miles; in reality, the car has covered a mere 170-ish miles so isn’t yet properly run-in.
The boot hasn’t been trimmed out, which allows a greater appreciation of the quality of the work here including the stainless-steel fuel tank that has been fitted. The spare wheel is every bit as clean as the rest.
Mechanical
Of course, the biggest departure from the factory specification is under the bonnet. The seller also owns a Daimler SP250 so is familiar with this engine; he says it’s a fine choice and, as a contemporary engine, is one he wholeheartedly endorses.
But, we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves.
The engine and gearbox were sourced at the same time as the car returned from the USA and completely rebuilt while other work continued on the vehicle. As it turned out, the transmission still had a few issues after this, so further work was done to rectify the issues that remained by TR Enterprises in December 2019. An overdrive is fitted and was overhauled as part of the renovation.
Even then, much work remained to shoehorn the V8 into the TR4’s engine bay and yet it would be difficult to tell that this wasn’t how the car emerged from Coventry almost 60 years ago. It also exhales through a custom stainless-steel exhaust system.
Even the wiring and pipework, the bits others often skimp, has been done to a very high standard. It’s all been beautifully done and the underbonnet area is as clean and neatly done as everything else.
It’s so good, in fact, that if you didn’t know better, you’d think it was a factory installation. But probably neater…
As you can see in the video, it starts cleanly, revs and ticksover as it should, and has a fantastic crackle to the exhaust note.
The seller has only driven it a little but took it from Manchester to Malvern for a TR club event and enjoyed every minute, saying “it just goes so well!” As we mentioned, he owns an SP250 and knows the V8 engine well but even he’s impressed with the quality of the quality of the engine rebuild.
He says it also drew an awful lot of attention from the Triumph enthusiasts who were there, even though it is, as he puts it, “a little b*sta*d!”
The TR4 retains its Powder Blue finish underneath with only some chassis areas and mechanical components receiving protective black paint. It all looks as good as everything else and is still very clean.
NB: The owner does note that the front anti-roll bar sits very low, which means care is needed when negotiating sleeping policemen and the like. This could be resolved and would have been one of the few jobs on his To Do list had he kept it for longer.
