Owning a Triumph TR4-6]
Anne Norman, Suffolk
When my husband Peter and I finished restoring our VW camper, I suggested we should buy something we can take out and enjoy on sunny days. We like the shape of the TR4 and found this one at a local dealer in 2015. It’s had lots of owners and lots of work done to it over the years, but still has the original engine and specification. We had the Surrey top sprayed red – it was cream and didn’t look right – and had some bits tidied up on the body. Since buying it, we’ve enjoyed it a lot. Peter wasn’t happy with some parts, so we’ve worked on it together – I cleaned up the chassis while he made a patch to weld in by the front suspension, and I was surprised at the red sand that came out! It also kept jumping out of overdrive, so we took the trim out and fitted new switches on top of the gearbox, which cured that. We took it down to Laon this year with no problems, and do around 1000 miles a year. We’ve spent about £500 a year including servicing and repairs, all of which we do ourselves.
Neil Wragg, Warwickshire
I bought my TR5 new in 1968. It was a fabulous car, with one problem – garages had no idea what to do with the mechanical fuel injection. Fortunately, my father did; he recognised that if it had a good supply of fuel, correct volume and pressure, the system worked perfectly. We had to strip down the pump and linish the brass base plate smooth every six months.
In 1970 Anita and I drove to Italy on honeymoon, via the Stelvio Pass. The TR became her transport to work, then became little-used, but still loved. In the early Nineties Anita and I lifted the body off and I repaired and powder-coated the chassis. Then I lightened and balanced the engine internals, with a Stage 2 head, multi-branch exhaust and much more. I repaired the bodywork, but quality body panels weren’t available. The fuel injection received a Bosch pump, modern relief valve, new injectors and a recalibrated metering unit.
The car felt fabulous. In 2000, we repeated the drive to Italy, finding the Stelvio very tame this time. The last 10-15 years has seen a good bare-metal respray – the bodyshell was dip-stripped and all pitted metal cut away. The car goes good, sounds good, and looks good. We use it almost every week, always topless, including light rain and heavy snow. It is totally reliable, with 33.7mpg cruising. Annual professional servicing costs £620-640.
George Niblett, East Sussex
I’ve had TRS prepared by Steve Hall at TR Enterprises for 25 years, including TR4S I used for rallying, but my first was a TR6 which was too original to rally. When I gave up rallying, I sold all my rally cars and bought a Us-spec TR6 for touring. Steve rebuilt it in 2011/12 with a fast road engine producing 178bhp on triple Webers, a rollbar, adjustable suspension and right-hand drive conversion. It’s a very quick car and it’s been very reliable, though it doesn’t have the flexibility of a TR4, which is a better car for rallying. The suspension is set up more for touring than competition, and I find the Us-spec seats with fold-down headrests very comfortable. I spend around £2500 a year on it, for professional servicing and preparation for touring events.