Simply the best
An ex-Standard Triumph apprentice, Nigel Bancroft spent many years planning how to execute the perfect TR5. The end result is simply stunning.
Probably the best TR5 in the world? We’ve all heard such advertising hype before, but Nigel Bancroft’s 1968 TR5 is simply immaculate, restored to the highest standard and totally original to the tiniest detail. What’s more, this is no chequebook restoration, as almost all the work has been done by the owner himself.
It’s fair to say that Nigel had an inside track when restoring his car, however. Asked about his background, he replies: "My parents owned Triumph dealerships in the Manchester area back in the day, and I served my apprenticeship with Standard Triumph when the TR5 and TR6 were current models." During his time in the family Triumph business, he was able to collect a stash of original spares and build a network of contacts, who have helped with more rare parts during his twelve-year project.
Body beautiful
Nigel chose to restore a TR5, "as I always preferred the Michelotti body style of the ‘5 over the TR6, and the external trim details like the badges and front wing repeater lights. The ‘5 is actually a little quicker, too. In the 1990s I restored a signal red ‘5 to a high standard, which was eventually sold to a
friend. I decided I must have another, but this time wanted it to be Royal Blue, Triumph’s dark blue colour from the period, which I believe best shows off the beautiful lines of the TR5." Not everyone would choose to restore to such a high standard of originality but he says: "I worked on these cars when they were new, so I know how they should be. I couldn’t accept less than complete originality."
The project began in August 2000 when, after some months, Nigel finally persuaded the owner of a very dilapidated TR that he should sell, as he would never get round to his proposed restoration. Arriving at Nigel’s workshop on a trailer, the car appeared almost beyond saving, with serious corrosion to the chassis and almost every panel. The restoration started with the badly corroded body. Nigel explains,
I ended up taking a TR4 valance and letting in the vent in front of the radiator
"these bodies can easily distort, so I left the shell on the chassis and braced from A-post to B-post each side, before beginning to cut out and replace the rusty panels one side at a time." Top advice for any would-be TR restorer.
Perfect panels
Work progressed steadily, with new floors, sills, boot floor, and front inner wheelarches, plus extensive repairs to the rotten edges of the inner wings. All the new panels were original Stanpart items – some tracked down in the USA – ensuring better fit than reproduction parts, . Other than the bulkhead and rear deck, few panels escaped without repair or replacement – certainly not a job for the faint-hearted. The hardest piece of the body to find was the front valance: "I couldn’t find a genuine TR5 valance and ended up taking a TR4 valance and letting in the vent in front of the radiator, which only appeared on the ‘5. This was much more difficult than it sounds and took a lot of time and patience." With typical restoration irony, a genuine TR5 front valance turned up soon after.
Finally, the body was complete, at which point it was gently removed from the chassis. Nigel sprayed the shell with primer and applied two-pack topcoat to the underside, starting the switch from this car’s original Signal Red hue to his favourite Royal Blue. Next, attention turned to building up the rolling chassis. He chose to use a brand new chassis, installing rebuilt engine, gearbox, differential, suspension and brakes. With the rolling chassis complete, Nigel undertook the task of uniting the restored body with the new chassis, before sending it to Jules Bodycraft in Wolverhampton for final painting. Work began by removing the primer from external body panels, so the ultimate paint finish could be built up from bare metal. Needless to say, the Royal Blue two-pack looks absolutely perfect.
Nigel even managed to find the original warning sticker for the driver's window
Target acquired
At this stage, Nigel recalls there was a lull in the project. In 2011, ten years after starting, he finally began the fitting of electrics, interior and trim to complete his long-term restoration. "I needed a target to work to, and decided the car must be ready to compete in the concours at the TR Register International in August 2013."Date now set in stone, progress resumed, with attention to detail remaining at the top of his priority list. New overriders and bumpers were fitted, but not before they had been rechromed to Nigel’s satisfaction: "I sent the bumpers to ACF Howell in Walsall and they produced an absolutely first class job."
Sitting in the car, the finish is fabulous. Dash, switchgear and instruments are all new or as new, upholstery and trim are showroom fresh, everything correct to the tiniest detail. Nigel even managed to find the original warning sticker applied to the driver’s side window – not one aspect escaped his attention. Examine the exterior closely and panel gaps are flawlessly uniform, the dark paint gleaming with mirror-like reflections. The correct 15in Rostyle wheel trims are an appealing period touch, rarely seen today, and very hard to find in such good condition. Nigel remembers: "I found a couple early on and eventually two more turned up at the Tatton Park autojumble."
With the TR ready in time to debut at the TR Register concours, Nigel’s endeavours were rewarded with a win in the Original TR4-6 category and a gold award. Success didn’t stop there, with further accolades at the Manchester Classic Car Show in September 2013 and an appearance at the UK’s top concours, the Meguiars competition held at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November 2013.
So far, the car hasn’t covered many miles, but it’s clear that it drives as well as it looks. The impeccably set up engine, fed by Lucas PI of course, starts first turn and immediately settles into a smooth, six-cylinder burble. On the move, it sounds perfect – original mild steel exhaust, naturally – and sits absolutely square on the road. Watching it, we’re transported back in time, admiring the lucky owner in his brand new sports car, fresh from the Triumph dealer's showroom.