CLASSIC CARS

Triumph TR4

Small in stature but mighty in power, the Triumph TR4 (produced from 1961 to 1965) was the first postwar sports car manufactured by the Triumph Motor Company. And it was an almost instantaneous success with over 40,000 units built in that short period. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti – one of the most prolific sports car designers of his time because of his contributions to Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati and Triumph – the

TR4 came with a host of amenities that were unheard of at the time.

Wind down windows replaced the curtains of previous

TRs, hardtop and ‘Surrey top’ options were offered, and a more angled rear made for wider safer storage.

And the TR4 was no slouch when it came to performance. Its 2138cc four inline engine was reportedly able to hit the 100 kmph mark in just 11.1 seconds. Interestingly, this particular engine was initially designed for the

Ferguson TE20 tractor! Another feature was its ability to tweak horsepower to make the machine faster for racing.

This led to the TR4 being highly acclaimed on the racetrack not only in the US but also in the UK and Europe where it became the darling of the rally circuit in the 1960s.

Its success on the racing circuit was an integral reason for the launch of Triumph’s motor sports competition department.

The model featured here (which is reportedly the only one of its kind in the island) is owned and driven by Clive

De Silva Jr. – one of the country’s emerging connoisseurs of classic machines, much like his father Clive De

Silva Snr. whose TR2 was featured at the inception of this column.

This beauty has been modified to offer around 115 bhp for power and speed. Indeed, both father and son seem to have a touch of the racing madness in them…

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