TRIUMPH TR250 (TR5 SPEC) - NEAR CONCOURS CONDITION

Triumph had originally planned to replace the TR4A in the summer of 1967 with the car that eventually became known as the TR6. However, as rumour has it the Germans at Karmann who designed the body of the new TR6 supplied all the tooling specifications in metric units and unfortunately we were still employing the good old Imperial system and the resultant confusion delayed the TR6 for over a year. Thus the beautiful Triumph TR5/TR250 was launched in July 1967 to fill the gap until production ended in September 1968.

The car was identical to the TR4A with the same gorgeous Michelotti-styled bodywork, front disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering and independent rear suspension, but with one crucial difference, under the bonnet lurked not the TR4A's 2138cc four-cylinder, but a 2498cc Six Cylinder engine destined for the TR6 with Lucas fuel injection and power output was some 150bhp, 45bhp more than the outgoing TR4A. Creamy smooth and with bags of torque the 150bhp engine could propel the TR5 from 0-60mph in just 8.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 125mph.

However, stringent emissions regulations meant that the American market car badged TR250, had to make do with a twin Stromberg carburettor version producing only 104bhp compared to the 150bhp TR5. As a result of this change, the car was down on power, but it was still beautifully smooth and was only 2 seconds off the 0-60 pace and 14 mph shy of its top speed – still more than a match for its big rival, the Healey 3000.

Triumph made almost three times as many TR250's than the TR5 and official figures are 8,484 of which all are believed to have been sent to the USA compared with only 1,161 UK RHD TR5's and a further 1,786 LHD cars for the European market making a total of only 2,947 units.

Completely rebuilt to near 'Concours' standard and probably one of the best examples currently for sale, this absolutely stunning Triumph TR250 is according to the BMIHT Heritage Certificate a Matching Numbers car - Chassis No: CD/6774-L and Engine No: CC/6665-E and it was built in Coventry on 2nd July 1968 and exported to the Leyland Motor Corporation of North America in Baltimore, Maryland on 19th July 1968 and registered there shortly after.

Nothing is known of the cars history in the USA but it was imported to the UK in 1998 and was in dry storage for almost 20 years before being purchased by restoration specialists Essex County Classics in Tillingham, Essex who commenced a complete nut and bolt restoration of the car.

The car was stripped down to its bare chassis which was cleaned and repainted and the body-shell was stripped to bare metal and repainted in its original colour of Signal Red. Mechanical works included a conversion to RHD, a full Engine rebuild with lightened and balanced con rods with new pistons & rings, lightened and balanced flywheel, uprated fast road Camshaft, ported and polished Unleaded Cylinder Head with matching inlet and exhaust manifolds, Sports Exhaust System, a new Fuel Injection system including unleaded metering unit replacing the Stromberg Carburettors, aluminium water pump housing, aluminium back plate, aluminium baffled sump, full Gearbox and Overdrive rebuild, rebuilt rear axle and differential with new drive shafts. On a rolling road, the car will now produce almost 170bhp!

The car was also fitted with new interior including Black Leather Sports seats piped in White with head restraints, new trim panels, new carpets, refurbished 'Surrey Top' with both Hard & Soft top options, all Chrome fittings have either been re-chromed or renewed, new windscreen and door glass, new light units, new Rubber seals, Polybushed Suspension, all new Brakes including front Discs, Brake Calipers and new rear brakes, all associated pipework, hoses and hydraulics, new Clutch including hydraulics, new wiring looms, engine ancillaries, new interior trim, new stove enamelled 6.5J Wire Wheels and new Triumph TR5 badges replacing the original TR250 ones which are available with the car.

Since completion, the car has covered less than 100 miles and is ostensibly still running in and the restoration cost alone is not much less than our asking price!

Unfortunately there is no early history from the USA and the mileage shown on the speedometer is now 37,989 miles, but we very much doubt that this is its original mileage from new.

If you are looking for one of the best Triumph TR250's currently available for sale, this has to be a serious contender, as we doubt that there is another one like it!

NB: Classic Chrome Ltd make every effort to ensure that the information in this advertisement is accurate and all statements as to provenance and condition are given as opinions only. When describing any car that is more than 20 years old, we sometimes have to rely on the car’s history file and any information provided by the previous owner(s). This information in passed on in good faith and is therefore not purported to be a statement of fact. Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves as to the condition and fitness for use of the vehicle. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Car on display @ our showrooms in Mortlake.