The engine was the same 4 cylinder 2,138 cc engine as in the earlier Triumph TR2s and TR3s but with a revised head and exhaust, giving slightly more power. This is a slow revving engine with bucket loads of torque and an agricultural feel (not surprising as it was derived from a Massey Ferguson tractor engine). The gearbox has synchromesh on all four gears and is fitted with overdrive that works on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears giving it an effective seven gears.
The chassis and body of the TR4A were carried over onto the next model, the TR5. The 4 cylinder engine was replaced by the Triumph 6 cylinder engine whose capacity was increased to 2,500 cc and equipped with Lucas petrol injection. This was the same engine and fuel injection as fitted to the Triumph 2.5 PI Saloon car.
Our TR4A is fitted with the Surrey Top, which consists of a rigid rear window with removable roof panel and a separate soft-top and frame.
Owned from new by one man, Ken Westwood. It was featured in the Bill Piggott book Original TR, and the David Hodges book, Essential TR. Since we acquired it at the end of 1998, the body panels have been dismantled, some minor rust damage repaired and the car has been resprayed in its original Royal Blue. The interior (still in its original midnight blue) has been cleaned. The brakes and suspension have been overhauled. The engine is still original and has done over 100,000 miles - hence the apparently low mileage, as it has been round the clock once!
The overdrive was rebuilt in 2002. To avoid the problem of the dynamo not charging properly at idle speeds, or when under high electrical load (like using lights and wipers in the rain), in 2003 we replaced it with an alternator which now produces more than enough electrical power.
At the end of 2004 we decided that the car needed repainting to keep it in the condition we require. The bodywork had acquired a number of marks and rust had started appeared in a corner of one front wing, the base of the boot lid and some of the panel joints. Fortunately all the main panels on a TR are bolted on, so one weekend was spent removing all the ancillaries and the wings and stripping out the interior.
The TR4A was repainted over Christmas and the New Year 2004/5. It was then returned to The Open Road during January to have everything re-fitted in time for it to go out again in the early Spring. The restoration company commented that the bodywork and chassis were probably the best they had seen on a UK TR4A for a long time.
By the end of March 2005 our Triumph TR4A was available for hire again, resplendent in its new paintwork, some of the chrome work having been replaced, the rest of it polished and a new set of carpets fitted.
Towards the end of 2005 the gearbox and rear axle started to whine a bit so we took the opportunity to have them both re-conditioned over the Winter.
Why not take the opportunity to hire the best Triumph TR4A available in the UK.
For daily, weekend and weekly hire rates for our Triumph TR4A, see the section on Hire Charges.
N.B. The following:
- There is very little adjustment to the driver's seat and the clutch takes up very near the floor. Therefore anyone with an inside leg measurement of less than 30 inches may find it difficult to drive the TR4A.
- We have invested in a Posturite Posture Curve Back Support which is available at no charge if required. This has an elastic strip which holds it in place and pushes the driver forward almost two inches giving excellent back support. Customers can use this in the TR4A (or indeed in any of our cars) if it will help.
- If on the day of hire, the driver cannot manage to drive the car then we will offer an alternative vehicle, if one is available.
