1965 Triumph TR4A Solid Axle Roadster - A Gorgeous Specially Preserved Survivor

Description

SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR MORE VINTAGE CAR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES Further cleanout of surplus vintage cars and parts: Am 75 and time to let go of my extensive British car collection. This is a no reserve auction for a very special car. The TR4A will be sold regardless of price, on or off auction. I have a 1956 Triumph TR3 small mouth on another of my auctions at this time - don't miss it. <p> This particular auction is for a special authentic original one owner survivor 1965 Triumph TR4A solid axle Roadster as shown. (I am technically the 2nd owner). Please read the complete description so you will understand all conditions and any issues. I will answer all email questions. Just found out that ebay will only post 24 photos now - another stupid ebay idea. I apologize for these limited ebay photos - if you need more I guess you have to ask me to send them to you. Unbelievable ebay stupidity. <p>
GENERAL DESCRIPTION and HISTORY: This is what most of us dream about - A 52 year old one owner (I am technically the 2nd owner) Alabama roadster that is in unbelievable rust free, 99 percent original paint condition. This is the best, most rust free original surviving Triumph I have ever seen in my 75 years. (The TR4 body design in my opinion is the best of any Triumph model ever made, besides having the most bullet proof, torquey, fun loving engine.) The owner, a non smoker, special ordered it new from a Birmingham Alabama dealer in 1965. It was meticulously maintained and loved by him until his passing in 1984, whereupon his wife had it put into a climate controlled storage garage. I have been trying to purchase it for 33 years and she finally agreed to sell it to me this year (now that I am ready to croak and can't drive a manual transmission). The car was never driven in the wet, helping to explain it's perfectly rust free condition. Still has the original 1965 owners and service manuals. As indicated on the British Motor Industry Heritage certificate it was shipped on 23 March, 1965 from the Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff, England, aboard the vessel "Brynje" to Standard Triumph Motor Company in Jacksonville Florida, where it was inland transported to the dealer in Birmingham. <p> It is getting more difficult for the average working person to find an original rust free sports car to purchase and enjoy. Most original survivors have disappeared and a lot of the leftovers are either "weekend restored" cars, rusty beaters, money pits or overpriced trailer queens. An untouched original, even if it may have some problems, gives you an accurate assessment of it's overall condition and has plenty of character (use the nauseating word "patina" if you wish). This Triumph TR4A is one of those cars. Nothing is hidden from view. As of this writing Hagertys classic car values the 1965 Triumph TR4A at $12,400 fair, $20,100 good, $32,500 excellent and $48,000 concours. The condition of this Triumph is excellent and the starting price is $10,000 under the excellent value rating. This is also an investment as, unlike most cars, the value will probably increase over time. <p>
ENGINE: Excellent original matching numbers engine. Starts easily with the key and runs on it's own original fuel tank. Runs very smooth and quiet. Idles fine. The oil is clear and clean. Excellent oil pressure, even when warm on idle. No smoke, knocking or other noises. Original carburetors have been cleaned and adjusted and the original AC fuel pump was cleaned and rebuilt due to long term storage. Engine number is CT50714E. <p>
TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH/DIFFERENTIAL: The original matching numbers TR4A all syncro 4 speed transmission, non overdrive shifts perfectly through all of the gears running the car up and down my 800 foot driveway, exactly like these transmissions normally function. Clutch master and slave cylinders are brand new. No noises, clunks, problems. I have not taken it on the road and it may need some very minor sorting out for every day road use. May not, don't see any reason for it from the driving I have done with it anyway. This is a dependable solid axle car. <p>
ENGINE COMPARTMENT: Almost showroom condition. Everything is original from front to back. Solid and straight. Inner fenders are perfect. No rust, no damage. New battery, still wired to positive ground as it came from the factory. Everything is stock factory original. All serial, engine and body plates are intact as shown. Everything works. Original Hooters horns still sound like new. Excellent original radiator. Most water hoses are the 52 year old originals - no leaks and the engine runs and idles at a perfect cool temperature with zero overheating problems. Generator works fine. <p>
TRUNK COMPARTMENT: Solid, nice and straight with no rust or damage. Factory original paint with a few minor touched up wear spots. Correct 60 spoke spare wire wheel. Spare tire is a new old stock 1:65 X 15. <p>
EXTERIOR BODY PANELS: Straight rust free original throughout. Not a hint of even surface rust anywhere. I removed the original door panels to check the inside of the doors and their bottoms - they are both like brand new as shown. The door panels had never been off - all the clips and screws are original. The plastic barrier on both doors was still intact like new. Just a beautiful sight. The doors open and shut solidly with no sagging. The door bottoms are solid as new. The inner rockers are the same. Outer rockers are the same. Fenders, fender bottoms are the same. Zero rust anywhere, even in the fender seams, where they normally rust easily. Original front and rear valances, under the bumpers, which are usually bashed are in perfect like new condition. <p>
EXTERIOR BODY PARTS: Everything is original and in beautiful condition. Bumpers, bumper guards, bumper brackets, tail lights, grille, headlight assemblys and all the minor trim is still original excellent condition. Nothing bent, dinged, damaged. You would not know any of the trim was 52 years old. Well preserved. <p>
PAINT: It has the original factory Triumph Racing Green paint as it left the factory 52 years ago - with the exception of the outside of the trunk lid and surround. Trunk lid had been scratched (perhaps keyed at a grocery store said his wife?) shortly before storage and had to be repainted. No metal work of any kind - just had the scratches removed and repainted. Original factory paint is still on the inside of the trunk lid. Hardly worth mentioning but the hood has a few very minor shallow dings that are very hard to see unless you look at it on an angle in the sunlight. Camera will not pick them up. Look at the lines and gaps on the car - have never seen any Triumph as straight and perfect as this one. Just a pleasure to look at. The original paint has three minor worn through spots as shown from polishing/waxing over the years. One on the drivers door top (where an elbow/arm would be hanging out), one on the left rear fender top and one on the hood carburetor bulge. Has a beautiful bright, deep shine to it. No rust, no body filler ever. <p>
INTERIOR/UPHOLSTERY: The interior is unbelievably mostly all original and is in close to new condition. All soft, supple and vibrant - no hardening. Original door panels, fender well upholstery, fuel tank firewall, side B pillar upholstery. Dash top was replaced and it has new black cut pile carpeting. A tag says made in England. Looks like the floors had some minor surface pitting and were treated and painted. The main floor carpet is NOT glued down. The seats were recovered by the owner sometime in the past. Seat frames are like new. Even has the original sun visors. The seats and carpet were removed to show the floor bottoms as shown in one photo. The door panels were also removed to show the inside of the doors. For some reason my $20 camera insists on making certain black objects look red or purple but anything you see in the photos that looks red or purple is actually jet black - like the seat belts for instance. <p>
DASH AREA: Excellent original factory wood dash with a few minor age related surface varnish cracks. All gauges are original and function correctly. Odometer shows 39,158 miles and may be correct - may not. Has the original factory Triumph pushbutton radio. It was working but has quit - probably something minor. Everything works. Glovebox is excellent. <p>
GLASS: The side windows are original and excellent with no damage and roll up and down like new. The windshield is original and excellent except for some minor wiper blade marks. <p>TOP: The original tan top frame is excellent and undamaged. The car came with a factory NOS convertible top in the original box and I had it professionally installed recently. The zip out rear window has some minor age pimples in it - cosmetic only - not worth mentioning. <p>
CHASSIS: The frame is in excellent, straight, unrotted condition as shown with only normal surface corrosion. <p> AIR CONDITIONING: None. Aftermarket air conditioners are available if desired - the new units are excellent, compact and very efficient. <p>
TIRES/WHEELS: The five 60 spoke wire wheels are in excellent condition. All 5 tires are NOS 1:65 X 15's. The 4 on the ground are vintage Sears Guardsman all season 165R15's and the spare is vintage NOS LeMans 165R15 - all are in excellent unchecked condition and useable for local driving. Might not be smart to use for high speed highway use.<p>
SUSPENSION/BRAKES/STEERING: All original suspension and braking mechanisms are intact. Nothing missing. This is a dependable solid rear axle car. The brakes are all new. New master cylinder and new wheel cylinders. Emergency brake assembly is intact and works perfect. Excellent braking system. <p>
EXHAUST: Useable as is but there is a leak on one side in the pipes going through the middle X frame panel that is hard to see and reach so some work will be needed on the exhaust. <p>
FACTORY ID PLATES: The Vehicle identification ID plate, body plate and engine number are intact and correct. The vehicle serial number is CT51696L. Engine number is CT50714E. <p>
PAPERWORK: The car does have a proper Georgia registration in my name. This is all that is necessary to title or register it in most any State of the Union or to ship the car overseas. This is the responsibility of the new owner. Check your local DMV office TO BE SURE. There is NO TITLE. Georgia will NOT issue a title for any car older than 1975. The British Motor Industry Trust Heritage Certificate is included, as are the original 1965 Owners Manual and Service record manual as shown. <p>
REVIEW: This is the best looking, most rust free, original paint, running and driving 52 year old Triumph survivor I have ever seen in 75 years. All hydraulics were recently replaced due to long term storage of the originals. It has not been driven on the road. It has been driven up and down my 800 foot driveway a number of times so some sorting out may be necessary when it is put on the road - may not, as I have seen nothing that it needs. <p>
INSPECTION OF CAR: It is difficult at best to describe something as complex as a vehicle and it is highly recommended that you personally inspect the car or have a 3rd party inspect it for you. I can accomodate anyone to show them the car. If you elect not to do this you will have one of three outcomes after purchasing the car. #1. The car will be exactly as you thought it would be from the auction description and photos and you will be happy. #2. The car will be less than you thought it would be and you will be unhappy. #3. The car will be more than you thought it would be and you will be more than happy, and I will be the same in each case. It is described to the best of my ability along with many good photos but it is the bidders ultimate responsibility to ensure that what he thinks he is getting is indeed one in the same and something he will be happy with. I have purchased and sold roughly 27 autos/motorcycles through ebay over the past 19 years and also many more over the telephone and have always had excellent results and complete satisfaction from the buyers but I do my due diligence and suggest you do the same. <p>
SHIPPING: I have shipped many cars to all parts of the world over the years and can assist the buyer with transport or completely arrange transport. The car is in a secure place at my home. You can collect the car there. I can assist with loading. The car can stay here for up to 30 days from the close of the auction. <p>
PAYMENT/BIDDING: Contact me if you have less than 5 feedbacks or your bid WILL be cancelled. A $1000 non refundable deposit via Paypal is due immediately after the auction closes. The balance is due within 5 days via priority or overnight mail with a bank cashiers check or cash. No Paypal for the balance. Payment is to be made IN ADVANCE of collecting the car. IN ADVANCE, BEFORE YOU COLLECT THE CAR - This is an auction and you have plenty of time to inspect the car personally or have a 3rd party inspect the car - inspections are welcome and encouraged. Full payment is due BEFORE the car is collected. Winning the auction does not mean that you now have the privilege of coming to inspect the car to see if you like it. When the auction is over, it is your car and payment is due at the close of the auction per these instructions. I have sold approximately 27 cars and motorcycles on ebay. No Paypal for the balance. <p>
SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR MORE VINTAGE CAR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES
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