Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; current owner 25 years; full body-off
restoration in 1999 and only 31k miles since; engine rebuilt in 2020; a very
smart example of this classic British sportscar
A wonderful mix of British brawn and Italian style, the
Michelotti-styled TR4 was powered by a torquey 2,138cc four-cylinder twin-carb
engine mated to an all-synchro four-speed box that could launch the car to 60mph
in 10.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 105mph. Optional Laycock de
Normanville electricallly operated overdrive could now be selected for 2nd and
3rd gear as well as 4th, effectively providing the TR4 with a seven-speed close
ratio gearbox.
In 1965 the car gained a new chassis with more
sophisticated independent rear suspension (in place of the old live axle) for
more predictable handling and an improved ride, these models being known as the
TR4A. By the time production ceased in mid 1967, some 28,450 TR4As had been
sold, the vast majority to the American market.
First registered in
Hertfordshire in June 1966, this UK-market TR4A comes with a large history file
extending back to the early 1980s. It has had five owners from new, the fourth
of whom acquired it in 1982 and kept it until 1999 when our vendor acquired
it.
Between 1993 and 1999 it was treated to a
body-off restoration by Revington TR Spares of Somerset with many new panels
fitted along with new bumpers and a full repaint in British Racing Green. It
appears that it also had a substantial mechanical overhaul but as all the
invoices only list part numbers it is hard to be sure exactly what was done. A
new set of carpets, new inertia reel seatbelts and a new double duck hood were
certainly fitted. A few photos show the restoration in progress and confirm that
it was a chassis-up job.
On offer here from a
deceased estate, there is no real service history during the current 25-year
ownership but we are told that it was well-maintained by the owner and
successfully completed tours of France and Ireland, old MOTs showing that it has
covered around 31,000 miles since 1999, the odometer currently showing 103,700
miles.
An invoice shows that the engine was
rebuilt by Worcester Classic Cars in December 2020 with new pistons and liners
and a rebuilt cylinder head and it has not covered many miles since. A new
radiator, new rear springs and a Revotec cooling fan have also been fitted in
recent years.
As you can see in the photos,
this TR4A looks most attractive and was driven some 40 miles to the sale, the
driver reporting that it went well with the overdrive working as it should. It
has been starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around on
site, with good 50psi oil pressure.
For
more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]