Early 1963 TRIUMPH TR4. Steel dash, TR3 style seats. Ready to drive or ready to restore. Mileage on odometer shows about 33,000. I'm just not sure, seems like it would have to be more, but then it seems like a lot less than 133,000. Car is originally from Florida, inspection sticker from 1977 is still on windshield.
Besides some little holes in a rocker and just a tiny start at top of one rear fender, body is real solid. It appears to have been repainted just once. Dings, dents, and scratches, but has a decent shine. Interior in poor condition, missing some things that are obtainable new. It ran good when I bought it, but there were some problems. (Radiator leaking, clutch sticking, tires lumpy, no top, etc.).
Here's the story about this car, as best as I can figure it:
I think a previous owner in Florida started restoring this car after a minor fender bender to left front fender (very minor) and never finished it, left sitting in storage for a long time, and/or was passed on several times because of a problem with the clutch. Somehow it got seperated from some of it's stuff,like the top and tonneau, some of the interior,trunk trim pieces and the radiator shroud.It still had it's original cardboard transmission cover on it,which is rare, and some pieces of it's old carpet.
The tires looked almost new when I got it, but the car rode bouncy, The tires tread came apart,two different times, when I took it out for a couple long rides after the radiator and clutch were repaired, They had obviously been sitting flat for a long time. I replaced all the tires.
The seller told me it was bought and hauled to Ohio by a trucker (his name is on title as previous owner) who brought southern cars north periodically to make extra money. I never test drove the car, the seller took me for a ride, it seemed to be fine, except shifting it was a little tricky. The seller told me that he had replaced the slave hose and the clutch needed bled and adjusted. The seller drove the car on the trailer for me and I hauled it home. When I tried to start it to take it off the trailer,the clutch wouldn't release. I had to put it in neutral to start it. Then I couldn't get it in gear. I had to start it in gear to roll it off of the trailer. Adjustment didn't help.
I tried replacing the slave cylinder. That didn't help. I thought it might be oil on the flywheel and clutch or it might be the transmission. I bought a used transmission off Ebay. I pulled the transmission out. The clutch was a little oily, but not that bad. The clutch and throw out bearing looked fine,the pressure plate was fine, it looked almost new. The transmission seemed to spin fine, looked fine inside. I still decided to change the transmission. I changed oil in the transmission. I put it back together. Same story. Clutch would still hang up sometimes when trying to start it. I took it apart again. I got a brain storm. Could it be the pressure plate? I had a couple from another car I have. I set them side by side. I could not detect any visual difference. I put it back together with the other pressure plate. "V"OILA" The clutch now released as it should. Somewhere along the line the wrong or incorrectly adjusted pressure plate had been installed.
I think this car passed through several hands, sitting for long periods, owners not being willing or able to figure out what was wrong with the clutch and passing it on to another unsuspecting buyer. It seems a plausible answer as to why a car this old has survived in the kind of condition it has. It certainly was stored inside a good dry space for a long time.
It is undercoated, appears original to car when new, in good shape and not hiding any problems. Being a Northeastern Ohioan of the snowbelt region, I know how that stuff made things even worse in the salt when it started failing, even trapping it.
Inside photo of trunk wheelwell looks pretty rusty, I guarantee that is only smooth surface rust, not scaled through, as well as the rest of the body and undercarriage, NO PATCHES OR BONDO RUST REPAIRS, except a little on body surface for leveling. I do have the original trunk prop rod, needs re-attached, was spot welded.
Some of the things I've renewed since I purchased it:
1. New tires
2. Rebuilt radiator ( long, difficult search, later style, have original one with extension tank) New hoses
3. New generator and mounting bracket.
4. Added spin-off style oil filter.
5. Carburators rebuilt by Roadster Factory.
6. New transmission mount. New transmission cover
7. New convertible top.
8. New fitted cloth garage type car cover
Included with car, but not installed:
1. New wool carpet and padding
2. New front bumper.
3. Original radio
4. Some additional misc. parts
5. Factory workshop manual
6.Factory spare parts catalogue
7. Owners handbook in wrapper
8. Triumph restores guide
I bought this car just to drive, not to work on. That didn't happen right away. Took me a couple years, a little at a time, to get it there. Gets looks on the road, specially the kids. They don't know what it is. Runs really great, the heck with the interior. I'd be reluctant to drive it if it was any better. Holds a good 50 lbs oil pressure. It does leak oil when it sits. Front end is a tiny bit loose. It is in pretty original, antique condition, which I like better than newly restored. Never outside except when driven and never in the rain. I love this car and do not want to sell it, but I have to.
*I forgot about and just unpacked an overdrive unit I purchased off Ebay years ago from someone in Seattle. I may make this available with the car. |
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