RARE TR4! LARGELY ORIGINAL & READY TO BE ENJOYED NOW OR TAKEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

1963 Triumph TR4 Description

In the early '60s, American horsepower was taking off and Triumph (indeed, all of the British sports car industry) needed to modernize. Triumph, with limited resources, masterfully updated the TR3, using an all-new body shell and numerous creature comfort improvements to transform the TR4 into a car that could realistically be used every day. And as a result, cars like this 1963 TR4 became iconic in their own right.The dark green paint isn't quite British Racing Green, but it's quite attractive on the tidy little roadster bodywork. Actually, this car is a lot more substantial than the car it replaces and it might just be the most attractive 2-door sports car under $20,000 anywhere. The hooded headlights, lightly rounded fenders, and the power bulge on the hood, which is necessity not just styling, as it leaves room for the air cleaner on the dual carburetors, all of it makes the TR4 look a lot more expensive than it is. Finish quality is pretty good and the base stock was surely in great shape, because it fits together better than a lot of these cars that were abused and neglected. There are signs of use that are completely understandable, because this really is a daily-driver sports car that you can use regularly. Just imagine finishing a hard day at work and coming out to the parking lot to find this cheerful little roadster! You can get a better idea of the car's overall condition by looking at the chrome, which is probably original and still in good shape.There's little doubt that the tan leather interior on this TR4 is almost entirely original. For that reason alone, it's pretty cool, but don't expect perfection. Instead, think of it as broken-in, not worn out, with cool bucket seats with round lower cushions that make a really interesting design. Carpets, door panels, and the dash are likewise showing their age, but I don't know if I would be in a rush to replace any of it. The Jaeger instruments are still in good shape and the basic switchgear still manages all the secondary controls. No radio, no A/C, but that's why you buy a British sports car, right? What you do get is a beautifully crisp 4-speed shifter with a wooden knob and communicative steering that lets you clip apexes with ease. Plus, all the stuff inside this car is available from the aftermarket and it's all very inexpensive, so you can upgrade it over time and really add some value. The top frame stows neatly in the rear package area and there's a fair-sized trunk with full-sized spare.The 2138 cc inline-4 features dual carburetors and about 90 horsepower, so it's got a decent power-to-weight ratio. The engine is a bit grumpy when it's cold, but get those dual side-draft carbs warmed up properly and it runs through the rev range with gusto. It's been maintained rather than rebuilt or restored, and these are tough little engines, so go out and have some fun without worrying about it. The 4-speed shifts nicely and clutch take-up is crisp and the ripping exhaust note is what makes these cars so much fun on the open road. It's original underneath but not structurally compromised, just some surface rust, so it still works the way the designers intended and won't scare you with big issues later. Braking is confident for such a light car and it sits on painted steel wheels and Goodyear blackwalls that have an industrial-strength look.These cars are quickly finding new owners and prices are on their way up, so use this as an opportunity to own a traditional British sports car for not a lot of cash, one in which you can invest some sweat equity and have it pay off later. Call now!