My 1962 Triumph TR4

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Will wonders never cease? There are actually some bargains still to be had on eBay. I was browsing TR4 material the other day and came across this Bentley workshop manual for the TR4 & TR4A for only $10 plus $3 shipping. You know I had to jump on that. Even if the condition turned out to be horrible the price would be worth it to have out in the shop. Turns out that, although ex-library as quoted, it is in excellent condition. I love the fact that this copy is old enough that it doesn’t even have an ISBN number. And the original $25 price printed on it was covered with a $35 sticker.

So, keep heart and no that if you watch long enough, you can find a deal now and then. But please, just don’t bid against me. OK?

Found this brilliant video of a TR4 being taken around the famous Nürburgring in Germany. It even mixes it up a bit with an unknown prototype race car.

What is especially interesting about this video, to me at least, is the shot of the short bulge hood. That and the narrator saying that only the first 800 had the short bulge.

Some cars I have had have been without a doubt either male or female. And now, for those dirty minded among you, it didn’t matter whether the car had a stick shift or not. Basically, by the way the car behaved, how it treated you, and how much attention it required you could figure out whether it was a lady or a gent.

Case in point, the 2002 MINI Cooper S I had was most certainly male. While it was one of the best cars I have ever had and I loved it dearly, it did have a decidedly brutish quality about it. From the bulldog cut of its jaw to the squat handling around corners, it was simply male.

The 1975 BMW 2002 I drove for a while was without a doubt female. In fact, she became the first car I or anyone in my family has ever had that got a name. Her name was Roxy – due to the surfing apparel sticker on her window when I bought her. Beyond that though, she was light on her wheels, dainty in the way she handled, and quite pleasing to look at. Most certainly feminine.

That leaves me with a quandary; is a TR4 male or female? Now a lot will depend on the specific car. One example of a model may feel totally different from another due to condition, suspension, tuning, etc… But in general, when they all left the factory, they were similar enough to be of one gender. If we are to believe the period ad to the right, we would assume the cars are probably male. And on the prowl.

So that is my inane thought process for the evening, and I would like your input. Please let me know what you think a TR4 is and why. And while you are at it, what about the rest of your cars? Any others that stand out in terms of name or gender?

I found a picture of what the car should look like when it is all done. Yes, I have a long way to go, but this is the goal! Of course there may be differences in a few places such as interior color, antenna and the like, but you get the impression. I need to get an original build report so I can see what colors the car had when it originally came out of the factory. I simply cannot wait to drive such a beauty on under the trees on a fine fall day.