Abandoned Project: 1955 Triumph TR2
Seeking the purest form of a particular car model is an obsession with some collectors, and that often means early-year production. First-year Lotus Esprits used to go begging (they really aren’t that great), but today Series I cars are the hot ticket. Prices of Ferrari 206s – despite an engine smaller than its 246 sibling – exceed those of later cars thanks to aluminum panel construction. So it is with the Triumph TR series. The first of these models was the TR2, launched in 1953. Production only ran until 1955 when the TR3 succeeded it, so numbers are in the 8000 area versus almost 75,000 TR3s – and as we know, survivorship is less than both these figures. Here on craigslist is a relatively rare 1955 Triumph TR2 project, with an asking price of $5000. Take a trailer to Wichita, Kansas to rescue her. We have the inimitable T.J. to thank for spotting this one for us – thanks!
The TR2 was the successor to the Standard Motor Company’s Triumph Roadster. Standard had purchased Triumph out of receivership in 1945 and shortly thereafter imposed a “one model” policy to trim production costs. As recovery from the war took hold, the company allowed Triumph its Roadster until 1949, then began working on a fresh sports car concept. A prototype called the 20-TS finally showed up in 1952, and though fast, the new car was heavily criticized for its lack of trunk space, poor ergonomics, and even worse handling. Refinements led to the TR2, bearing a 1991 cc in-line four and a four-speed manual gearbox with optional overdrive. An overdrive car could attain 60 mph in 12 seconds – decent for the day. The TR2 went racing quite successfully, laying a path for enthusiasts to undertake improvements like disc brakes and larger carburetors. No word on the condition of anything here – I guess photos are supposed to speak a thousand words.
The interior components are all present, including the side curtain anchors on the doors, the gauges and switches, cockpit trim, and that elegant steering wheel. The top bows are lying between the seats. Unlike the prototype, the production TR2 has a real boot with a cavity below for the spare.
Its restoration will require body work and paint, and no doubt the buyer will discover that he’s missing some parts. The asking price is challenging, despite these cars’ premium pricing over the more numerous TR3. The typical TR3 has drifted off to the mid-$20k area, while TR2s remain firmly over $30k, according to most recent sales figures. A talented do-it-yourselfer could make something of this car, but the seller’s abandonment of the project speaks volumes about the time and money involved here.
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Comments
It’s a rare car alright and the buyer’s build money is going to just as rare when done rebuilding this one. The pure lack of information on the car would make me rare right off the top.
Ha ha, well put. Many sellers believe that buyers should do all the work ie, make contact, see through their crappy preparation of their cars for the photo shoot, ask 25,000 questions because the seller provided zero information, come see, come get…. and pay in whatever form the seller wants. Those cars, unless they are fabulous and well priced, are going to sit on the market.
So so true. I attempted a TR2, an early long door #1134. Rear and nose panels are unobtainium, the rest are similar to TR3. I gave up and parted with it to a TR nut who had a fairly nice TR2/3 collection. Mine needed a rear panel where the spare goes as well as the cover for the compartment. Amazingly I bought it in boxes and everything was there, it left in the same way. Buyer beware on this one.
Meet the “midwives” tending to the birth of your “unobtanium” panels:
https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/panel-beating-at-the-piston-foundation-spring-kickoff/
“Unobtanium” parts can still be hand-made:
https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/panel-beating-at-the-piston-foundation-spring-kickoff/
Oh somebody with more time and money than sense please please please come along and save this poor little deserving car! It so wants to live again!! It just can’t be me . . .
Driving one of these is pure pleasure, especially on a sunny autumn day. Cruising along, enjoying the burble of the exhaust as you row through gears, hanging your left arm down over the door, scraping your knuckles on the pavement.
The grill is from a TR3 small mouth, and the holes for the trim piece also look like they’re placed for a TR3 one. Also, the trunk latches are TR3 style rather than TR2. I suspect this is actually a TR3 small mouth. The VIN would be interesting to know.
Shoppers,
This car has several questions. It has TR3 seats NOT TR2. Has wedge side curtains could be either model. Has a TR3 nose.
Does not seem to have overdrive as I cannot see the switch.
Everything is available for these cars but get new panels ti fit takes a lot of effort.
Again…after another look it does seem to have the older straight port head. Again either model a 2 or an early 3.
One needs go check the actual commission number to determine if it is a TR2 or early 3. Fifty years ago I thought I bought a TR2. Even the data plate said something like “Triumph Sports Type TR2” or similar words – but it was later determined to have been the 12th TR3 built and the former NY and L.A. auto show car. I paid $300 for it and drove it home!
Transition TRs are tough to ID without a VIN. I had the 102nd left-hand drive TR250 produced, and it had several TR4 bits, including the steering wheel and the chrome door pulls. Triumph firmly believed in using up all of the previous model parts until the bins were empty!