1968 Triumph TR4A IRS
Subject to a ground-up restoration by the fastidious previous owner

Registration No: KCK 578F
Chassis No: CTC78590L
MOT: Exempt

• A highly desirable IRS model fitted with overdrive
• A US-market example imported into Britain in 2019 and converted to right hand drive
• Subject to a painstaking ground-up restoration in the previous ownership

Codenamed 'Zest', the TR4 was introduced in 1961. Although based upon the chassis and drivetrain of its much-loved TR3A predecessor, the newcomer cut a far more modern dash thanks to its all-new Michelotti-styled body. Power was provided by Triumph's proven 2,138cc OHV four-cylinder engine while mechanical updates included a wider track front and rear, rack-and-pinion steering and an all-synchromesh gearbox. The optional overdrive now operated on second and third gears as well as top. The final iteration of the TR4 was the TR4A, introduced in 1965. This introduced a number of small styling changes and upgrades to the specification but, more pertinently, some 75 per cent. of TR4As were equipped with independent rear suspension.

Resplendent in vivid Signal Red, this desirably-equipped 1968 TR4A recently benefitted from an extremely thorough restoration. Built as a LHD North American export model, it was originally Triumph Racing Green with Black leather trim and a Black hood, and was despatched on 8th March 1968. From the factory, its specification included independent rear suspension, a miles-per-hour speedometer, a heater and a tonneau cover. Leaving Swansea’s King’s Dock aboard the Halifax City, it crossed the Atlantic to retail through the Leyland Motor Corporation of North America’s Central Zone Office in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1993, it was acquired by David R. Loranger of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and he appears to have kept it until it was sold in 2019 through Massachusetts classic car dealer Blackstone Motorcars and subsequently imported back into Britain. By that point, it was in need of extensive restoration, and in March, 2020, the vendor entrusted the car to Target Engineering for the necessary work to be completed. Between then and March, 2021, a tremendous amount of bodywork restoration was undertaken, with many areas of bodywork being newly fabricated. New metalwork extended to the sills, floorpan, inner arches, A- and B-posts and beyond, and once completed the body shell was protected with the liberal application of stonechip to the underside and interior. The Triumph returned to Target in December, 2021, for the twin SU HS6 carburettors to refurbished, and in 2022 Target overhauled the differential with new seals and bearings, and replaced the rear wheel bearings and drive shafts. Target also undertook a right-hand drive conversion and fitted new wire-wheel hub adapters. By 2022, over £13,000 had been spent with Target alone, and many thousands more was spent on parts from nuts and built to suspension and brake components and new panel sections, many of which were sourced from well-known specialists Rimmer Bros. and the TR Shop.

The work was finally completed in 2023, but a further £1,323 was spent on the car with IK Classics in May, 2025. Still in excellent order through and through, it even boasts an MOT with no advisories until July, 2026 (though it is, of course, exempt from testing). The Triumph is to be sold with the current V5C, a BMIHT certificate, many invoices, a copy of the 2003 Massachusetts title, extensive correspondence with Blackstone Motorcars, the Triumph TR4 TR4A 1961-67 Autobook by Autopress Ltd. and a facsimile of the original Standard-Triumph Triumph TR4 & TR4A Workshop Manual.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430