Registration No: VHN 177
Chassis No: TS2304
MOT: Exempt

• Acquired by the vendor, an accomplished engineer, during the Covid-19 Lockdown and treated to an exhaustive and wholly uneconomic restoration!
• Potentially eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica as a 'Long Door' plus other prestigious events
• Kept deliberately stock with the exception of the gearlever activated overdrive and hi-torq starter motor
• Bumpers come with the car (but are not fitted)
• Refinished in its factory colours (albeit with leather upholstery)

In the context of industrial Britain's post-war 'export-or-die' drive, the personal rivalry between Jaguar's William Lyons and Standard-Triumph's Sir John Black only served to increase pressure on the latter's new sportscar project. Unveiled at Earls Court in 1952, favourable public reaction saw Triumph charge Ken Richardson with the task of translating its Type 20TS show car (often referred to as TR1) into production reality. Embarking on an intensive research and development programme, he designed a bespoke chassis built around an eighty-eight inch wheelbase. Equipped with independent coil sprung front suspension, a live rear axle and all round drum brakes, it was powered by a revised version of the company's 1991cc, OHV Vanguard engine. Developing an unstressed 90bhp this torquey unit was mated to a four-speed plus overdrive gearbox. Differing from the Type 20TS in offering a boot and internal spare wheel location, the prototype TR2s proved unexpectedly fast as witnessed by the 125mph (race trim) and 105mph (road trim) maximums posted by Richardson on a closed section of Belgian Jabbeke highway in Spring 1953. Deemed ready, the first production TR2 emerged in July that year.

A decidedly rare survivor as an early, ‘Long Door’, home market, matching chassis and engine numbers example, chassis TS2304 was acquired by the vendor in July 2019. An accomplished engineer, he subjected the Triumph to an exhaustive and wholly uneconomic restoration during the Covid-19 lockdown. Off the road for decades, the TR2 had reputedly had its engine and chassis refurbished in the late 1980s / early 1990s but the wingless body was in a parlous state. The four-vent bonnet, boot lid and doors were present and the seller managed to reconstruct the tub using the renewed beams underpinning the ‘A’ and ‘B’ posts as fixed datum points. Not easily deterred, he spent three days refining the bonnet release mechanism. The completed body was painted on a rotisserie and the engine stripped to check that the earlier overhaul had been done properly. The gearbox and overdrive unit were rejuvenated and the propshaft balanced. The overdrive switch was incorporated atop the gearlever. The carburettors and fuel pump were renovated and a stainless steel exhaust system fitted. The original Triumph front wishbones did not permit camber angle adjustment and so were substituted for bespoke items which did. The project also encompassed the following new / reconditioned components: brake master cylinder / copper lines, aluminium fuel tank, copper fuel lines and matched sender unit, renovated (or new) instruments and drive cables, rejuvenated wiper motor, refreshed radiator together with Revotec Electric Fan and manual override and replacement wiring loom (changing the polarity to negative). The original dynamo was refurbished, a “hi-torque” starter motor added and new seat frames trimmed in leather to the original pattern. The previously re-chromed windscreen frame received new laminated glass and wind deflectors. A new hood, tonneau cover, fire extinguisher, Michelin X radials, carpets, headlights and sound deadening material were sourced too. Refinished in its original colours and potentially eligible for a host of VSCC events plus the Mille Miglia Storica, this delightful TR2 is worthy of close inspection.

A full photographic record was kept of the restoration journey as well as receipts for parts and sub-contracted work (panel welding and painting)

KEY ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION FEATURES:

• UK registered from new (Green Log book, Heritage Certificate), and restored to original factory colours and specification eg. drum brakes
• Eligible for VSCC events (current “buff form”) and Mille Miglia Retro
• Correct internal dual bonnet catches, painted bonnet and boot catches
• Fabric style piping (not chrome)
• 4 vent bonnet and correct internal catches
• Supplied with the car are: correct jack, side screens (In need of reconditioning), new front and rear bumpers (not fitted), workshop manual and owners handbook.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737