Triumph TR5

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Built for one year only from 1967-68, the TR5 is the rarest and most sought-after of the Michelotti/Karmann-styled Triumph TR roadsters.

Virtually identical to the TR4, the TR5’s trump card lay under the bonnet which boasted a 2.5-litre straight-six fuel-injected engine developing around 150bhp. Triumph claimed in their sales brochure that it was the first British production sports car to feature petrol injection. This unit could propel the car from 0 to 60mph in just 6.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 125mph.

Standard equipment included front disc brakes, all-independent suspension, rack and pinion steering and a four-speed gearbox. Optional extras included overdrive, wire wheels and a Surrey Top with detachable roof panel. Only 1,161 were built for the British market, against almost 8,500 left-hand drive TR250s for America which were more or less identical but with carburettors in place of fuel injection. Only 535 TR5 models are still UK registered today and all are highly sought after.

Dating from September 1968, this TR5 has had just two owners in the last 28 years and appears to be in remarkably good and original condition throughout, having been Ziebart-protected from new (hence the discolouration you can see in some of the detail pictures on the website). It is showing some 79,350 miles on the clock which may well be genuine and is partially backed up by the large history file which extends back to the 1980s. As further testament to the correctness of the car, it is also extensively featured in Bill Piggott’s book ‘Original Triumph TR’.

Looking lovely in white with a black vinyl interior and painted wire wheels, it is equipped with a good soft top and also a desirable Surrey Top which allows not only wind-in-the-hair summer fun but also snug year-round motoring. Other features include a stainless steel sports exhaust (which sounds wonderful), electronic ignition, spin-off oil filter conversion, oil cooler, Mota-Lita woodrim steering wheel and a stainless steel luggage rack.

Clearly a cherished machine, it comes with many invoices to show regular upkeep including a full repaint in 1988; reconditioned diff in 1989; new front shock absorbers in 2001; reconditioned gearbox, new clutch kit, Bosch fuel pump conversion and new radiator in 2002; new suspension bushes in 2009; new clutch master cylinder in 2012 plus numerous other items. Said to drive beautifully with none of the creaks and groans that can affect poorly restored examples, it is MOTd until April 2016 with no advisories recorded.

TR5s have shot up in value in recent times with top examples now nudging £40k and it is rare to find one in such good order as this at such a sensible guide price. They are unlikely to get any cheaper so if you have ever fancied one of these charismatic six-cylinder roadsters, bid vigorously now or kick yourself for your hesitancy hereafter!

Please note that the V5C incorrectly records the engine number as 308A28 whereas it should be CP2928HE.