Triumph TR5 PI

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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.

Visually almost identical to the TR4A but with many detail changes to improve crash safety, 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. Available as a soft top or with a Surrey hard top, optional extras included overdrive and wire wheels. Only 2,947 were built in total, of which only 1,161 were in RHD for the British market, against almost 8,500 LHD TR250s for America which were more or less identical but with carburettors in place of fuel injection. Only around 350 TR5 models are still thought to be UK registered today and all are highly sought after.

On offer here from a deceased estate, this TR5 was first registered in August 1968 and has had just two owners from new, the vendor acquiring it through his tailoring business in 1970 and then transferring it into his own name when his company was dissolved in 1993. A leading light in the TR Register, the vendor used the TR5 regularly during his long ownership and the car is well known among club members.

Appearing to be in totally standard condition throughout, the car has always been looked after by Blakedown Sports Cars near Kidderminster with a good file of invoices charting routine upkeep over the years. Other documentation includes a V5C, one old MOT issued in 2011, purchase invoice from 1970, various photos and press cuttings, a Cox & Buckles condition report on the car from 1980, some interesting correspondence with Lucas in the late 1980s relating to the fuel injection system, numerous old tax discs back to 1971 and an original owner’s handbook.

Only lightly used in recent years, an MOT history check shows that the TR5 only covered some 600 miles between 2006 and 2015 when it was laid up due to illness. Recently recommissioned and due to be driven some 40 miles to the sale, it started promptly and ran nicely as we moved it around for these photos. Perfectly usable as it is, this two-owner TR5 could be smartened up over time as desired and is being offered here at a very sensible guide price.