1949 Triumph Roadster 2000

This car is offered from outside of the European Union. It has been imported under temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to Dutch import tax (9%) on top of the winning bid price. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% Dutch import tax plus 21% VAT on the hammer. If exporting immediately to another country, then tax/duty will only be paid in that country.

The winning bidder will pay €500 customs charge on top of the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, as their proof of purchase.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years and the only history or paperwork available is displayed in the photo gallery. In all cases the papers shown are photocopies unless otherwise stated. We do not have the original paperwork.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car and cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. The car is not registered anywhere.

It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

As CARS Europe BV is the guarantor of all customs duties and taxes for vehicles within Dutch customs bond, the car cannot be released until full payment received.

All storage charges (€30 + local VAT per day commencing from the sixth day following the auction end) must be paid in full prior to the vehicle’s collection or onward transportation. Collection and viewings are strictly by appointment only.

Please send an email to the storage centre to ensure vehicle(s) are ready at time of collection. Photographic ID will be required at time of collection. If a third party is collecting for you, then written authorisation is required in advance from you and photographic ID of the third party is required at the time of collection.

CARS Europe BV will contact you after the balance payment is received to confirm onward transport requirements. For enquiries about import tax and shipping contact Madam Joanna Herlihy, +31 (0) 252 682 526, +44 7483 433912, joanna@carseurope.net.

Chassis No: TRA813L.

Please be aware that the identification number (V59813ES) quoted on the copies of USA registration/certification document accompanying the car is, in fact, the engine number, not the chassis number.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this 1949 LHD manual Triumph 2000 ‘20TR’ Roadster comes with no history or service records beyond whatever is shown in the documents section.

It does, however, have an expired, original Virginia registration document and a copy of a Certificate of Title from when it was bought for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in New Jersey in 2008.

It has 19,752 kms on its odometer.

Judging from the various stickers and badges on the car, we believe it has also lived in Virginia, Michigan and São Paulo, Brazil.

We haven’t started or driven the car, so our appraisal of it is entirely based on its cosmetic appearance.

The car’s bodywork is free of any truly significant dents or creases and the doors slam home with a surprising amount of weight, authority and precision, but there are one or two issues.

There is a patch of rust just in front of the base of the front grille and some cracked and missing paint on top of the driver’s-side sill.

The rear, passenger-side wing has some bubbling at the top and some scuffs at the bottom.

Large flakes of paint have peeled off and fallen away inside the ‘boot’ lid.

There are some scuffs and cracked paint on the passenger door and the ‘A’ pillar on the same side, plus some scratches on the front wing – again on the passenger side.

There are also some scuffs, scratches and paint chips on the driver’s-side front wing and some rust in evidence at the bottom of the same wing and on the bonnet.

There is some bubbling in the driver’s-side ‘A’ pillar and cracks and flaking in the paint on the ‘boot’/dickey seat lid.

The hood is a little faded, worn and dirty but is largely undamaged and goes up and down as it should.

The condition of the interior is roughly commensurate with its external condition.

The black leather seats - front and ‘dickey’ - are really pretty decent and have survived the passage of time with commendable stoicism.

The door cards are also good.

The wood on the dash and door cappings has cracks to the lacquer or has lost its varnish in most places, but the underlying wood has survived relatively well.

The carpets, mats, dashboard and instruments are all rather dusty and dirty but don’t appear to be beyond salvation.

The rubber trim, though, has definitely seen better days.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the car.

The clean, dry engine and engine bay look fine and the undersides of the car appear to have plenty of structural integrity.

This car comes with virtually no history and no service records.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

No documents shown in the gallery in any way constitute any kind of licensing or registration certification unless otherwise stated.

This splendid old Triumph 2000 20TR is quirky, rare and really quite charming. We think it probably has enough innate quality to more than repay its next owner’s investment of time and effort - provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of €8,000 - €14,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in a bonded warehouse near Amsterdam. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.