1955 Triumph TR2

With an interesting history, ‘920 GRE’ is very far from your average TR2. How so? Well, it was purchased in 1967 by a Mr Osman-Barter and was later involved in a bit of a bump that damaged the offside rear of the car. 

The owner procured the necessary repair panels from Standard Triumph main dealers but then decided to seize the opportunity to modernise and upgrade his TR2 into something closer to a TR4, fitting the latter car’s headlamp surround and wings. 

Sadly, he then fell ill and his beloved sportscar was put into storage where it remained until his death. The seller purchased it at auction in 2019 as a project and wasted no time in removing the incorrect panels and refitting it as a TR2 using a combination of the panels that had been retained by Mr Osman-Barter and new OEM ones sourced from Stanpart.

A restoration followed – the original engine, gearbox, axles, chassis and more had remained fitted to the car - and the result is the delightful BRG over tan leather example you see before you here, which is being sold with no faults known to the vendor, and is reported to “run and drive well”.

The panels have clearly been fitted with an uncommon degree of diligence because their alignment and subsequent shutlines are excellent. They still run straight and true too, and are free of dents dinks, and other damage.

They also form the base for what looks like a high-quality respray in Triumph British Racing Green, an iconic choice of colour for an iconic British sportscar. 

A new and matching green hood and a pair of door tops were fitted too, and the Triumph comes with the option of using the Brooklands aero screens or the full windscreen, depending on whether the roof is fitted or not - and how dashing the driver is feeling.

Much of the chromework was re-plated as part of the car’s revival and this all still looks excellent, as do the lamp lenses with their LED bulbs.

The Triumph sits on a set of painted 15-inch wire wheels, and these have been fitted with a full set of 165R15 Yokohama GT Special Steel Notch Rib tyres, all of which have plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, there is a small scratch adjacent to the nearside front indicator and the tyres are showing signs of perishing due to their age.

The tan leather interior is all new and looks splendid, doesn’t it? It’s practical too because the piped front seats are as comfortable as they are supportive, and the suitably vast steering wheel has been fitted with a matching leather cover for extra grip.

The dashboard has been similarly trimmed and plays host to some lovely instruments from Jaeger, Smiths and Lucas, all of which are said to work.

The carpets present in good condition, and the leather-covered door cards are excellent.

Other nice touches include a tan leather gear lever gaiter, spliced rope door pulls, and a starter button.

The boot is as beautifully trimmed as the cockpit, and the spare wheel resides in a separate compartment underneath, a clever solution that eliminates any risk of it contaminating your luggage. 

As for work to do, the glovebox lid handle could be more elegantly fastened in place.

The majority of the mechanical systems were with the car and just need recommissioning or restoring. The work was as thorough as the rest and comprised:

• Rebuilding the braking system including new copper lines. 
• The clutch was replaced, and the master and slave cylinders overhauled.
• The twin SU carburettors were rebuilt. 
• The bottom end of the engine had apparently been overhauled during previous ownership. 
• Nonetheless, the vendor carried out a full recommissioning service with fresh oils and new filters. 
• A new wiring loom was fitted, and LED bulbs were installed for better lighting with a reduced current draw.

As you can see, its starts and idles well with a suitably fruity exhaust note.

The engine bay is also beautifully presented, and we can’t spot anything in there to do other than, perhaps, repaint the air cleaner covers.

As for the underside, we are told that some localised repairs were made to the chassis and a Moss tubular rear spacer was fitted in place of the original. It’s been rustproofed with wax and the chassis injected with cavity treatment. 

It certainly looks fabulous, with its black-painted chassis and body-coloured floor panels, doesn’t it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the seller ensured the DVLA reunited the TR2 with its original registration number of 920 GRE.

The TR2’s history file includes plenty of old bills as well as invoices from its current ownership, correspondence from the DVLA, a memory stick of images of the restoration, an RF60 continuation book and two workshop manuals plus an Olyslager manual.

Wonderfully, the file also includes a bill of sale from 1965, historical insurance paperwork, and a handwritten record of the car’s maintenance from the 1960s. 

If you were to describe your ideal Triumph TR2 we imagine it would read something like this: as few owners as possible, a rock-solid provenance, matching numbers, meticulously restored (probably in British Racing Green with a tan leather interior and wire wheels) and running flawlessly.

In other words, you’d be describing a car exactly like this one.

Which means the winning bidder will find themselves the proud owner of their ideal TR2 but at a far lower cost than if they’d bought a project and restored it themselves.

How much lower? 

Well, we estimate this one will sell for between £20,000 and £25,000, which, as anyone who has restored a car will appreciate, is far less than you’d pay to do it yourself.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Dewlish, Dorset. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.