Triumph TR4

The Triumph TR4 is a two-seat open sports car produced by the Triumph Motor Company between 1961 and 1965. It replaced the TR3A and represented a major update in styling and usability while retaining the established mechanical layout of the earlier TR models. Body design was by Giovanni Michelotti, marking the first full production Triumph sports car styled by him. The TR4 used a steel ladder-frame chassis derived from the TR3, modified with a wider track to accommodate the new body. Suspension consisted of unequal-length wishbones with coil springs at the front and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Steering was by rack and pinion, replacing the earlier cam-and-peg system and improving precision. Brakes were disc at the front and drums at the rear. Power was provided by a 2,138 cc inline four-cylinder engine, an evolution of the Standard wet-liner unit used in previous TRs. In standard form it produced approximately 100 bhp. Induction was via twin carburettors. The engine was mounted longitudinally and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, with Laycock de Normanville overdrive available as an option on second, third and fourth gears. The TR4 body introduced several functional improvements over the TR3A. These included full-width doors with external handles, roll-up side windows, and a more spacious cockpit. The windscreen was fixed rather than removable, improving weather protection and structural rigidity. An optional Surrey Top system was offered, consisting of a removable center panel with either a fixed rear backlight or a folding rear section. Production totaled just over 40,000 units, with the majority exported, particularly to North America. During its production life, the TR4 underwent minor mechanical and trim changes but no major redesign. In 1965, the TR4 was replaced by the TR4A, which retained the Michelotti body with revisions and introduced an optional independent rear suspension.