1965 Triumph TR4A

The TR4 was a natural progression by Triumph to meet growing buyer expectations, especially those in its largest market - America.

The Triumph TR4 was produced from 1961 through 1964 and wore a strikingly aggressive body designed by Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti with the basic chassis of the prior TR3A. Passenger comfort was improved through the use of wind-up windows, an optional hardtop, and face-level ventilation. It used the 2,138cc engine of the late-production TR3A, with the 1991cc engine made available to buyers who participated in two-liter racing classes. The 2,138cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine had solid valve liters, two SU carburetors, three main bearings, and delivered 100 horsepower at 4600 RPM and 127 lbs.-ft of torque at 3350 RPM. The engine was backed by a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive, and there were disc brakes in the front, drums at the rear, and a rack-and-pinion steering system. The suspension was comprised of unequal-length A-arms in the front with coil springs. In the back was a rigid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.

Total TR4 production reached 40,253 examples.

In 1965, the TR4A was introduced and brought with it an all-new independent rear suspension system (IRS) that provided exceptional rear-wheel camber control with excellent wheel travel, which softer springs added to the ride quality. Between 1965 and August of 1967, Triumph built 28,465 examples of the TR4A, with about 75 percent equipped with the IRS setup. At the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring, three IRS-equipped TR4As achieved a 1-2-3 class victory.

The Triumph TR4A combines comfort and performance with refined Italian flair.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2020