1968 Triumph TR250

Triumph's TR Series began with the unveiling of a prototype (the TR1) at the 1952 London Motorshow. The TR2 was launched the following year and began a long and uninterrupted run of two-seater Sports Cars that ended in 1981 with the last of the TR8s. The TR4 was introduced in 1961 as a replacement for the TR3A, using the chassis and drivetrain of its predecessor and introducing new and modern Michelotti-styled bodywork. Power was sourced from Triumph's overhead-valve four-cylinder engine with displacement increased to 2,138cc. Various other mechanical improvements included a wider front and rear track, an all-synchromesh gearbox, and rack-and-pinion steering. The optional overdrive now operated on second and third gears as well as the top gear.

The TR5 and TR250 were similar to the vehicle they were replacing, the TR4A, with the main difference being under the hood, which now featured a 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine replacing the tried-and-true two-liter four-cylinder unit. The TR250 was named '250' due to its engine capacity of 2.5 liters or 2500 cc.

The TR5 and TR250 were very similar vehicles. The TR5 was the European version, while the TR250 was the exported United States version. The TR5 featured a Lucas fuel injection system which, unfortunately, did not comply with strict United States federal safety and emission regulations. Modifying the fuel-injection system was costly, so a dual Stromberg carburetor was attached, and the TR250 was created.

With the introduction of the six-cylinder engine in the TR series, the Triumph management saw many opportunities. Their marketing slogan that year read 'Triumph over Conformity'. Due to the use of carburetion, horsepower was just over 100 and as a result, the performance was modest. Disc brakes were standard equipment that provided excellent stopping power. Zero-to-sixty mph took 10.6 seconds.

The TR5/TR250 continued the heritage established by the TR2. Sales continued to be strong in the United States for the small, simple, reliable, and pure sports car. 1967-1968 were the only years Triumph produced the vehicle.

A total of 8,484 examples of the TR250 were built along with 2,947 TRs leaving the factory between October 1967 and November 1968 (the TR5 and TR250 were built over an almost identical period of time).

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2005