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The long road to the Triumph TR4 - TRS, Sabrina and Co

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Created on April 10, 2020

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

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Triumph TRS (1961) - the further development for use at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1961, visually almost unchanged from the previous year

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Triumph TR 4 (1961) - front view of the press car

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - plenty of openness and optimum all-round visibility

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - the predecessor of the TR 4

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - the predecessor of the TR 4

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Triumph Michelotti Vignale (1958) - shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1958, this Michelotti "dream car" anticipated certain features of the upcoming TR 4

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Triumph 2000 'Italia' Vignale (1958) - exhibited at the 1958 Turin Motor Show - the shape was again significantly revised for series production

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Triumph Italia (1959) - Pre-production vehicle at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show, on the Vignale stand

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Triumph Italia Vignale (1959) - the 'Italia' coupé variant also designed by Michelotti

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Triumph TRS (1960) - the racing car for Le Mans 1960 with plastic bodywork

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Triumph TRS (1960) - View of the four-cylinder engine with two overhead camshafts, called 20X-Sabrina at the 1960 Le Mans race

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Triumph TRS (1960) - the 20X Sabrina twin-camshaft engine for Le Mans 1960

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Triumph TRS (1960) - the two racing cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1960 that were not classified due to insufficient distance

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Triumph TRS (1960) - entered in the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Triumph TRS (1960) - at full speed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1960

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Triumph TRS (1960) - Rainy atmosphere at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1960

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Two Triumph TRS on the Hunaudières at Le Mans 1961

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Triumph TRS (1961) - Conrero further development with elegant Michelotti dress

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Triumph TR4 (1961) - Presentation at the IAA Frankfurt 1961

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Triumph TR 4 (1961) - straight lines and an interesting amalgam of Italian and English design borrowings

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Triumph TR 4 (1961) - outstandingly successful by Michelotti

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Triumph TR4 (1962) - View of the interior, at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show

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Triumph TR 4 (1961) - Chassis and engine seen from the front

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Triumph TR 4 (1962) - View of the bare chassis

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - viel Offenheit und optimale Rundumsicht

Triumph TR 3 (1956) - der Vorgänger des TR 4

Triumph TR 3 (1956) - der Vorgänger des TR 4

Triumph Michelotti Vignale (1958) - gezeigt am Autosalon von Genf im Jahre 1958 nahm dieser Michelotti-"Traumwagen" gewisse Züge des kommenden TR 4 vorweg

Triumph 2000 'Italia' Vignale (1958) - ausgestellt am Turiner Automobilsalon 1958 - die Form wurde für die Serie nochmals deutlich überarbeitet

Triumph Italia (1959) - Vorserienfahrzeug am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1959, auf dem Stand von Vignale

Summary

As early as 1955, when the Triumph TR3 had just been launched as the successor to the TR2, the manufacturer was already thinking about its successor. The TR4 was not presented until 1961, but in between interesting prototypes, fast racing cars and some special models were produced that have almost been forgotten. This report looks back on the period from 1955 to 1961 and tells part of the development history of the Triumph TR4, illustrated with photos that have never been shown before.

This article contains the following chapters

The first solutions
The "Zest" and "Zoom" prototypes
A new engine
Second and third attempt with the TRS
The beautiful Conrero-Triumph
TR4 from late summer 1961
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

As early as 1955, when the Triumph TR3 had just been launched as the successor to the TR2, the manufacturer was already thinking about its successor. However, this had to be done without chief engineer Walter Belgrove, who had left the company unexpectedly. Nevertheless, work continued. And they finally led to the TR4, albeit much later than expected. In between, however, there were plenty of solutions and prototypes, most of which were forgotten. At Triumph, Vic Hammond took on the TR3 successor and gradually developed a prototype from 1956 to 1957. At the same time, Martin Tustin and Harry Webster from Standart Triumph developed a relationship with Giovanni Michelotti. An initial order was placed with the talented Italian designer, still through an intermediary. The promise was to build a complete car within three months for just 3000 British pounds. This seemed completely illusory to the standard Triumph people, but Michelotti, together with Vignale, actually delivered the desired prototype based on a TR3 chassis. The car was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1958.

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Images of this article

Triumph TR 3 (1956) - viel Offenheit und optimale Rundumsicht

Triumph TR 3 (1956) - der Vorgänger des TR 4

Triumph TR 3 (1956) - der Vorgänger des TR 4

Triumph Michelotti Vignale (1958) - gezeigt am Autosalon von Genf im Jahre 1958 nahm dieser Michelotti-"Traumwagen" gewisse Züge des kommenden TR 4 vorweg

Triumph 2000 'Italia' Vignale (1958) - ausgestellt am Turiner Automobilsalon 1958 - die Form wurde für die Serie nochmals deutlich überarbeitet

Triumph Italia (1959) - Vorserienfahrzeug am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1959, auf dem Stand von Vignale

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