Evaluation: Very good paint and chrome with a handful of chips. Beautiful interior. Clean, correct engine bay and underbody. A well-kept older restoration of a top-spec Triumph that was never sold in the US and never had any performance choked out from federal emissions regulations.
Bottom Line: The TR5 is the best of both worlds for Triumph fans in that it combines the TR4’s more attractive Michelotti-penned styling with the extra grunt and lovely sound of the TR6’s 2.5-liter straight-six. Over on our shores we got an Americanized version called the TR250, but here the Triumph six always came with twin Zenith-Strombergs and was down on power compared to the punchy fuel-injected TR5s in Europe.
Triumph sold fewer than 3000 TR5s so they’re rare anywhere and especially in America, so this well-presented and well-optioned (Surrey hardtop and wire wheels) car was a highlight even if it isn’t the most exotic or valuable thing in the world. This is a strong but fair price for it and for the new owner it’ll be a highlight at any British car show, at least to those who know what it is.
