From 1953 until the end of 1981, Triumph made a splash with a line of sports cars. The TR was the first sports car that Triumph made. Though the TR 2 was initially slow to catch on, it soon was discovered by sports car enthusiasts who turned the line into an absolute dynasty.
The TR 2 debuted with a 90 horse power engine that provided a fantastic weight to power ratio. Add to that how nimble the car was an exceptional value. Being very affordable drew in more buyers. Yes the car gave a rough ride but it was, after all, a proper sports car and then, as now, people often didn't buy one of those kinds of machines expecting a luxurious ride.
In fact, there was one group of sports car nuts who practically craved the hard riding TR 2: Americans. So crazy were they about this car that it became one of the best selling imports for the time.
When the TR 3 came out in 1955 it offered a slightly more powerful engine and slightly thereafter, standard front wheel disc brakes to help to stop the car. But why would you want to. It was a quick little car that was a blast to drive. And it was driven off sales lots to the tune of around 20,000 per year.
Italian styling came into the picture with the introduction of 1961's TR 4 that also offered rack and pinion steering, an all synchromesh gear box, a wider wheel base and such luxuries as wind up windows. By 1965 the TR 4A had an all new chassis with coil spring independent rear suspension.
Triumph's next move was to drop a 150 horse power 2.5 liter fuel injected six cylinder engine into the mix and call it the TR 5.
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