TR Resto

After some weeks and in between other interesting projects, already some progress could be seen, -a lot of new metal meeting old tin.

Certainly the panels, that could not be sourced from NOS (New Old Stock) provided many “amusing” hours of work to make them look and fit as they should. Moral: Stick with genuine panels, whenever you can.

Many a rebuilt TR suffers from badly done bodywork. While they were cheap cars in their days and nobody ever thought them being rebuilt 40 to 50 years later, panel alignment was not as shoddy as some restorers would like you to believe. Certainly the Triumph works had a pre-sales rectification department. Skilled people bending doors, bonnets and boot lids into shape with brute force and a block of wood even after the cars were already painted. Ex-factory rust protection was minimal and this shows especially on unrestored examples that have not had a sheltered life.

It’s well worth to pay that extra money to end up with tight panel gaps as source of joy for whoever will look at it later. To achieve this, a sound chassis is a must. For all alignment work on a TR4 it is not necessary to fit engine and gearbox for proper weight distribution, - on a TR5 and TR6 it’s crucial.

While most parts where fitted as intended by the factory, the opportunity was used to fit wing vents as per works rally cars to reduce under bonnet temperature for a hot engine.

Just look at the pictures, please.

Pictures: