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TR5/TR250 Ebay Triumph TR250 What do you thnk?

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SCguy

SCguy

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https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Awesome-1...=item2a0408c27c

I was really close to buying this car a few months back. If you know the cost of a complete restoration (my TR6 was $40,000 after 5 years by the time I took it back from my mechanic!) and you start adding up what's already been paid and the quality of the parts then the cost might not seem so bad.

What do you all think?
 
A lot of work left to be done. I would never buy a vehicle from eBay without looking at it first or have someone look at for you.

I guess that "back window" is part of a hard top?
 
It looks like a reallly nice car that even picky me would be proud to own. The bin price is not way out of line considering the work already done. And when complete would fetch much more.

I'd want to see all the rest of the parts before I plunked down my $$.
 
TR250 prices are not going down, and have been on a steady rise for many years now. Very rare car, and extremely hard to find nice examples.

Of course, it's totally subjective: it depends on what you want. This is not a correct car from a concours point of view. But, it's very nice and could be made a concours car (if that's what you want) with a bit of work and money.

If I was looking for a nice TR250 and was willing to pay retail for one, I'd give this one a hard look. <span style="text-decoration: underline">IF</span> it is as the seller indicates, most of the hard (i.e., expensive) work is completed and the price is reasonable.

Maybe a local LBC club member could inspect the car for you? If I was paying the asking price, I'd go take a good look-see, in person.

At any rate, someone's going to get a very nice TR250. This one could have the makings of a dream example, IMHO, with a little bit of work. :yesnod:
 
I'm sorry, in my book selling a partially complete project is always a "distress sale". How much he spent, and what his intentions were, have nothing to do with what the car is worth as a partial project.

Lots of aftermarket modifications that may or may not actually be improvements (are those Japanese carbs ?) from original.

All the trim is described only as "straight", which probably means it still needs rechroming or replacement ... why aren't there any pictures of it? Where is that "black plate" he is bragging about?

It may be worth what he is asking, but the auction sure doesn't prove it to me.

But perhaps I'm biased ... don't much care for pale yellow sports cars.
 
Actually, I think Jasmine looks mighty fine on a 250 - but it is puzzling why a restoration of this quality stalled like this. It would be better for the seller to cobble most of the parts together to get it running and sell it complete, even if if it still needed further refinement. Certainly would be easier to command that kind of money I think.
 
So my guess is that you'd be close to $40K to finish her Larry (including the asking price) to your high/great standards. But as said above I can't see high-end TR250 losing value anytime soon. They aren't exactly falling out of trees either...
 
Bruce Bowker said:
I guess that "back window" is part of a hard top?
Click to expand...
Bruce, That's the rear window of what is called a "surry top" the window itsself bolts to the body, and stays in place and the section over the seats is removable. Both hard shell and soft inserts were available for the center section. Complete surry tops are hard to find, and rather pricey if you do locate one.
Note: the TR4s Surry top was in production before Porsche ever had a "Targa top". The TR4 was also the first production car to have air vents in the face of the dash board. Something that's pretty standard now.
I'm with Randall.. The aftermarket parts on that TR250 (I.E. carbs and brakes) don't add any value for me.
Now if it had the Lucas Petrol Injection......eh.. probably better off with the original carbs..
 
Larry,

If you enjoy working on cars & can afford it -
go for it.If you have to pay someone to finish it -
forget it.
It does look like a nice one.

- Doug
 
I like it and have it, color and all /less the surrey top,and funky carbs, but that is just it you, the buyer has to like it !

That 250 would make a fine Napa cruiser
 
My tr4 was unfinished but not nearly as complete. The ower is a really nice guy. Genuinely passionate about this triumph. Firm on the price and probably correct that it's worth it. Personally I'm not crazy about the carbs, paint is clear coated. He has the sorted triumph transmission with over drive but was planning on doing the Toyota converstion. I spoke with pri who built the engine. Seems the engine has been done and sitting for a number of years. Pri said he would give me tech support for $. When it's all said and done my cars are awsome and I decide to pass on the project because of the unknown cost of completing it and my lack of time.

Just thought I'd share what is potentially a very valuable car and a fun, expensive project.
 
SCguy said:
Seems the engine has been done and sitting for a number of years.
Click to expand...
Well, let's hope it was better preserved than my buddy's MGA. Less than 2000 miles on a freshly rebuilt motor, and he ran off to join the Army. Thought he would have enough leave between basic & deployment to deal with the car; but I wound up getting a phone call from Germany asking me to do it. By then, the motor was locked tight; nothing I tried would budge it.

He eventually had to break the piston to get it out of the cylinder.
 
The carburator setup looks like a PRI job (Keihns/Mikunis?) which alone from PRI could cost up to $2500, or more. Their Stage One engine rebuild for a GT6 is about $5,000 and up (with shipping/ancillaries).

There may be good value in this car: IF in fact the engine was built by PRI, it's top quality. PRI is one of the most respected Triumph engine builders in the U.S. and widely known for their innovation and racing technology on Triumph engines.

PRI website: https://www.prirace.com/spitfire-carb-kit.htm

Buy the car, then sell the engine/induction system, get a "normal" 2500 lump with stock carbs, save a couple of thou?

Or not. :yesnod:
 
I think it's a pretty fair price for all of the work...would still counteroffer but the work looks like quality and if he has all receipts etc....all the hard work is done.
Looks like an easy and fun project...won't even get dirty.
 
This car is up on the Bring A Trailer site, interesting comments, as always...
 
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