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TR4/4A Vanishing TR4

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gsalt57tr3

gsalt57tr3

Jedi Warrior
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Some of the members in our all marque British car club have noted that there don't seem to be a huge number of TR4s around.

Our club has a good number of TR6s and TR3s, but only a couple TR4s. I also see it in car show entries. Dixon had a total of 18 TR2&3s, scads of TR6s but only 5 TR4s.

Has anyone else noticed this? Any explainations?
 
Global warming? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

Sorry, Bas!
 
Seems to me TR4s have been vanishing since the early 1970s, at least in the Northeast US and possibly other rust-belt areas. By then, TR6s were available new and already becoming "cult" cars, and the sidescreen cars were pretty well established as up-and-coming "cult" cars. As they seemed extremely prone to rusting, I think many TR4s were simply thrown away when they got too rusty. (I know that was the case here in the Northeast.)

As a long-time Michelotti fan, I'm thrilled to see interest FINALLY resurging in these cars!
 
I agree there don't seem to be as many at club activities as one would expect for the numbers built but I suspect that will change as rising values (incl values of TR3s & Healeys) motivate people to restore more of these cars.

Seems like many marques & models go thru this phase as values increase and other restoration candidates become less common or rougher condition.
 
tdskip said:
I'll admit to hording one...
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm hoarding two, but that's only because I usually have them both torn down and on stands.

I really still think they are out there, but they aren't as common as the TR6 and haven't completely hit the classic status of the TR3.

Randy
 
Have to admit that they are my favorite shape, which is why I am glad that I was able to find my 4 last year. I might be biased as I had a 4 and a 5 (sigh) back in the olde country many moons ago.
 
I was tempted to make a joke and say they have followed the money- gone to the states and provinces that produce oil like Texas or Alberta, or sold at auction to wealthy overseas investors from Hong Kong or Dubai!
There might even be some truth in that, but I have noticed more, not fewer, at our British Car Day in the last few years, about 15 last year, so I think some are emerging from restoration or coming here from other areas of the country. I must admit we had about 250 Triumphs and 300 MGs, so its not a big percentage, but at least enough to make a decent row of them on the grass!
 
Hi Folks;

This yr so far; I`ve attended 2 Brit car shows; "Britfest" and "Hope Lodge":

"Britfest" showed "4" - TR4`s; I`d say about a dozen TR6`s or more and at least that amount in TR2 & 3`s: MG`s, How many thousand would you like! Nothing Personal MG People:

"Hope Lodge" showed about 4 or 5 TR4`s; Same as above for the other Marques:

There are Two really nice shows coming up: This Weekend "Red Mill" and the following Weekend a big one in "Hellertown": I`ll repost the findings after ea. show; Kind of Interesting but there definitely does`nt seem to be too many of these Critters around; Thank God I have one!

Regards, Russ

PS: And I`m possibly thinking about "Trading" for a `61 TR3A RH Drive or a "Reproduction Porsche 356A"; Tell Me; Am I out of my mind?
 
Quite possibly... though the combination ownership of a TR4 along with a TR3A is really a nice fit. Two very different cars but one set of spares, manuals, skill set, etc.
 
I had a TR 4 in my twentys, the car was stolen and I still miss it. Last yr I had 8 boxes of British, British car mags(mostly Practical Classics,Popular Classics, and Classic Cars) which I've truley enjoyed. They are from 5 to 25 yrs old. I've noticed a lack of TR 4s in these mags. There is a difersity of cars we in the states can't even imagine.
 
Russ,

I was at Hope Lodge and here is a pic of the Michelotti corral; mine is the nearest red one with the budget paint job explanation on the windshield (I am now back to the paint and polish process). To the left of it is a supercharged TR250 and at the right is a very low mileage original TR4 (except for the chrome wires).

HopeLodgeMichCorral.jpg


I plan on being at Hellertown as long as the 4 continues to behave itself; no breakdowns yet - oops, that may have jinxed it.
 
All I can say is that I can claim credit for putting a 4A back on the road in the past year so I would like to think I am part of the solution. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

DOD's (Dear Old Dad's) '64 TR4 that he has had since '68 hasn't vanished. It is just hiding!!!
 
I agree with Andy and Simon. For a long time folks just didn't notice that the 4s were missing, now they do.

I think there are alot more in "hiding" then you think.
 
Hey TRDejaVu;

That TR250 Supercharged was a Pretty Nice Ride: They all are! That`s "KindofBlues" (Gold) TR4 (Thanx for watching My Cooler for Me): Yours looked darn good to me! Did "Kindofblue" get the "Diamond in the Rough" award? I asked him but No reply so, I don`t know?

Its not looking Good for the "Red Mill"; Their saying Rain from Fri - Sun; "BOOOOOOO"! But, Who knows: I`ll be there anyway as I`m Pre-Registered but If Its Raining; No TR4A:

See Ya All @ Hellertown; We have a Nice Caravan of BLC`s coming from the North:

Hey 4aKen;

Yesterday; I`m driving along in My "Mazda MPV Van" and stumble onto a "Sweet, Red TR250: Elderly Gent behind the Wheel / Local Car that I have Never Seen!! It turns out He`s the "Orig. Owner" of the Car! Talk about being Hidden Away & "Orig Owner" at that! That`s a One in a Million Shot! We`ll All be at "Hellertown"!

See Ya All Later;

Regards, Russ
 
I often here that the show I help run...The Iola Old Car Show... with a 1975 cut-off...is turning into a "used car show". Too many newer cars for many folks tastes.

We used to have 2000 cars and MOST were pre-war or early post-war cars. A 1960 or later would be the exception. Now we have MANY 1950's thru 1970's cars.

One reason is many of the older cars are owned by older people who don't get out to show their cars as much. (We have a 1907 Brush coming this year. The owner is in his 80's and we will trailer the car to the show for him). Another is many of these pre-war cars are now in collections and are no longer shown. When a single car is owned the owner is likely to have the car out more often.

Another reason is younger people are more likely to collect the cars THEY remember as a child...and those are newer cars.

The hobby is alive and well...but always changing.
 
mine is in "hiding". read---ground up rebuild/restoration/resto-mod. This car would not be considered a good starting point but it has local history (originally bought in vancouver canada (20 miles from my house)and has stayed here (british columbia). i also have a "donor" car wich will only be used for parts after i am done, but i figure bringing one back from the grave will be good for the conservation of a classic even though it will be upgraded with every possible modification (including a few tricks of my own) but still be stock appearing with all original-ish body metal (almost). It would be nice to find the original owner- any one out there buy new a 1962 triumph tr4 from bowmac on broadway (i think)-brg green,red interior with white piping and white soft top, steel wheels with hubcaps, CT8264 L, please contact me. at one point white "racing" stipes were added across the top hood and trunk on left side.
Rob
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]One reason is many of the older cars are owned by older people who don't get out to show their cars as much. [/QUOTE]

Start watching for estate sales...
They'll be back.
 
toysrrus said:
See Ya All @ Hellertown; We have a Nice Caravan of BLC`s coming from the North:
Click to expand...
If anyone is interested, perhaps we can "identify" the cars at Hellertown with our BCF forum names. At Hope Lodge, other than Kindofblue, who I had previously met, I don't know if I met anyone from BCF.
 
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