Featured model: TR250
The TR250 celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2008 as one of the rarest, most collectible and highest priced classic TRs. That’s a stunning reversal of fortune for a sports car that went almost ignored by the Triumph faithful for the first 25 years of its life. The 250, of course, slots in between the last of the four-cylinder-powered TRs, 4A and the much-loved TR6. The 250 was offered for one year, 1968, but it pointed the way to the TRs future.
The TR250 previewed not only the TR6’s silky smooth and great sounding six-cylinder engine, but also the TR6s luxurious interior. These were the right moves in a changing market. In 1968, Detroit was waging a horsepower war with its muscle cars, so the move from from the 4A’s 2,138cc engine to 2,498cc or 2.5-liter powerplant in the 250 played well with sports car buyers looking for more power. The 250’s big 15-inch red line tires — same as used on a Jaguar E-Type — gave the car a muscular look and stance. Inside, the 250 sported a new wood dash and gauges, better seats and upgraded materials. That took the TR upmarket, where it could legitimately lay claim to the slot in the market being vacated by the Austin-Healey 3000.
Still, American Triumph fans might have felt cheated with the latest TR. For surely they knew that in Great Britain, there was no TR250, but a TR5. And it had a fuel-injected version of the new 2.5-liter six, 150-horsepower and hair raising, Corvette like performance. That has caused Triumph fans to wonder why that car didn’t come here. There are two reasons why the fuel injection system never came stateside. According to Triumph’s former PR director, Mike Cook, the system would have added between $400 and $600 to the car’s $3,395 base price — and that would have thrust the TR into a market in which it could not compete. Not only that, but the Lucas fuel injection system was complicated to maintain, could be troublesome in temperature extremes and suffered from reliability problems. In retrospect, the choice of carburetors for the 250 was also the right one.
But while the TR250 lacked power compared to the TR5, it gained smoothness and refinement the old four-cylinder could never deliver. And had a number of special cosmetic touches to set it apart from its older siblings. The attractive reflective painted stripe across the bonnet, the black and yellow barber striped hoses, and glow-in-the-dark safety striping on the convertible top made the 250 special nonetheless.
The number made and sold is somewhat unclear. Triumph production figures show 8,484 TR250 being built in 1967-68. But in his book Triumph Cars in America, Mike Cook’s research of Triumph sales figures show only 6,913 sold. Perhaps the rest of the cars went to Canada, Mexico and other markets in North America.
In any case, the TR250’s reputation as one of the top collectible TRs is secure. This in-between model has found an enthusiastic following, and price for expertly restored models are now approaching $30,000.
–Written by Richard Truett
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