Triumph TR4 Vintage Race Car (1962)
Sale price: US $17,500.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Used | Model Year: | 1962 |
| Model: | TR4 | Vintage Racer: | Yes |
| Make: | Triumph | Modified Racer: | Yes |
Dana, North Carolina, United States
Vehicle description
This 1962 Triumph TR4 vintage race car was purchased by the Seller in February 2021 on Bring A Trailer from a broker/dealer who acquired the car through an R.M. Sotheby auction in 2020 with the sole purpose of flipping the car. The broker/dealer had no motorsports background and did not inspect the car prior to purchase.
The current owner and Seller, upon receipt and detailed inspection, found the car to have significant safety issues, including various large holes and cracks throughout both floors – clandestinely covered up by sheet metal cover plates and painted over. Additional safety and performance issues were identified which initiated a concerted 3-month repair, refurbishment, rebuild and refitting project.
The current owner and Seller has a 45+ year history in motorsports as an engineer-designer, team owner, series owner, track owner and driver. The Seller is also well-versed in British cars, owning an MG TC, TR3A, TR6 and Spitfire. To those points, the Seller has completed a full history of the car and has also completed a full race-prep, bringing the car up to conventional vintage car racing standards.
The car comes with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, a Bill-of-Sale, a clean Illinois Title, repair manuals, British Leyland TR4 competition manual, build and maintenance docs, engine- & head-work technical documents (engine and head prepared by Jack & Tony Drews in 2006), suspension build documents (again, Jack & Tony Drews), 25+ years of various receipts, 1989-2017 racing log books, and a comprehensive 28-year racing history chart of tracks, events, positions and recorded lap times (after 2003 with the introduction of AMB/MyLaps transponders).
Structural repairs to both floor pans were completed, including the installation of a re-enforced double floor plate for the installation of a Corbeau racing seat. A refit of the roll cage included Grade 8 hardware. A custom-made, solid walnut dash was fabricated, stained, sealed and outfitted with proper gauges, rocker switches and fuses. The stock windshield was removed and a custom polycarbonate racing windscreen was fabricated and installed, including a Wink 4-panel, wide-view racing mirror. Other specialized racing equipment has now been installed in order to make the car both safe and competitive.
The Seller notes that the 5-point racing seat belt harness has exceeded the allowable date of manufacture and will not pass Tech Inspection; they are NOT legal for competition and will need to be replaced.
History:
This TR4 holds chassis number CT15888-L. The date of build was 18 October 1962 and the date of dispatch from the U.K. was 1 December 1962. The car was shipped on board the vessel “American Chief” where it was received and processed by the Standard Triumph Motor Company Inc. of New York on 18 December 1962. The car was purchased by Mr. Donald Brick of Chicago (IL) from Continental Motors (Lyons, IL) in March 1963. Don Brick drove the car on the street until 1984. The car sat relatively idle for 4 years until he began modifying the car for vintage racing use. Mr. Brick’s first racing event was 26 July 1989.
The car competed in 55 vintage events under Don Brick’s ownership, racing at various mid-west tracks, such as Road America, Mid-Ohio, Heartland Park Topeka, Grattan Raceway Park, Gingerman Raceway, Brainerd Road Course, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and Blackhawk Farms. One event in 2004 was also recorded at Watkins Glen (NY). The car was campaigned by Don Brick from July 1989 through October 2005.
At the end of the 2005 season, Mr. Brick sold the car to Ken and Jonathan Suhre of Collinsville, IL. The father and son team immediate tore the car down and rebuilt much of the car, including a complete bead-blast of the steel body and repair of some rust issues found above the rear wheel arches. The car underwent a complete repaint in 2006. The Suhre’s campaigned the car in 2 events (2006) before recognizing that the car needed additional power and better suspension. Under the Suhre ownership, the engine was freshened with a more aggressive camshaft and the head ported and decked (Jack Drews). Jack and Tony Drews also provided competition front spindles/bearings.
Technical Specs:
During Mr. Brick’s ownership, there are 2002 records of suspension work by noted TR3 and TR4 specialist, Mr. Jack Drews. Mr. Brick also installed Laycock overdrive transmission, Tilton lightweight flywheel and racing clutch, and a Tilton brake bias balance bar. In 2003, Mr. Brick also had the engine rebuilt by Jack Drews.Don Brick sold the car to the father & son team of Ken and Jonathan Suhre in January 2006 who campaigned the car through June 2017.
Under the Suhre’s ownership, the 2.2-liter engine and head were rebuilt by Jack Drews, just prior to his fatal racing accident in 2006. Hand-written head-flow and engine notes by Jack Drews are provided with the sale of the car. Transmission synchros were also replaced in 2006. In 2009, the rear differential gearing was changed to 3.91 to better suit the overdrive transmission gearing. At that time, a Kingston limited-slip differential was installed and the rear axles and rear bearings were replaced with the “Southwick Conversion.”
The engine was again rebuilt (freshend-up) in 2009, 2010, 2011 and in 2012 by Abacus Racing (VA). The final engine rebuild was completed in August 2012. The transmission was last rebuilt in November 2011. The car has since competed in only two events.
Twin SU carburetors draw from a JAZ fuel cell mounted in the trunk. A custom radiator shroud and electric fan are installed to support an oversized 4-row aluminum radiator. Engine oil cooling is performed by a 16-row oil cooler with Aeroquip lines and fittings.
The engine and support features include: •1991cc engine (83mm pistons) bored to 2188cc (87mm pistons) •Carrillo rods •BFE race cam; Grind M24-106 (370 lift / 276 duration) •Jack Drews hand head port and matching (flow data included) •9.5:1 compression•Original build leak-down test at 2% •CM Canton Oil Accumulator •4-row aluminum radiator •16-row oil cooler with Aeroquip lines and fittings •High-torque; short-shaft starter •Nippondenso high-output alternator •Engine dyno report (March 2016) of 158 horsepower
NOTE – Given its limited racing use since the engine rebuild of 2012, the engine and overdrive transmission have approximately 3 hours on them.
May 2021 compression test results: #1 – 182; #2 – 185; #3 – 186; $4 – 185. May 2021 Leak-down test results: #1 – 13%; #2 – 12%; #3 – 12%; #4 – 13%.
The Panasport wheels and P185/65R15 Hoosier tires were new in 2016 and raced only once. The oil and filter were changed in March 2021. A new exhaust collector was installed May 2021.The race interior features an oil pressure, water temperature and voltage gauges with a Summit Racing tachometer. Controls include a pushbutton starter and fused toggle switches. The custom-covered (removable and washable) padded 6-point roll bar is a bolt-in unit and a 4-panel rearview mirror is mounted on the dash. A Corbeau racing seat with a harness is included. The car has undergone a fresh repaint in white with red accent highlights on the front valance and both side rockers.
The 4-speed transmission is synchronized on all forward gears and equipped with a Laycock overdrive unit. The transmission has standard gearing. Braking is provided from disc brakes in front and finned drums in the rear.Included in the sale is the stock windshield and various spare parts. Competition history dates back to 1989. Various receipts and quite a bit of great, valuable technical data accompany the car. Finally, a complete race history log has been compiled. I have 100+ photos of the car during repair, if you"re interested.
The current owner and Seller, upon receipt and detailed inspection, found the car to have significant safety issues, including various large holes and cracks throughout both floors – clandestinely covered up by sheet metal cover plates and painted over. Additional safety and performance issues were identified which initiated a concerted 3-month repair, refurbishment, rebuild and refitting project.
The current owner and Seller has a 45+ year history in motorsports as an engineer-designer, team owner, series owner, track owner and driver. The Seller is also well-versed in British cars, owning an MG TC, TR3A, TR6 and Spitfire. To those points, the Seller has completed a full history of the car and has also completed a full race-prep, bringing the car up to conventional vintage car racing standards.
The car comes with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, a Bill-of-Sale, a clean Illinois Title, repair manuals, British Leyland TR4 competition manual, build and maintenance docs, engine- & head-work technical documents (engine and head prepared by Jack & Tony Drews in 2006), suspension build documents (again, Jack & Tony Drews), 25+ years of various receipts, 1989-2017 racing log books, and a comprehensive 28-year racing history chart of tracks, events, positions and recorded lap times (after 2003 with the introduction of AMB/MyLaps transponders).
Structural repairs to both floor pans were completed, including the installation of a re-enforced double floor plate for the installation of a Corbeau racing seat. A refit of the roll cage included Grade 8 hardware. A custom-made, solid walnut dash was fabricated, stained, sealed and outfitted with proper gauges, rocker switches and fuses. The stock windshield was removed and a custom polycarbonate racing windscreen was fabricated and installed, including a Wink 4-panel, wide-view racing mirror. Other specialized racing equipment has now been installed in order to make the car both safe and competitive.
The Seller notes that the 5-point racing seat belt harness has exceeded the allowable date of manufacture and will not pass Tech Inspection; they are NOT legal for competition and will need to be replaced.
History:
This TR4 holds chassis number CT15888-L. The date of build was 18 October 1962 and the date of dispatch from the U.K. was 1 December 1962. The car was shipped on board the vessel “American Chief” where it was received and processed by the Standard Triumph Motor Company Inc. of New York on 18 December 1962. The car was purchased by Mr. Donald Brick of Chicago (IL) from Continental Motors (Lyons, IL) in March 1963. Don Brick drove the car on the street until 1984. The car sat relatively idle for 4 years until he began modifying the car for vintage racing use. Mr. Brick’s first racing event was 26 July 1989.
The car competed in 55 vintage events under Don Brick’s ownership, racing at various mid-west tracks, such as Road America, Mid-Ohio, Heartland Park Topeka, Grattan Raceway Park, Gingerman Raceway, Brainerd Road Course, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and Blackhawk Farms. One event in 2004 was also recorded at Watkins Glen (NY). The car was campaigned by Don Brick from July 1989 through October 2005.
At the end of the 2005 season, Mr. Brick sold the car to Ken and Jonathan Suhre of Collinsville, IL. The father and son team immediate tore the car down and rebuilt much of the car, including a complete bead-blast of the steel body and repair of some rust issues found above the rear wheel arches. The car underwent a complete repaint in 2006. The Suhre’s campaigned the car in 2 events (2006) before recognizing that the car needed additional power and better suspension. Under the Suhre ownership, the engine was freshened with a more aggressive camshaft and the head ported and decked (Jack Drews). Jack and Tony Drews also provided competition front spindles/bearings.
Technical Specs:
During Mr. Brick’s ownership, there are 2002 records of suspension work by noted TR3 and TR4 specialist, Mr. Jack Drews. Mr. Brick also installed Laycock overdrive transmission, Tilton lightweight flywheel and racing clutch, and a Tilton brake bias balance bar. In 2003, Mr. Brick also had the engine rebuilt by Jack Drews.Don Brick sold the car to the father & son team of Ken and Jonathan Suhre in January 2006 who campaigned the car through June 2017.
Under the Suhre’s ownership, the 2.2-liter engine and head were rebuilt by Jack Drews, just prior to his fatal racing accident in 2006. Hand-written head-flow and engine notes by Jack Drews are provided with the sale of the car. Transmission synchros were also replaced in 2006. In 2009, the rear differential gearing was changed to 3.91 to better suit the overdrive transmission gearing. At that time, a Kingston limited-slip differential was installed and the rear axles and rear bearings were replaced with the “Southwick Conversion.”
The engine was again rebuilt (freshend-up) in 2009, 2010, 2011 and in 2012 by Abacus Racing (VA). The final engine rebuild was completed in August 2012. The transmission was last rebuilt in November 2011. The car has since competed in only two events.
Twin SU carburetors draw from a JAZ fuel cell mounted in the trunk. A custom radiator shroud and electric fan are installed to support an oversized 4-row aluminum radiator. Engine oil cooling is performed by a 16-row oil cooler with Aeroquip lines and fittings.
The engine and support features include: •1991cc engine (83mm pistons) bored to 2188cc (87mm pistons) •Carrillo rods •BFE race cam; Grind M24-106 (370 lift / 276 duration) •Jack Drews hand head port and matching (flow data included) •9.5:1 compression•Original build leak-down test at 2% •CM Canton Oil Accumulator •4-row aluminum radiator •16-row oil cooler with Aeroquip lines and fittings •High-torque; short-shaft starter •Nippondenso high-output alternator •Engine dyno report (March 2016) of 158 horsepower
NOTE – Given its limited racing use since the engine rebuild of 2012, the engine and overdrive transmission have approximately 3 hours on them.
May 2021 compression test results: #1 – 182; #2 – 185; #3 – 186; $4 – 185. May 2021 Leak-down test results: #1 – 13%; #2 – 12%; #3 – 12%; #4 – 13%.
The Panasport wheels and P185/65R15 Hoosier tires were new in 2016 and raced only once. The oil and filter were changed in March 2021. A new exhaust collector was installed May 2021.The race interior features an oil pressure, water temperature and voltage gauges with a Summit Racing tachometer. Controls include a pushbutton starter and fused toggle switches. The custom-covered (removable and washable) padded 6-point roll bar is a bolt-in unit and a 4-panel rearview mirror is mounted on the dash. A Corbeau racing seat with a harness is included. The car has undergone a fresh repaint in white with red accent highlights on the front valance and both side rockers.
The 4-speed transmission is synchronized on all forward gears and equipped with a Laycock overdrive unit. The transmission has standard gearing. Braking is provided from disc brakes in front and finned drums in the rear.Included in the sale is the stock windshield and various spare parts. Competition history dates back to 1989. Various receipts and quite a bit of great, valuable technical data accompany the car. Finally, a complete race history log has been compiled. I have 100+ photos of the car during repair, if you"re interested.