Historic giant killer: the tiny but mighty two-seat Triumph TR2

Standard Motor Company boss Sir John Black had no ambitions to produce a giant-killing race car when he tasked his team with developing a replacement for the ageing and cumbersome Triumph Roadster, made from 1946-49.

So when the first TR2s rolled off the production line in 1953, they were expected to do little more than serve as reliable daily drivers that were fun, affordable and had a decent turn of speed. But when a team of Triumph engineers took a streamlined version to Belgium’s closed-off Jabbeke motorway in May 1953, the tiny two-seater touched almost 125mph in a high-speed run – and the following spring a trio of customer cars achieved first, second and fifth in the RAC Rally.

With the TR2’s unexpected potential revealed, the marque set up a competition department headed by Ken Richardson and, from 1954 until the arrival of the TR3 a year later, ’2s managed a string of successes at major motor-racing events.

These included the Alpine, Monte-Carlo, Liège-Rome-Liège and Nigeria rallies, as well as at the Ulster TT, Coupe des Alpes, Mille Miglia and even the Le Mans 24 Hours of 1955, where all three Standard Triumph works cars finished within the top 20.

All that makes a TR2 eligible for a whole slew of historic events today (including the Mille Miglia and Classic Le Mans) and, almost 70 years after production ended, well-sorted examples continue to demonstrate their versatility as practical sports cars capable of being daily driven as well as being used for long-distance touring, rallying or racing.

And if you’ve ever fancied doing some or all of those things in a simple, robust, characterful British roadster, this screaming yellow TR2 on offer with Wiltshire dealer Fender-Broad is well worth a look.

Compared with offerings such as the Ligier, March and Mirage endurance racers also on offer, the TR2 might seem something of a Cinderella – but company director Neil Fender can vouch for its worthiness, having personally owned and raced the car over a period of several years.

Restored and converted to race specification by a previous owner in 2008, the TR features an engine tuned to produce around 170bhp that drives through a race-prepared gearbox and axle which, when Fender last competed in the car, proved good enough for a top 10 finish at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting.

On the button and fully equipped for the track with rollbar and fire extinguisher the car comes with an FIA Historic Technical Passport valid until 2029 and is said to need nothing more than a “spanner check” to make it ready for competition.

It also remains road-registered, meaning there’s potential for long-distance on-road events ranging from Le Jog to the Mille Miglia, as well as the aforementioned Classic Le Mans in which it has previously competed.

The car is being sold to help fund the racing career of Fender’s 23-year-old son Angus and is being offered with a set of spares and “plenty of advice – if needed”.

1955 Triumph TR2

On sale with Fender-Broad, Holt, Wiltshire. Asking: £39,995. fenderbroad.com

Bentley Boys? Be an Alvis Adolescent 

• While Bentley 4½ Litres were doing the business at Le Mans in 1928, this ALVIS FWD, inset right, was among the field, driven by the 1927 race winner Sammy Davis alongside Bill Urquhart-Dykes. It finished ninth overall, second in its class. Fully restored, this is the only survivor of the 1928 Alvis works entries. It’s on sale at THE CLASSIC MOTOR HUB in the Cotswolds, £375,000.

• If you happen to be in the general area… the 40th anniversary of NISMO is being marked at the Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery in Yokohama, Japan. A mix of track and road-going cars will be exhibited until October 15, including the NISSAN R390 GT1 that was third at Le Mans ’98 and the ’92 Daytona 24 Hours-winning R91CP. Festivities continue at the 2024 Nismo Festival, Fuji, December 1.

• It’s not quite an Italian Job Harrington Legionnaire but this 1964 LEYLAND LEOPARD transporter with Plaxton Panorama body, has lugged its share of racing cars across Europe. It was converted in 1977 by famed Bentley racers David and Tim Llewellyn. There’s room for two cars inside. it’s at SHMOO AUTOS in Leicester: £45K.
• Interest in LANICA MONTECARLOS, FORD CAPRIS and TRIUMPH STAGS has seen “a huge surge” after appearing on the final ever show of THE GRAND TOUR, says AUTO TRADER. Ad views for Stags have gone up 793%.
• Addicted to video racing games? It might not be bad, according to HYUNDAI. Of 1000 GAMERS polled, 48% claimed gaming had made them better drivers than non-gamers. “And a third say it’s influenced their car choice,” says Hyundai UK chief Ashley Andrew. LG