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1969 Triumph TR5 PI

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£37,520

  • Mileage~61,900
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine2.5L
  • LocationSt Agnes

SOLD

1969 Triumph TR5 PI

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Introduction

Jacob Boodrie
Professional Consigner

The TR5 was only produced for one year, yet it is a true British classic that offers an incredible driving experience.

Launched in 1967, the Triumph TR5 is often regarded as the most coveted of all TR models. Its design closely resembles the stunning TR4, crafted by Giovanni Michelotti, and it featured an innovative inline-six engine with mechanical fuel injection, making it the first British production sports car with fuel injection. This represented a significant advancement in both performance and technological sophistication. The Lucas Mk II mechanical injection system, while straightforward, proved highly effective and transformed the TR into a swift and gratifying sports car. Its independent rear suspension further enhanced its agility and provided excellent road-holding capabilities. Despite its many merits, the TR5 had a production run of just over a year, making it exceptionally rare. Additionally, due to its lighter weight compared to later models, it became the fastest TR ever produced.

This example benefits from a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration by Tim Kelly who is heritage approved and "five spanner award" from the MG owners club, with approximately ~350 hours invested and no expense spared. It was purchased by family in 1977 and used until 1988. For ~31 years, the car sat unused in a barn until it was fully restored over the course of two years in 2019. It is finished in the original colour of white (19) over black (11), and looks an absolutely beautiful example. It comes with its original log book and a heritage certificate.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting David the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Given a new lease of life, ~350 hours of care were dedicated to the car, in a complete nut-and-bolt restoration.

David is selling the car on behalf of his brother-in-law who purchased this car in London in 1977 and used it until 1988 when a fuel pump issue led him to take it off the road and store it in a barn. Thirty-one years later, the family decided to clear out the barn and have the car restored by Tim Kelly, a local MG specialist in Cornwall who is "five spanner award" from the MG owners club and heritage approved. The project took over a year to complete and involved a total nut-and-bolt restoration. The chassis was shot-blasted and repaired, the body was stripped to bare metal, new sections were fabricated, and new sills, door skins, and front and rear wings were fitted.

The original engine was in fairly good condition and was stripped down and rebuilt with new piston rings, big-end shells, gaskets, and oil seals. The clutch and water pump were replaced, and the suspension was completely rebuilt. The car was fitted with an upgraded Bosch fuel pump, along with six new injectors and pipes. Reassembled with new stainless steel bumpers, new Minilite alloys and tyres, and a new interior, the car is also equipped with a rare Surrey rear window and fabric roof conversion from TR Revington. The original hard Surrey top was not restored but will be included in the auction, along with the original Rostyle wheels.

Now that the restoration work is complete, David and his brother-in-law occasionally enjoys driving the car and currently keep it dry stored in David's barn, due to the condition of the roads around his brother-in-law's area. However, he feels he cannot give the car the attention it truly deserves and believes it’s time to part with it. He hopes to hand the car over to a true enthusiast who is looking for a fully restored example that’s ready to be enjoyed. David will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

David
Caretaker

David saved £6,660* when they
sold their Triumph with us.

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Exterior

Similar in appearance to the TR4, the TR5 has some subtle differences but still retains the classic look.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15" Minilite wheels, finished in silver, look great and give the car a sporty feel. During our visit, the wheels appear well cared for, with no sign of any obvious damage.

The wheels are fitted with Toyo 330 tyres, and these also appear to be in great condition, with a good amount of tread remaining and no visible cracking or signs of age on the sidewalls. The car has only covered ~400 miles since its restoration.

Bodywork

The bodywork of this TR5 looks in great condition, with all the panel gaps around the car appearing to align very well. During our visit, we didn't spot any obvious dings or dents around the bodywork, or corrosion either. As mentioned previously, the car had a body off restoration where the chassis was shot-blasted and repaired as required. You can see pictures of this in the "History and Paperwork" gallery, and as part of the restoration new sills and wings for the front and rear were fitted. The chassis and underside of car are clean as you would expect for a car that has only done ~500 miles since its rebuild.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in it's original colour of Triumph White (19), the paint is applied with even coverage and colour across each panel. As part of the restoration, the car was stripped to bare metal as pictured in the restoration. We did notice some very faint swirls in the paint on the offside front arch, you'll have to get really close to notice these.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this TR5 PI looks great and is in line with the mileage and restoration. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discolouration. The window seals also look good and align with the condition of the car.

The bumpers, door handles, and window surrounds are all in great condition as well. You can see in the exterior photos that the fabric top from TR Revington is in great condition, the original "Surrey Top" was not restored but is included in the sale.

Interior

The interior has been completely restored. a classic and charming appearance, a pleasure to sit within.

Seats and Carpets

The black leather seats were replaced during the restoration, they have held their shape very well over the years since, as you would expect from restoration. The original seats are available with the car and pictured in their original condition.

A similar story is told with the door cards and black carpets. For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look at the extensive media.

Dashboard

The dashboard is covered in a black vinyl and wood burl board, presenting six dials in front of the driver.

The dashboard in this TR5 shows no signs of any major damage or scuffs, and with no warning lights displayed. The odometer showed a reading of ~61,956 miles during our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A leather wrapped Triumph-badged Moto-lita steering wheel is fitted. The steering wheel is in great condition, aligning with the restoration of this car, and the black leather gearstick looks good too. For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail. The original Triumph steering wheel is sold with the car.

Mechanics

Rebuilt from the ground up, the 2.5L straight-six offered ~150BHP from factory, and boasted a 0-60 time of 8.8 seconds.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.5L straight-six from Triumph has been completely rebuilt during the restoration in 2019. It had new piston rings, big-end shells, gaskets, and oil seals. The clutch and water pump were also replaced. The car was fitted with an upgraded Bosch fuel pump, along with six new injectors and pipes. On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road, the engine pulled nicely, and ran without fault.

David reports that the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth manual four-speed gearbox powering the rear wheels. David mentions the car has Lucas fuel injection that has been basically tuned but a specialist could further improve the smoothness of the engine that is already running well. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the TR5 and the smart engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension is in good shape, offering a smooth ride on the winding roads of Cornwall. What you would expect as it was rebuilt as part of the restoration, view the images of the restoration in the gallery to see the detail.

On our brief drive, the car performed as expected for a sports car of its time, braking smoothly without any issues.

The Drive

With the roof down, the TR5 offers an incredibly fun and enjoyable driving experience. David has thoroughly enjoyed taking the car on road trips around his hometown during sunny weekends.

On the road with David, the car felt solid and responsive, with plenty of power to handle the drive. We didn’t notice any unusual noises from the engine or suspension either.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but David reports that, to his knowledge, all of the electrics are functional and operational, aligning with the overall condition of the car. The car has an original Radiomobile stereo unit fitted.

History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~47 year family ownership, this car has been brought back to original glory with a nut and bolt restoration in 2019, If you're looking for a fully restored example, we believe this Triumph TR5 is for you.

In September 2019, the car underwent a restoration by Tim Kelly MG Centre, a British Motor Heritage Approved specialist. The restoration involved an estimated 350 hours of work, David told us it was closer to 400 hours, including stripping the vehicle down, removing the body from the chassis, and having the chassis components shot blasted and painted. The chassis was repaired in areas with corrosion, undercoated, and sprayed in two-pack black. New inner and outer sills, front and rear wings, and a new front valance were fitted. The bonnet and boot lid were repaired, the body was de-rusted and stripped to bare metal, and new doors and a convertible top were fitted. The entire body was then resprayed in Triumph White (19). The restoration was competed in December 2020.

Once the bodywork was complete, the engine was stripped down and inspected. New piston rings, big-end shells, gaskets, and front and rear oil seals were fitted, and the engine was painted black. All suspension components were shot blasted and sprayed, and new suspension bushes were installed front and rear. Additionally, four new tyres were fitted, along with new carpets, seat covers, trim panels, and dashboard trims.

The car is coming out of a ~47 year ownership with David's brother-in-law, it comes with its original log book and a heritage certificate. The car retains its original charm and comes with its original parts along with the original surrey top. The car comes with a new black convertible surrey hood, 15" Minilite wheels, and a new Bosch fuel pump as part of the restoration. Take a look at this history and paperwork media to see the previous restoration quote, photographs and parts this TR5 PI has received over its life. The TR5 is tax and mot exempt.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
September 2019-December 2020 350 Hour Restoration Estimate
Key Details
  • ModelTR5 PI
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date06.02.1969
  • CC2,498
  • Mileage~61,900
  • ColourTriumph White (19)
  • Interior ColourBlack (11)
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #CP2500
  • Engine #CP2599E
  • RestoredYes (September 2019-December 2020)
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOTNo
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers1
  • Tyre TreadGreat
  • Tyre BrandToyo
  • Tyre Age2019
  • Security SysYes
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~47 year family ownership
  • Key FeatureCondition
  • Auction ID2080







Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions
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16 Comments
duckbeater
duckbeater
3 months ago

tvm

duckbeater
duckbeater
3 months ago

Thanks and the unleaded fuel ?

duckbeater
duckbeater
3 months ago

Could I also ask if there is any movement on the drivers seat, I am a big lad nowadays unfortunately so a couple of inches backward slide might be required.

duckbeater
duckbeater
3 months ago

Could I just check it runs on unleaded fuel

mdalton10
mdalton10
  DavidHa
3 months ago

Thank you

mdalton10
mdalton10
3 months ago

Hi David would you arrange a MoT certificate for the successful bidder?

SteveG
SteveG
3 months ago

Hi David, I note the car has not moved much in the five years since restoration and it has no MOT certificate since being dismantled. I know legally it doesn’t need one as a heritage vehicle but for peace of mind?
Also there is no mention of the metering unit. I know from experience the metering units can be troublesome. Is this the original unit? Thank you
Steve

ColinB
ColinB
Admin
  SteveG
3 months ago

Hi Steve,

David has asked me to pass on his reply:

The metering unit was reconditioned with the rest of the fuel injection system. Car wasn’t finished until December 2020 and since then I have driven it regularly when roads are dry to keep it ticking over. The owner would most likely agree to an MOT as a condition of sale. Local garage and restorer can give confidence in integrity of car. Contact Trade Classics for details.

Thank you
David.

Alfietom
Alfietom
3 months ago

Is the car currently located in Cornwall? I remember seeing it for sale in the garage at Perranwell Station which I’m local to, I’m interested in the car but would like to give i a once over if it’s local. Thanks Simon

ColinB
ColinB
Admin
  Alfietom
3 months ago

Hi Simon,

We can help organise a viewing for you, if you could email us on hello@tradeclassics.com as we need to do some checks first.

Thanks,
Colin.

Huggy1952
Huggy1952
4 months ago

Hi, Please can you advise if the car is fitted with overdrive in 3rd and 4th gear? In the pics I couldn’t see any overdrive switch.
Thanks
David

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