Triumph TR 2000 - 1949
— A Triumph designed with pre-war lines —- Model The first post-war Triumph roadster.
- Design A slightly dated design reminiscent of pre-war roadsters.
- Features A true 2+2, convertible and financially accessible.
- Bodywork A harmonious and interesting colour combination.
- Condition A good quality yet old restoration with an engine that needs to be restarted
The Triumph Roadster 2.000 is quite a rare sight on our roads, which is logical given its limited success in its day. The car that was supposed to re-launch the brand after WW2 has a slightly dated but not uninteresting style. On the other hand, the car stays faithful to what a small English roadster is about: not expensive, fun with a full leather interior and a wooden dashboard.
An affordable roadster designed to revive Triumph’s post-war fortunes.
Like most car companies based in countries that suffered from war damage, Triumph resumed production with cars that had been launched before WW2.
It did not prevent Standard Triumph from working on new cars, and in particular on the launch of a sporty, accessible and fun to drive car. This program was also aimed at ensuring profitability and turnover for the British firm, especially in the US. The American market was at the time a real target for all British car brands, especially for Jaguar and MG.
Sir John Black who was then managing Triumph was convinced there was a niche for a small roadster positioned between the beautiful and racy XK120, first produced in aluminium before being built in steel, and the MG TD.
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A dated and almost baroque style
So, it is the Triumph 1800 Roadster that will be in charge of re-launching the brand and seducing the US market.
Launched in 1946, the car has a unique yet slightly old-fashioned style. Its designer, Frank Callaby, designed a roadster with rounded wings, a large chrome radiator, imposing headlights, a folding windscreen and a “dickey seat” in the stern.
All of these features are reminiscent of the stylistic traits of pre-war cars. This slightly disconcerting style does not leave one indifferent; one might even ending up getting attached to it.
The bodywork is made of aluminium panels and houses a tubular steel chassis with independent front suspension.
Despite strong commercial ambitions, the Triumph 1800 and 2000 Roadster had a limited career. Indeed, only 4,501 examples were produced, of which about 2,000 were for the 2000 version, identical to the one in the ANNA LISA Art On Wheels collection.
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The Triumph 2000 Roadster from the ANNA LISA collection
In 1948 Triumph launched a new, more powerful version, the 2.000 Roadster, which featured the four-cylinder engine of the Standard Vanguard with a larger displacement of 2,088cc, from which the 2,000 took its name, instead of the 1,776cc.
With its overhead valves and inverted Solex carburettor, this 68 hp engine is coming from the pre-war Jaguar engines.
The RHD car from the ANNA LISA Art On Wheels collection was sold new in 1949 and was carefully restored in the late 1980s.It has an interesting colour combination of creamy white bodywork combined with a beige soft top and red leather interior. But it is likely that the car came off the production line in a gold colour.
The genuine burr walnut dashboard is in good condition, as is the clean white steering wheel, white gauges, soft-top and interior. All had been restored and have been preserved with great care.
The engine, which is not blocked, was probably rebuilt in the 1980s, which should guarantee an easy restart, which this rare car deserves.