BRM's test driver called the TR2's prototype a death trap, so Standard rebodied it before launch and a streamlined version hit 124.889 mph at Jabbeke.
Lead trim: TR2 2.0 wet-liner four (90 bhp)
Triumph TR21953–1955
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Triumph TR2 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactBRM's test driver called the TR2's prototype a death trap, so Standard rebodied it before launch and a streamlined version hit 124.889 mph at Jabbeke.
The Triumph TR2 is a sports car produced by the Standard Motor Company in Coventry from 1953 to 1955 (8,636 built), most commonly an open two-seater. Standard's Triumph Roadster was out-dated and under-powered, and Sir John Black, whose attempt to acquire Morgan failed, wanted an affordable sports car: the resulting Triumph 20TS prototype (a shortened Standard Eight chassis with the Vanguard's 2-litre four) was revealed at the 1952 London Motor Show, but BRM test driver Ken Richardson declared it a "death trap", and a year later the TR2 was unveiled with better looks, a simple ladder chassis, a longer body and a bigger boot. It was loved by American buyers and became the best earner for Triumph; "TR" stands for "Triumph Roadster". It has a 1,991 cc Standard wet-liner inline-four from the Vanguard with twin H4 SU carburettors, tuned to 90 bhp, on a separate chassis with coil-sprung independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung live axle, a four-speed manual with optional top-gear overdrive and Lockheed drums all round. An overdrive car tested by The Motor in 1954 had a top speed of 107.3 mph and reached 0–60 mph in 12.0 seconds, and the magazine noted the TR2 was the lowest-price British car able to exceed 100 mph; a streamlined "Speedmodel" reached 124.889 mph on the Jabbeke motorway in Belgium, and TR2s finished 14th, 15th and 19th at Le Mans. The TR3 replaced it in 1955.
Collectors Spotted in the Triumph TR2 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Triumph TR2 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR2 2.0 wet-liner four (90 bhp) | 1953–1955 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 90 hp | — | 12.0 s | — | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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