1968 Triumph TR 250 #4494
SPECIFICATIONS
- MakeTriumph
- ModelTR 250
- Year1968
- Serial #4494-L
- Engine #2,498 Cc, Inline-Six Cylinder
- Engine Type2,498 Cc, Inline-Six Cylinder
- Chassis TypeSteel Ladder
- Number Built8,484
- Body TypeRoadster
- Body BuilderTriumph
- First OwnerUS Serviceman In Spain
- Current LocationCalifornia
We are pleased to offer 1968 Triumph TR 250 s/n 4494-L, from new in black with red leather, black top, air conditioning. Nicely restored by Triumph guru Dennis Wilson. Visually identical to the Michelotti styled TR4, the TR 250 was only built for 13 months between August 1967 to September of 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company and so is amongst the last of the iconic pre-rubber-bumper, pre-smog pump, non-catalyst British sports cars. Triumph long occupied the middle market in the British sports car hierarchy as bigger, faster, more sophisticated and more prestigious than MGs, but not quite at the level of the Jaguars. On the track Triumph was a class dominator, with the 1966 Triumph TR4As placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in class at the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring. While the TR 250 was built exclusively for the US market, many rust-free and damage-free US market cars found their way to overseas markets in the last few decades. 8,400 TR 250s were built but it is thought that only 600 TR 250s remain worldwide today with the majority of those in Europe.
The TR 250 was the low-cost yet high-performance sports car of its era, thanks to its 115 hp, 2.5 litre (150 cubic inch) straight-six engine, giving a 0–60 mph time of 10.6 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph backed up with a great exhaust sound and a fully-independent suspension. Standard equipment also included front disc brakes, rack and pinion steering and the nicely-spaced and smooth shifting four speed gearbox. With a list price of $3,395 for a new TR 250 plus another $118 for wire wheels and another $395 for the then-rare option of air conditioning, the TR 250 was the affordable weapon of choice for a generation of enthusiastic, open sports car loving baby-boomers.
Because they were popular, plentiful and passionately driven, few Triumph TR 250s survive undamaged or unmodified. 1968 Triumph TR 250 s/n 4494-L is a rust-free, damage-free Arizona car that was restored to its original colors and condition by Dennis Wilson of Wilson Motors of Washington, Missouri only two years ago. As confirmed by the Heritage certificate, TR 250 s/n 4494-L is a matching numbers car and was built on 10 April, 1968 and shipped to Standard Triumph Iberica S.A. Bilbao, Spain, the Spanish Triumph importer. Delivered new with a heater, black tonneau cover, 185 x 15 Goodyear redband tires, a mph speedometer and air conditioning as a dealer installed extra. As a US spec car it was probably sold new to a US serviceman based at the US Air Force SAC base at Torrejon (near Madrid) in Spain. The Triumph Motor Company officially offered only six colors from new, New White with black or red; Triumph Racing Green with red, black or tan; Signal Red with black; Jasmine Yellow with black or tan; Royal Blue with black or blue and Valencia Blue with black or tan making the black with red on TR 250 s/n 4494-L a very rare and attractive special-ordered color combination. The dealer installed A/C is a unique and user-friendly option.
TR 250 s/n 4494-L shows well, with excellent panel fit, near new high quality paintwork and obvious attention to detail in the restoration. All chrome, trim and lenses are excellent. The interior presents extremely well, with near new upholstery and carpets. The dashboard is equally nice, with excellent dash pad, instruments, and switches. The dash face wood appears as new and was redone with the correct level of gloss. The engine compartment is extremely clean, having been fully restored when the car was apart. The inner fenders and firewall are extremely clean, as is the engine itself. It is nicely detailed and reflects the quality and thoroughness of the restoration. The underbody and all inner panels are finished in their original black paint, the suspension and brakes were recently rebuilt, and the spare is a new and correct chrome wire.
The car is a joy to drive. It is an exceptionally solid example with none of the rattles that typically characterize the British sports car experience. The motor is potent yet still tractable with none of the peakiness or raggedness that characterizes hot-rodded motors and all the controls, gauges and switches work as they should. The transmission shifts very well and the suspension and steering are tight. Comes with an original owner’s manual, a new knock-off hammer, the correct wire wheel spare, its framed heritage certificate and it still carries the original body data tag confirming the unique color combination.
This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a thoughtfully upgraded and extremely solid TR 250. It must be one of the best driving TR 250s available in the US and embodies all of the pleasurable aspects of vintage car ownership. Smog exempt in most states. Will pass any rational pre-purchase inspection.
1968 Triumph TR 250 s/n 4494-L, from new in black with red leather, black top, air conditioning. Nicely restored by Triumph guru Dennis Wilson. 1968 Triumph TR 250 s/n 4494-L is a rust-free, damage-free Arizona car that was restored to its original colors and condition by Dennis Wilson of Wilson Motors of Washington, Missouri only two years ago. TR 250 s/n 4494-L is a matching numbers car. The black with red on TR 250 s/n 4494-L a very rare and attractive special-ordered color combination. The dealer installed A/C is a unique and user-friendly option. TR 250 s/n 4494-L shows well, with excellent panel fit, near new high quality paintwork and obvious attention to detail in the restoration. All chrome, trim and lenses are excellent. The interior presents extremely well, with near new upholstery and carpets. The dashboard is equally nice, with excellent dash pad, instruments, and switches. The dash face wood appears as new and was redone with the correct level of gloss. The engine compartment is extremely clean, having been fully restored when the car was apart. The inner fenders and firewall are extremely clean, as is the engine itself. It is nicely detailed and reflects the quality and thoroughness of the restoration. The underbody and all inner panels are finished in their original black paint, the suspension and brakes were recently rebuilt, and the spare is a new and correct chrome wire. The car is a joy to drive. It is an exceptionally solid example with none of the rattles that typically characterize the British sports car experience. The motor is potent yet still tractable with none of the peakiness or raggedness that characterizes hot-rodded motors and all the controls, gauges and switches work as they should. The transmission shifts very well and the suspension and steering are tight. Comes with an original owner’s manual, a new knock-off hammer, the correct wire wheel spare, its framed heritage certificate and it still carries the original body data tag confirming the unique color combination. It must be one of the best driving TR 250s available in the US and embodies all of the pleasurable aspects of vintage car ownership. Smog exempt in most states.
1968, 10 Apr., build date. Delivered new with a heater, black tonneau cover, 185 x 15 Goodyear redband tires, a mph speedometer and air conditioning as a dealer installed extra.
1968, 26, Apr., shipped from North Quay, London Dock aboard vessel “Pacheco” to Standard Triumph Iberica S.A. Bilbao, Spain, the Spanish Triumph importer. As a US spec. car it was probably sold new to a US serviceman based at the US Air Force SAC base at Torrejon (near Madrid) in Spain.
1968, June, first registered.
Imported to US.
2002, 02 July, title issued in ID.
2006, 04 May, title issued to Donald Waber, Green Valley, AZ.
2007, 27–29 Apr., British Car Days, Las Cruces, NM. Third in class. Don Waber.
2008, 28 Feb.–02 Mar., British Car Roundup, Rallye and Festival, Holiday Inn, Palo Verde, Tucson, AZ. Second in class, Don Waber.
Owned by Wilson Motor Company.
2011, 08 Feb., Certified Copy of Factory Record issued for TR 250 s/n 4494-L to Wilson Motor Company.
2012, 25, Oct., title issued to current owner, Longview, TX.
2015, July, on consignment with Mike and Colleen Sheehan’s Ferraris-online.com.
