Page 110 - Classics Issue

RECORD BREAKING TRIUMPH TR2effects of his head above the tiny single aero screen opted to sit on a cushion on the foor, drivers in those days were know for being heroes and their bravery!Assembled press and local policemen who kindly closed the road,Richardson had a few attempts, and legend has it that on one of the early runs the car topped 100mph on only three cylinders after a plug fell off!Finally though Richardson pulled it off and smashed the record, attaining a speed of124.889 mph. Standard Triumph now held the record for the fastest two litre production sports car in the world faster than the Sunbeam and the Austin Healey.What captured the buying publics attention was that it achieved this momentous speed in a state of standard tune which was as close to the one you could go out and buy for £900 including all options and taxes, £12000 in todays money, not only the fastest, but the Triumph TR2 was also the most affordable.Other accolades followed, Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and an outright win on the 1954 RAC Rally, But the success of the TR’s reputation as a fast and affordable and rugged sports car for the “Everyman“ all began on that day and what was achieved in Belgium in May 1953.The Triumph TR might have gone on to greater accolades, but for the car that started it all, life would take a few cruel twists.It was used as a development mule by the factory before being sold. It was gradually driven into the ground before being taken off the road for a restoration that never happened in 1976 before being sold on again.The car was spread across many boxes of bits when Glen Hewett bought it a couple of years ago.The scale of the restoration was a massive task but Glen completed a completely stunning restoration as can be seen.