Triumph TR5

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The Triumph TR5 was built for a 13 month period between August 1967 and September 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry, United Kingdom.

Visually identical to the Michelotti styled TR4, the TR5 hid the main differences under the body, and the most significant of these was the engine. The TR5 boasted a 2.5 litre straight 6 fuel injected engine developing around 150 bhp (112 kW). This engine was carried forward to the TR6.

At the time, fuel injection (or PI petrol injection, as it was sometimes called back then) was uncommon in road cars. So much so that Triumph claimed in their sales brochure that it was the "First British production sports car with petrol injection - PI".[3][4] This engine could propel the TR5 from 0 to 50 mph (80 km/h) in just 6.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). Road tests at the time got slightly different performance figures:

[table id=8 /]Standard equipment included front disc brakes, independent rear suspension, rack and pinion steering and a four speed gearbox. The available optional extras included overdrive, wire wheels and a hard top with detachable roof panel - known as the 'Surrey Top'.

In 1968, the basic price of the TR5 in the UK was £1,260 including taxes, with wire wheels being another £38, overdrive £60 and a tonneau cover another £13.[4]

Triumph TR5 with hardtop fitted
Triumph TR5 with hardtop fitted

The TR5 was produced in small numbers when compared with the later TR6, with just 2,947 units produced - the first car being assembled on 29 August 1967 and the last on 19 September 1968. Of these, 1,161 were destined for the UK market[6], the remainder being LHD TR5s and going to France, Belgium and Germany amongst others. In a similar period 8,484 TR250s were built for the U.S market.[1] At the end of 2007, there were approximately 500 TR5s registered in the UK with the DVLA.[7]

The TR250, built during the same period for the North American market, was nearly identical to the TR5. But, because of price pressures and emission regulations the TR250 was fitted with twin Zenith-Stromberg carburettors rather than the Lucas fuel injection system, and took 10.6 seconds to get to 60 mph (97 km/h).[2][8]

A curious feature of the TR5/Lucas petrol injection system was the very frequent occurrence of an intermittent power failure when the fuel tank was no more than a quarter full. In order to provide fresh fuel at the distributor, free from overheating/soak, unused fuel was returned back to the tank where it entered very close to the high pressure fuel pump. When the fuel level fell below critical (about 3 gallons), sloshing would cause the pump to pick up a slightly aerated mixture which was sent to the fuel distributor. Unused fuel (still aerated) then passed back to the tank and was discharged close to the pump, a proportion of it being picked up and recycled to the distributor. As this cycle was repeated, gradually the volume of air in the pumped fuel reached a level where it began to affect the running of the engine. Adding as little as one gallon to the tank seemed to cure the problem which did not manifest itself on the similarly engined contemporary saloon.

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Available colours:

Paint Trim

New White Black / Matador Red

Triumph Racing Green Black, Light Tan

Signal Red Black

Jasmine Yellow Black

Royal Blue Black / Shadow Blue

Valencia Blue Black / Light Tan

References

1. ^ a b c Original Triumph TR, Bill Piggott, ISBN 1-870979-24-9

2. ^ a b TR for Triumph, Chris Harvey, ISBN 0-902280-94-5

3. ^ a b c Original UK sales brochure, 387/168/UK

4. ^ a b Motor Magazine, 4 May 1968, Volume 133, Number 3437

5. ^ Triumph TR4, TR5, TR250. R.M.Clarke. ISBN 0-948207-53-1

6. ^ Triumph TR4,5,6, Michael Richards, ISBN 0-85429-816-9

7. ^ DVLA anonymised data providers

8. ^ Road and Track Magazine, December 1967

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
1 day ago

Første kolde forårsdag hvor vi igen kan køre vore Triumph idag dog indendørs' hos Haaning Collection ... See MoreSee Less

Første kolde forårsdag hvor vi igen kan køre vore Triumph idag dog indendørs hos Haaning Collection
3 days ago

Nogen her der ved hvordan man afmontere inder beklædning på døren, på en Triumph TR6 ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

Lad os byde vores nye medlemmer velkommen!
Mujanovic Sead
... See MoreSee Less

Lad os byde vores nye medlemmer velkommen!
Mujanovic Sead
7 days ago

Du kan stadigvæk nå at tilmelde dig besøget hos Haaning Collection på søndag:

Info@tr-register.dk

Adressen er Smørmosevej 16,
2880 Bagsværd.

En spændende og interessant oplevelse med biler, modelbiler samt knallerter. Er vejret godt så luft gerne din TR som vil pynte ved hovedindgangen.

Prisen er kr 145,- og et årskort kan købes for kr. 275,-

Der er mulighed for at købe kaffe og/eller smørrebrød

Vi mødes ved indgangen kl 10.
... See MoreSee Less

Du kan stadigvæk nå at tilmelde dig besøget hos Haaning Collection på søndag:

Info@tr-register.dk

Adressen er Smørmosevej 16, 
2880 Bagsværd.

En spændende og interessant oplevelse med biler, modelbiler samt knallerter. Er vejret godt så luft gerne din TR som vil pynte ved hovedindgangen.
 
Prisen er kr 145,- og et årskort kan købes for kr. 275,-

Der er mulighed for at købe kaffe og/eller smørrebrød

Vi mødes ved indgangen kl 10.
1 week ago

I øjeblikket er vi i gang med at lave et områdekort, så vi nemt og hurtigt kan få køretøjerne på plads til Britisk Motor Show 2024 - DK.

Det er fantastisk, at vi får professionel hjælp til dette arbejde.

Alle der er forhåndstilmeldt får områdetkortet tilsendt, så man kan danne sig et overblik.

Der bliver 4 indkørselsveje ind på området, så vi forhåbentlig undgår for meget kødannelse.
... See MoreSee Less