Ex-works Triumph TR2 for sale for the first time in 47 years

By Lizzie Pope

| 20 Sep 2019

Classic & Sports Car – Ex-works Triumph TR2 for sale for the first time in 47 years

This Triumph TR2 finished 19th at the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours and later caught the eye of a royal – and now it’s one of the headline lots at Silverstone Auctions’ NEC show sale.

It’ll cross the block at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show auction on 9-10 November, where it’s expected to fetch £100-140,000.

Clockwise from top: the Brooke/Morris-Goodall TR2 leads the Claes/Swaters D-type; en route to a 19th-place finished; the TR2s of Dickson/Sanderson (#28), Richardson/Hadley (#29) and Brooke/Morris-Goodall (#68)

One of three works cars, PKV 374 was piloted by Leslie Brooke and Mortimer Morris-Goodall and was easily the fastest of the MGs and TRs – according to Autosport it averaged 90mph at that tragic race.

The car even survived being stuck in a gravel trap early on and despite gear-selection problems, fought on to take the chequered flag 19th overall, just behind the two other works cars.

It was enough to gain the car an admirer and the TR2 was sent straight from Le Sarthe to the late King Hussein of Jordan, in full Le Mans spec.

The following year he brought the car back to the UK, at which point it was finished in blue and white – the colours of Jordan – and was luxuriously upholstered, but by the end of ’56, the king had sold it.

A few owners down the line and the TR’s present custodian bought it in 1972, when it was in need of a lot of TLC – and so began a restoration to return it to its 1955 Le Mans specification.

The work was finally completed in 2000 and the car was then campaigned on the London to Istanbul leg of the Around The World In 80 Days rally, kick-starting its 21st-century competitive life.

After several HERO rallies, PKV 374 went back to Le Mans for 2005’s One Hour Legends Race, in the hands of Tony Dron and Nick Marsh, but it retired just six laps in with fuel problems.

Undeterred, the TR claimed a fifth in class, 23rd overall finish in the same event the next year.

“There is so much history with this car and after 47 years of private family ownership, the car is on the next stage of its adventure, of which it is no stranger,” said Adam Rutter, Classic Car Specialist for Silverstone Auctions.

“It has been in storage for four years and is now up and running but may require some further fettling to prepare it for competition.

“The history file is massive, there must be at least six box files plus folders and other boxes of articles. The car is now in our care and available for private viewings prior to the auction.”

View the full lot list for Silverstone Auctions’ NEC show sale here. And if you fancy a Ferrari or Porsche, you might be interested in their two dedicated sales tomorrow.

Images: Motorsport Images/Silverstone Auctions

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