Triumph TR2 Short door - 1955

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Model history and curiosity

The TR2 was designed to compete with MG sports cars in North America and to replace the underpowered Triumph Roadster, which had become obsolete. For these reasons, John Black, president of the Standard Motor Company, the group that owns Triumph, decided to start designing a new model. A prototype was then built, which was given the name 20TS. This model had the short version of the Standard Eight chassis installed and was equipped with the 2 L engine already mounted on the Standard Vanguard. This prototype was presented at the 1952 London Motor Show.

Black asked Ken Richardson to test the prototype. However, after the negative impressions declared by the driver, Black decided to redesign the 20TS, thanks above all to Richardson's collaboration. A year later, the evolution of the prototype was ready, which was called TR2. The new car had larger dimensions, and was equipped with renewed mechanics. Richardson's long refinement work and the successful line meant that the new roadster was enthusiastically welcomed by the public at its debut (1953), especially in America. The line, moreover, vaguely recalled that of the Jaguar XK120 cabriolet, although it did not lack its originality in the front (recessed grille) and in the side (with small doors, without handles). The first TR2s were characterised by the so-called small mouth, long door, that is, by the small recessed grille and the doors that extended to the lower part of the rear wheel arch panel. Subsequently, after the first 1000 units produced, the so-called small mouth, short door model was introduced, that is, always with the same small recessed grille, but with shorter doors. In 1955 the TR2 was replaced by the TR3.