1955 Triumph TR2

1955 Triumph TR2
California Car • Same Owner Since 1960 • Black Plate Survivor

Some cars have a story, and this Triumph has one that spans more than six decades.

This beautiful 1955 Triumph TR2 was purchased by its current owners in 1960 while they were living in Long Beach, California. According to the family, their neighbor, the original owner, sold them the car when he left to serve his country. Remarkably, it has remained with the same couple ever since.

Included with the sale is the original California ownership card issued in 1960, documenting the transfer into the current family's name. It also retains its desirable black and gold California license plates, making this an exceptional long-term California survivor.

Although built as a 1955, it was titled as a 1956, standard practice if a new car was first sold the year after production. As was also common on imported British cars of the era, the California title identifies the car by its engine number (TS7228E) rather than its commission number (TS6843L), which is the Triumph equivalent of a VIN. The Body Number is EB7039. You'll also notice the 1960 California title references the car's original yellow-on-black license plates. In 1963, California required motorists to surrender those plates in exchange for the now-iconic black plates with yellow lettering, which this Triumph still proudly wears today. The original 1960 California ownership card documenting the transfer into the current family's name accompanies the car.

The odometer currently reads just over 20,000 miles. While we have no documentation to verify the mileage, it is certainly possible and likely that it has turned over. If so, it has averaged only about 1,700 miles per year over the last 71 years.

The car had been stored since approximately 2021, and before offering it for sale we performed a proper mechanical recommissioning rather than simply trying to get it running, including the fuel system and carburetors cleaned, new ignition points, new battery, fresh engine oil and filter, and a general tune-up and inspection. We completed a complete brake system overhaul, including rebuilding the master cylinder, new brake shoes, pads, wheel cylinders, brake lines and new drums all around.

Today the car starts easily, idles smoothly, shifts beautifully, and drives exactly the way an honest TR2 should. It has excellent oil pressure, strong acceleration, and a wonderfully mechanical, vintage sports car feel.

Power comes from Triumph's legendary 1991cc wet-liner inline four-cylinder equipped with twin SU carburetors and backed by a four-speed manual transmission.

The engine is stamped TS7228E, which appears very likely to be the original engine installed in this car. According to the Vintage Triumph Register, original engines on late-production TR2s are commonly found within approximately 400 numbers of the commission number, this example is 385. This engine falls within that accepted range. While we cannot state with certainty whether it has ever been rebuilt, it runs exceptionally well with excellent power and smooth shifting.

The exterior shows well. The body is exceptionally straight and appears to have lived a remarkably rust-free California life. The car was professionally repainted in 2003 in its original color by Marshall's in Glen Ellen, California, a shop well known locally for quality work. The repaint included body disassembly and stripping while the body remained on the frame. The panel fit throughout the car is excellent. It rides on painted wire wheels wearing an older set of period-correct Dunlop SP20 165R15 tires. The top, tonneau, side curtains, and cockpit cappings appear original, though they may be older replacements. It's a nice-looking example ready to enjoy. Also included below is a fun photograph showing the car in the 1970s with its current owners before the repaint, providing a wonderful glimpse into its long history.

The cockpit remains wonderfully hone