During the ‘40s and ‘50s the British sports cars ruled the roads. Jaguars, Triumphs and MGs provided nimble handling and open air thrills. They also typically had head-turning style with their curvaceous bodies, low windscreens and large wheels.
With only 2,000 ever made -- and of those just 660 imported to the U.S. -- the Triumph 2000 roadster is a rare treat. This elegant British roadster could seat five people in a rather unusual and fun fashion. Three…
During the ‘40s and ‘50s the British sports cars ruled the roads. Jaguars, Triumphs and MGs provided nimble handling and open air thrills. They also typically had head-turning style with their curvaceous bodies, low windscreens and large wheels.
With only 2,000 ever made — and of those just 660 imported to the U.S. — the Triumph 2000 roadster is a rare treat. This elegant British roadster could seat five people in a rather unusual and fun fashion. Three could ride inside on the bench seat while two more could hop into the open rumble seat (called a “dickey seat” in British jargon) that has its own flip-up windshield.
This beautiful example had a complete, high-end, frame-off restoration in the late’90s that still looks fresh today as it has only been driven about a hundred miles since then and has always been properly stored in a climate-controlled garage. All the restoration receipts as well as a complete tool kit that includes an air pump go with the car.
Refinished in a pearlescent Cream complemented by a tan convertible top and sparkling chrome elements (grille, headlights, bumpers, wheel covers) as well as wide whitewall tires, the Triumph has no problem getting double- and even triple-takes. Underneath is just as impressively clean and as a result the Triumph earns our “Lasagna Car” designation, meaning it’s so clean we’d eat our Sunday pasta off of it. In addition to the owner’s manual the car comes with a service manual.
Inside, the elegant genuine wood and leather-like trim brings you back to a time when craftsmanship was as important as the mechanical specs of a fine sports car. A special feature of this Triumph is the rumble-style seat that promises a fun ride for the kids (or kids at heart). It even has a windshield built into the deck lid that’s deployed when that rear compartment’s lid is flipped open.
Powered by a 2.1-liter inline four with around 70 hp matched to a three-speed transmission with a column shift (to allow three to ride up front), the 2000 Roadster is made for cruising along sun-dappled two-lane roads, not sprinting from red light to red light. This car harkens back to a time when the journey was meant to be enjoyed, not treated as a timed rally. Poetic ramblings aside, the engine and chassis numbers match and this Triumph runs as good as it looks.
*The following ratings were provided by the consignor, based on a scale of ‘Poor’, ‘Fair’, ‘Good’, ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’. (Excellent = 100% restored)