Triumph TR5
Encyclopedia
The Triumph TR5 was built for a 13 month period between August 1967 and September 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company
in Coventry
, England.
Visually identical to the Michelotti
styled TR4, the TR5 hid the main differences under the body, the most significant of which was the engine. The TR5 boasted a 2.5-litre straight-6 fuel-injected engine developing around 150 bhp. This engine was carried forward to the TR6
.
At the time, fuel injection
(or PI petrol injection, as it was sometimes then called) was uncommon in road cars. Triumph claimed in their sales brochure that it was the "First British production sports car with petrol injection". This engine could propel the TR5 from 0 to 50 mph (22 m/s) in just 6.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 125 mph (56 m/s). Road tests at the time reported slightly different performance figures:
Standard equipment included front disc brake
s, 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.
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, 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. In Q1 2011 there were approximately 410 licensed and 74 SORN
TR5s registered with the DVLA.
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 mi/h.
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 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.
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England.
Visually identical to the Michelotti
Giovanni Michelotti
Giovanni Michelotti was one of the most prolific designers of sports cars in the 20th century. His notable contributions were for Triumph and BMW marques...
styled TR4, the TR5 hid the main differences under the body, the most significant of which was the engine. The TR5 boasted a 2.5-litre straight-6 fuel-injected engine developing around 150 bhp. This engine was carried forward to the TR6
Triumph TR6
The Triumph TR6 is a British six-cylinder sports car and the best-seller of the TR range built by Triumph when production ended in July 1976. This record was then surpassed by the TR7...
.
At the time, fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
(or PI petrol injection, as it was sometimes then called) was uncommon in road cars. Triumph claimed in their sales brochure that it was the "First British production sports car with petrol injection". This engine could propel the TR5 from 0 to 50 mph (22 m/s) in just 6.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 125 mph (56 m/s). Road tests at the time reported slightly different performance figures:
| Sports Car World October 1968 |
Cars & Car Conversions September 1968 |
Motor May 4, 1968 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50 mi/h | 6.2 s | 6.4 s | 6.3 s |
| Top Speed | 118 mi/h | 112 mi/h | 117 mi/h |
Standard equipment included front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s, independent rear suspension
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
, rack and pinion steering
Rack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
and a four speed gearbox. The available optional extras included overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
, wire wheels
Wire wheels
The rims of wire wheels are connected to their hubs by wire spokes. Although these wires are generally stiffer than a typical wire rope, they function mechanically the same as tensioned flexible wires, keeping the rim true while supporting applied loads.Wire wheels are used on most bicycles and...
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
Tonneau
right|thumb|260px|1903 [[Ford Model A |Ford Model A]] rear-door TonneauTonneau cover , describes a hard or soft cover used to protect unoccupied passenger seats in a convertible, roadster, or for a pickup truck bed. Hard tonneau covers open by a hinging or folding mechanism while soft covers open...
cover another £13.
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, the remainder being LHD
Driving on the left or right
The terms right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic refer to regulations requiring all bidirectional traffic to keep either to the right or the left side of the road, respectively. This is so fundamental to traffic flow that it is sometimes referred to as the rule of the road. This basic rule eases...
TR5s and going to France, Belgium and Germany amongst others. In a similar period 8,484 TR250s were built for the U.S market. In Q1 2011 there were approximately 410 licensed and 74 SORN
Sorn
Sorn is a small village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on the River Ayr. It has a population of roughly 350. Local services include: a pub, a church, a general store, a motorbike shop and a television shop. There is also a village hall and a bowling green and primary school...
TR5s registered with the DVLA.
The TR250
Triumph TR250
The Triumph TR250 was built between 1967 and 1968 for 15 months by the Triumph Motor Company in the United Kingdom, during which time approximately 8,480 cars were built, all of which were for the American market. Many can now be found outside the United States, primarily in Europe...
, 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
Lucas Industries plc
Lucas Industries plc was a famous British manufacturer of components for the motor industry and aerospace industry. It was based in Birmingham. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
fuel injection system, and took 10.6 seconds to get to 60 mi/h.
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 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.
Specifications
Taken from the UK sales brochure.- Engine: 2498 cc, 6 cylinder, 74.7 mm bore, 95 mm stroke, 9.5:1 compression ratio
- Turning circle: 10.1 m (33.1 ft)
- Ground clearance: 152 mm (6 in)
- Luggage capacity:
- Max width: 1180 mm (46.5 in)
- Max height: 510 mm (20.1 in)
- Capacities:
- Fuel tank: 51 litres (107.78 US pt)
- Engine sump: 4.53 litres (9.57 US pt)
- Gearbox: 1.13 litres (2.39 US pt)
- Acceleration in top:
- 30 to 50 mph: 7 s
- 40 to 60 mph: 7 s
- 60 to 80 mph: 8 s
- Standing 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) : 16.5 s
- Gear ratios:
Top 3rd 2nd 1st Rev. Ratios 1.0 1.33 2.01 3.14 3.22 Overall 3.45 4.59 6.94 10.83 11.11
- 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 |