1955 Triumph TR2

In the early 1950s, Jaguar and MG defined the postwar sports car market. The TR2 was Triumph’s attempt to share in the spoils of that market against competitors like the Austin-Healey 100, a slightly faster car that was aggressively courting performance enthusiasts.

There never was a Triumph TR1. The TR2 was developed from the prototype “20 TS” introduced at the Earls Court Motor Show in London in October 1952—the same show that saw the debut of the Healey 100. The TR2 entered the market in early 1953. It quickly became renowned for reliability, good gas mileage, and commendable performance. In fact, thanks to a price tag lower than the Austin-Healey, and several race victories (including the 1954 RAC Rally), the car soon became a favorite with the public, who endured long waiting lists to acquire their own. Production continued until 1955, when the TR3 was introduced. In all, about 8,000 TR2s were made, most of which were...