328 Triumph 2000 TRA Roadster (1949) KKA 252 by Robert Knight Via Flickr: Triumph 2000 TRA Roadster (1948-49) Engine 2088cc S4 OHV Production 2000 Registration Number KKA 251 (Liverpool) Triumph Cars ALBUM www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/albums/72157623847263736/ The Triumph Roadster was first available as the 18TR from 1946-48, and updated to the TRA for 1948-49 model years. Triumph had been purchased by Standard in 1944, and managing director of the new Standard-Triumph company wanted to produce a sportscar that would rival Jaguar, who had used Standard engines in the pre-war period. The Triumph Roadster was penned by Frank Callaby who after getting draft approval for the shape worked with Arthur Ballard to design the details of the body while Ray Turner worked on the rolling chassis. Early post-war steel shortages meant that the body was built from aluminium, using rubber press tools that had been used making panels for the largely wooden bodied Mosquito bomber that had been built by Standard during the war., while the frame was hand welded from steel tube The engine was an enlarged version of Standards 1.5 litre four-cylinder side-valve design that had been converted to overhead valves by Harry Weslake and built by Standard exclusively for SS-Jaguar before World War II, but differing in having a lower compression ratio, and a downdraught Solex carburettor instead of the Jaguar's side-draught SU driving through a four speed box (synchro on top three ratios). The tubular steel chassis was a short-wheelbase version of the 1800 saloon, featuring transverse leaf sprung independent suspension at the front and a live axle with semi-elliptic springs at the rear. The rear track was considerably narrower than the front. Brakes were hydraulic. The body design featured large separate headlamps and the radiator was well back from the front between large coal scuttle style wings. Passenger accommodation was on a bench seat that was claimed to seat three: the car's 64 inch width helped make a reality of the three-abreast seating, and the approach meant a column gear change was required. The car's unusual width also made it necessary to fit three screen wipers in a row, an example followed by early shallow windscreen Jaguar E Types. Additional room for two was provided at the rear in a dickey seat with its own folding windscreen: this was outside the hood that could be erected to cover the front seat. The only significant update in the Roadster's production came in September 1948 with the arrival of the TRA for the 1949 models, when the 2088 cc Vanguard engine, A retrograde step was the fitting of a three-speed gearbox even though it now had synchromesh on bottom gear transmission, and rear axle were fitted. Apart from minor modifications to the mounting points, the chassis, suspension and steering were unaltered, On test the changes resulted in the top speed increasing marginally to 77 mph (124 km/h) but the 0-60 mph time was much better at 27.9 seconds The Triumph Roadster was heavily featured in the Channel Island based (Jersey) TV Police Series Bergerac, as the lead character Jim Bergerac's car. Diolch am 97,626,262 o olygiadau gwych, mae pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr. Thanks for 97,626,262 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated. Shot 21.08.2022, at Lupin Farm, Kings Bromley, Staffordshire REF 163-328
