1967 Triumph TR5
Chassis CP1, first registered on 22 September 1967, is believed to be the earliest Triumph TR5 ever produced, assembled in the factory's Project Development department on 5 July 1967 ahead of regular production. As a press car it appeared in multiple 1968 magazine road tests. Later discovered to have survived, it underwent an exhaustive restoration completed in 2008 and has since covered fewer than 1,000 miles. The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust acknowledged CP1 as likely predating any car in their own records.
Ownership
- 2023-02-24Auction saleSold £36,000 (≈ $45K)
- 1967-07-05 →Factory deliveryPress/factory use (Triumph Motors)partial documentation
The car was assembled in Project Development and used as a press demonstrator, appearing in multiple UK magazine road tests during 1968. The original engine was reportedly destroyed during this period.
- 1993 →Private saleD.M. Bishopfull documentation
Purchased the car in poor condition as a restoration project and undertook a comprehensive restoration over approximately 15 years, finishing in 2008.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendor (Twin Sparks Collection)full documentation
Sought out this car specifically as the finest available TR5 to add to an existing collection; the car has been carefully maintained and has covered under 1,000 miles since the restoration's completion.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008Restoration
A thorough, ground-up restoration was carried out over a period of roughly 15 years, leaving no aspect of the car unaddressed. Before-and-after photographs documenting the work are held in the history file.
Work was commissioned and overseen by D.M. Bishop; the car was completed to an exceptionally high standard.
- —Repair
The original engine (numbered CP3) was destroyed at some point during press use; it was replaced with a different unit (CP28E), which is the engine recorded on the current registration document.
Whether the original engine failed in service or was removed and condemned by the factory after inspection is not recorded.
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