Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale 2023 24th - 25th February 2023

182 Race Retro Classic and Competition Car Sale 2023 - Cars Registration: LHP 288F Chassis No.: CP1 Estimate: £55,000 - £65,000 Lot 479 1967 Triumph TR5 - The First Ever TR5 This delightful home-market, right-hand drive TR5 (#CP1) was first registered on 22nd September 1967 and, according to the TR Registry and TR Action, it is believed to be the first TR5 ever produced. While #CP2 is correctly described as the first Production TR5, #CP1 was built not on the production line, but assembled in ‘Project Development’ on 5th July 1967, implying it to be the first TR5 produced. Initially put to work as one of the few press cars, LHP 288F featured in many magazines in road tests such as Autocar (8th August 1968) in Spain and Motor 4th May 1968. Further evidence to support this comes from a letter within the history file from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, dated 1989, suggesting that the earliest car they have records of is CP/2, and they therefore speculated CP/1 to be the first Triumph TR5 PI, possibly built as a pre-production car or finished not on the production line hence their lack of records. The car was believed to have been destroyed or gone missing, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. The car had been purchased by D.M. Bishop in 1993 as a sorry state restoration project, and during his ownership he set about restoring CP1 to the highest of standards. As with all projects and restorations, this can take longer than expected, and the car wasn’t finished and completed until 2008, but the before/ after photos in the history file show no stone was left unturned in the work undertaken and it was worth the wait. Due to the outstanding condition and the understandable anxieties that come with a car of this quality, the car has covered less than 1,000 miles since its completion in 2008, but has been continually looked after in our vendors ownership to ensure it runs and drives perfectly. Possibly due to its less than sympathetic treatment whilst being used as a ‘press car’, the original engine (#CP3) was destroyed. It is unknown whether it blew up in usage or was inspected by Triumph, deemed unfit for purpose, and replaced with a new one (#CP28E) as is correctly registered on the V5. The history file is like a novel, with old MOTs, a few tax discs, original Workshop Manual Supplement, TR5 PI Owner’s Handbooks, TR5 Spare Parts Catalogue, plenty of invoices for work undertaken and parts ordered, some photographs of the restoration, and 4 magazines from 1968 that feature either the specific car, or adverts for the ‘new’ TR5 that was being released, which are always a fascinating read with the benefit of hindsight. There are just three former keepers with our vendors seeking out the best example of a TR5 to add to their Twin Sparks Collection, and evidently, they found the best candidate. Presenting in truly outstanding order, the Royal Blue paintwork is exceptional and truly pops in natural sunlight, the Biscuit leather interior is expectedly clean and tidy, and mechanically, as with the entire Collection, it is absolutely on-the-button. Even without the #1 TR5 built element to its name, this TR5 is exceptional, and to bring a TR5 to this standard would be near impossible without the stomach of a six-figure restoration. Add in the provenance of this car being number 1, and you’d surely find it impossible to find a better combination, possibly the ultimate TR5. END OF COLLECTION Offered from The Twin Sparks Collection. Believed to be the very first TR5 made, fully restored and a rightful representation of arguably the jewel in Triumph’s crown. Consignor: Harry Fox-Edwards Telephone No: 07398 872032 More Details Lot 479 Bid On Lot 479