1965 Triumph 2000 Mk1 O/D Group 3 Rally Replica

The Triumph 2000 was a mid-sized, rear-wheel drive saloon produced by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977 utilising the venerable straight-six first seen in the Standard Vanguard. However, the last of the six-cylinder Vanguards had a compression ratio of 8.0:1 which, with the increasing availability of higher-octane fuels, enabled the manufacturers to increase to 8.5:1 for the Triumph. This, and the fitting of twin Stromberg 150 CD carburettors, offered an improved power output of 90bhp. Standard transmission on the original car was a 4-speed manual gearbox and the monocoque body had independent suspension all round using coil springs, whilst the servo-assisted brakes were disc at the front and drums at the rear.

The car presented here is a 1965 Triumph 2000 Mk1 which was built by TR Enterprises of Nottinghamshire as a Replica Group 3 rally car for its previous owner. It was successfully campaigned in numerous events, including The Trial to the Nile in 2002 (full details are in the accompanying history file).

Ownership was subsequently transferred to the owner’s son, who was based in the US, but the car was seldom used there, and was eventually put up for sale. Our vendor purchased the Triumph and imported it back to the UK, with all taxes paid, managing luckily to reassign the car’s original registration number. A subsequent full restoration was carried out, both bodily and mechanically, with invoices for much of the work in the history file. The aim was to return the car to the rallying scene, but a change in direction and age – of our vendor not the car - means this is now not to be, not on our vendor’s watch anyway.

To emphasise its Group 3 replica status, a Safety Devices full roll cage, triple WEBER carburettors, Recaro rally seats, Cibie spotlights, 3-point harness safety belts and an overdrive upgrade were all utilised. Full instrumentation includes a tachometer and an original Halda Tripmaster, whilst all electrical systems are fused and relayed in the glovebox.

The car was fitted with new inner, centre and outer sills, a new front valance and the rear arches were repaired, all completed using genuine repair panels. When finished, the car was resprayed in white by the same repairer, in-all costing £8,000. The roof was then wrapped in blue to replicate the Work's cars of the era.

Mechanically, the work carried out included: Stag brakes with new discs, calipers, master and wheel cylinders, pads and shoes, new clutch and hydraulics with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear all working correctly. The radiator was re-cored, fitted with twin electric fans and further work included the replacement of the rear drive-shafts, overhauled LEDA adjustable shock-absorbers, suspension and strut bushes. The triple WEBER 40 DCOE carburettors were overhauled and set up by Northampton Motorsport.

The car is supplied with six Minilite wheels (with five new Vredestein tyres), plus numerous spares and 4x 5.5J steel wheels, a large history file including numerous invoices and reports etc. The car had an FIA/MSA Historic Technical Passport which is now out of date.

This is an opportunity to acquire a very well-sorted historic rally car, which has received much diligent investment and offers a huge amount of driving fun per pound.