III
TR4 - TR4A GLOVE BOX COMPANION
TR4's shared many components with the TR3A, and during TR4 production,
changes were made that carried over to the TR4A and beyond.
The U.S. market was always important to Triumph with most car production
coming here. For that reason, a version of the TR3A known as the TR3B was
sold in the U.S. along with the new TR4. There are some who feel that the U.S.
dealers were wary of a radically new model and lobbied to continue the side
screen TR. This gave dealers the opportunity to continue to sell the less
expensive earlier model along with the new TR4.
By the time the TR4A was introduced in the fall of 1965, a number of
changes had been made. A redesigned front suspension was fitted to the TR4A,
and this would continue on the TR5, TR250, and TR6. The interior continued to
evolve with the TR4A model featuring updated seats and interior trim. A wood
dash panel, offered as a special order for the TR4, became standard equipment
on all TR4A's. The simple top frame with a removable soft top found on the
TR4, was replaced by a combination top and frame assembly which folded down
behind the seats on the TR4A. A completely redesigned chassis frame was
found on the TR4A with some cars retaining solid axles and others getting the
new independent rear suspension (IRS) that would be later used on the TR5,
TR250, and TR6. On the outside, chromed trim appeared on the doors and front
fenders of the TR4A along with sidemarker lamps fitted to the front fenders.
Bonnet badges changed from the TR4 to the TR4A.
As noted above, production changes in the TR4 and TR4A overlapped with
previous models and with models that followed. Not until the TR7 in 1975 did
Triumph undertake to completely change the design of its TR range all at one
Introduction by John Swauger--Continued
TRF salesperson Danny Mabon drew this TR4 in between talking on the
phone to customers.
