A Sideways Look At The TR4

Andy Starkey sees a TR4 in rally action, and decides that despite the punishment it takes, the car is really in its element.

You’ve always fancied that British classic, a little piece of motoring history which you can keep pristine for a future generation to enjoy. Just think of all those lazy, hazy summer days cruising country roads to the next classic car show and then returning it to the comfort of a nice safe and warm garage. Sounds like the perfect dream, and one many of us would suggest is the only way to treat a classic car. The thing is though, for some people that just isn’t enough. Some people are more at home with pushing their trusty old steed to the limit, and sometimes beyond. Their idea of fun is to hustle their classic down tight, twisty and often slippery roads, Scandinavian flicking here, performing handbrake turns there and generally bouncing the engine off the rev limiter whenever the opportunity arises. These crazy – I’m sorry, I meant to say these dedicated – individuals are into rallying!

One such chap is Nigel Allcock, and he owns and rallies this Triumph TR4. ‘Is he completely mad, a TR4 rally car?’ I hear you say. Well no, not completely mad at least. The TR4 is certainly no stranger to rallying because back in 1962 there were some rather special ones developed by Triumph themselves to contest some of the most famous international events of the time. And if it wasn’t for the fact that the organisers were making these events more and more arduous by setting routes through ever more inhospitable terrain that needed greater ride height, the TR4 would have campaigned for longer. Instead, the Triumph 2000 and 2500PI were to take up the mantle after 1964 on these rougher events. So while the TR4 may not have quite the illustrious success in rallying as say, the BMC Mini, it is safe to say that it was no slouch, and it paved the way for other triumphant Triumphs in years to come. So, there’s a little bit of the car’s pedigree, what about the driver?