Bringing the past back to life
Triumph World|December 2019 - January 2020
Robert Browett bought his 1967 TR4A in October 2012, but he has a history with the model which goes back to the 1960s.
Bringing the past back to life

Early Years 1952-65

My love affair with TRs started way back in 1952 when I was just nine years old. My father had just brought home one of the first TR2s to be released – he was managing director of H.A. Browett & Co. Ltd, Standard-Triumph distributors for Leicestershire and Rutland since 1931, and was delighted with the new car. He regularly took me out for drives after work in the surrounding countryside and I would hold on tightly to the passenger grab bar (no seat belts in those days) as we went along the windy roads, often at night. I loved this and often imagined I was driving, and so the seed was sown...

Once I was old enough to drive, my mother passed on her 1946 Standard Eight, which I took to college with me at Loughborough. Many epic journeys were made in that car during the summer holidays, including trips down to the south of France and into Italy where it attracted much interest. It was also incredibly reliable.

In my final year at Loughborough College I started to take an interest in a 1924 Standard that my father had bought in 1946 for company promotional purposes, and after coming to terms with the central accelerator position, I arranged to attend a Standard Register Rally organised by the factory at Charlecote Park in Warwickshire. A college friend of mine came with me and we had a great time, but unfortunately on the way back to Leicester the engine developed a big end knock that ultimately meant a full overhaul.

After finishing college, rather unexpectedly I was offered a job by Standard-Triumph in the USA, which of course I excitedly accepted and here begins another chapter.

Triumph USA 1965-67

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TRIUMPH WORLDView all
ZIGGY'S NO BANGER!
Triumph World

ZIGGY'S NO BANGER!

Good friends Paul Herbert and Chris Harding bought this Mk2 Spitfire in 2014 to use on a Banger Rally. Six years on they’ve still got the Triumph, and it is running better than ever.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February - March 2020
The right choice
Triumph World

The right choice

In 1978 a Triumph Stag would have been a brave choice as your only car, but after 41 years and getting on for 200,000 miles together, it was clearly the perfect fit for Malcolm and Vera Whitehouse.

time-read
8 mins  |
February - March 2020
THE GREY LADY
Triumph World

THE GREY LADY

In the mid-1930s the New Avon Coachbuilding Co started to build luxury saloons and no longer concentrated on building smaller open sports cars. Phil Homer introduces a luxury product of the era, a six-cylinder Avon on the Standard Flying 16 chassis, and explains why it wasn’t a success.

time-read
8 mins  |
February - March 2020
HAROLD THE HERALD
Triumph World

HAROLD THE HERALD

Over the last 20 years, Harold the Herald has been through five distinct phases of development. Now though, with owner Dale Barker going soft and transferring his favours to a big and comfortable saloon, Harold is looking for a new home.

time-read
9 mins  |
February - March 2020
APPRENTICE TR2
Triumph World

APPRENTICE TR2

History repeats itself as RHP 552 is handed over to apprentices – 64 years after the last time!

time-read
2 mins  |
February - March 2020
A LASTING PASSION
Triumph World

A LASTING PASSION

Lee Godfrey has featured in these pages before, but his enthusiasm for the big Triumphs remains undiminished. Mike Taylor talks to him about the model, his latest example and how the passion started.

time-read
7 mins  |
February - March 2020
A flurry of activity ends 2019 season
Triumph World

A flurry of activity ends 2019 season

H&H’s last sale of 2019 was at the Buxton Pavilion and offered 127 lots.

time-read
4 mins  |
February - March 2020
Herald Suspension Overhaul
Triumph World

Herald Suspension Overhaul

Thorough investigation turns into a major overhaul and a future-proofed Triumph

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2019 - January 2020
Hotter Rockets Launched For 2020
Triumph World

Hotter Rockets Launched For 2020

The world’s largest-capacity volume production motorcycle just got bigger.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2019 - January 2020
SPECIAL EDITION DOLOMITE 1500
Triumph World

SPECIAL EDITION DOLOMITE 1500

Andrew Burford reckons that a 1500SE represents the epitome of Dolomite design. Mike Taylor meets the man who likes to champion the underdog, and his ultra-rare example of Triumph’s evergreen Dolomite saloon.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2019 - January 2020