You can now book a one-to-one appointment (up to one hour) to view this lot at our central location between 16th and 30th July. Please contact Lionel on 07831 574381 / [email protected] to secure your appointment or to discuss the car in more detail. The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to strict COVID-19 guidelines and full instructions for arrival and inspection protocols will be given when making your appointment .Frequently acknowledged as "the best in the world", by bemused Marque specialistsA previousAuto Glym championand now abenchmark for Concours judgingThis was a multi-thousand hours restoration and it showsSuperbly presented in Wedgewood Blue over a Powder Blue interiorAccompanied by its rare Surrey Top and the car's storyWe urge you to make an appointment to view this remarkable TR in order to fully appreciate what can actually be achieved with steel, rubber, glass and paintWhen Michelottis sharp-suited new TR4 was unveiled at the London motor show in 1961, the car looked thoroughly modern, especially when compared with the old-fashioned TR3A that it replaced. However, the reality was that, under the skin, the car was still very much a TR3A as little more than the outer skin was actually new. Despite this, the TR4, and the TR4A that succeeded itwere among the fastest affordable sports cars on offer throughout the 1960s. Cheap to buy and run, the cars road manners, however, left a little room for improvement over the TR3A, despite the TR4 having gained rack and pinion steering, wider front and rear tracks to make it more surefooted, and an all-synchro gearbox. However, as stylish transport, they were pretty much unbeatable. All it cried out for, to compete with the new wave of saloon GTs was more power. Lots. The stock 2-litre GT6 engine was tried and, although smooth, was actually no quicker than the old tractor-derived four-pot. The answer was simple though enlarge the straight-six by a massive 500cc to give a lusty 2.5-litre and make it breathe easier. With a better cylinder head and wilder camshaft, the engine worked well, although it was a bit lumpy at low revs until fuel injection was fitted to better monitor fuel delivery. All this led, in October 1967, to the launch of the TR5. Outwardly the car was barely discernible from the TR4A, but the new engine, complete with Lucas fuel injection, turned the TR into a genuine performance car, with a handy 150bhp on tap. Because of strict emissions regulations in North America, the export version was hampered with twin carburettors instead of fuel injection, and cars destined for this market were badged TR250 instead of TR5. In truth, the TR5 was little more than a testbed for the new engine (which quickly found its way into the 2000 saloon). Realistically the car was effectively a stop-gap and only had to last around two years until Karmann had finished its work on the replacement, the TR6. However, with the benefit of hindsight, the TR5 is arguably the best of the lot, enjoying the great unsullied looks of the TR4 but with the raunchiness of the TR6.Offered here from The Anthony Hamilton Collection is a TR5 that has been frequently acknowledged as the best in the world,an Auto Glym championand abenchmark for Concours judging. Various marque specialists have been left bemused that a car could be taken to this level and remain thisstunning.The story of this TR5 come alive when it was purchased by a Mr McGowan of the west country who embarked on the exacting restoration. Suffice it to say that everything was completely restored but where this rebuilds differs from most is the quality of the paint finishes. The internal flitches to the engine bay have the same finish as the external surfaces, all engine parts and brackets have extraordinary paint finishes and are a deep gloss and the engine bay looks like it has its own lighting source. Although originally green, it's now finished in Wedgewood Blue and the interior has been retrimmed in the correct Powder Blue material. In common with every aspect of this TR, the dashboard,gauges and all the switchgear areperfect and the TR's (better than) showroom looks are set off by a matching Surrey Top.One of the signs of a quality engine rebuildon these early Lucas petrol injectedsix-cylinders is that when the car is started, it does indeed run instantlyon all six with no recalcitrant injectors, fuel pumps or metering units.This supreme TR5 does just that allowing the cold start pull to be instantly locked to half-on position untilwarm. The early TR5 and TR6shad 150 bhp which always felt like a lot more enhanced by a particularly melodiousexhaust note. Performance, even by today's standards, is more than adequate and, withoverdrive on every gear except first, progress is swift leading to comfortable cruising inoverdrive top.Here at Silverstone Auctions, we cannot eulogise enough about this stunning TR5 and the Surrey Top configuration makes it very special.You can now book a one-to-one appointment (up to one hour) to view this lot at our central location between 16thand 30thJuly. Please contact Lionelon 07831574381/[email protected] to secure your appointment or to discuss the car in more detail.The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to strict COVID-19 guidelines and full instructions for arrival and inspection protocols will be given when making your appointment.