1954 Triumph TR2 Roadster, Chassis no. TS4963, Engine no. 67963E, Reg: unregistered. Lacking a sports car capable of competing with those of rivals MG and Jaguar, Standard-Triumph engaged in a hurried design and development programme that bore fruit in March 1953 with the display at the Geneva Motor Show of the prototype TR2. A couple of months later the newcomer emphatically established its performance credentials when an overdrive-equipped prototype in touring trim ran at 114.9mph on the Jabbeke motorway in Belgium. Although the factory had no competitions programme at this time, that did not stop privateers from exploiting the TR2's obvious potential. The first notable example of this occurred in March 1954 when Johnny Wallwork entered his brand new TR2 in the RAC Rally, confounding the experts by winning this top-flight event outright. When Maurice Gatsonides and Ken Richardson jointly piloted another TR2 to 27th overall out of a field of 500-plus in the Mille Miglia 1,000-mile race, even Standard Triumph's non-competition minded directors realised that they were producing a readymade competitive car and had better capitalise on the fact. The newly formed works team's first event was the gruelling Alpine Rally, but despite the inevitably hasty preparation Standard-Triumph ended up winning the coveted and prestigious Manufacturers' Team Prize - one of the greatest successes of the TR's rallying career. At Le Mans, similarly, it was a privately entered TR2 that paved the way for the works team, Edgar Wadsworth and Bobby Dixon finishing 15th overall in the 1954 24 Hours, while a works-entered trio - sporting experimental disc brakes - finished 14th, 15th and 19th overall in the catastrophic 1955 event. Simply constructed, practical to own and offering 100mph-plus performance at a bargain price, the TR2 was an enormous success both at home and abroad, no fewer than 8,628 cars finding customers between August 1953 and October 1955. This example was fully restored over many years by previous owners in Bendigo in the late 1980s/early 1990s before being rallied to Adelaide on the Dutton Rally and sold there. In 1996 it changed hands in Melbourne and in mid-1997 the Melbourne Healey Factory undertook the supply and fitting of a TR3A overdrive gearbox. At this time the speedometer was repaired and the mileage zeroed. Soon afterwards the vehicle was placed in storage and not driven for the succeeding nine years due to ill health. It was acquired in 2006 by the current owner who has undertaken a complete re-commissioning, with invoices and a photographic record available. Ready to 'club race on Sunday, drive to work on Monday', this beautiful and rare TR sports car is reluctantly offered for sale to finance its owner's historic Le Mans campaign next year. It comes compete with ' hidden' sound system, new hood and two sets of side screens