TRIUMPH TR4 – MD-42-93 (1964)

The Triumph, under registration number MD-42-93, was manufactured in England in September 1964. 16-06-2026 Direção Regional do Turismo

It was built according to the technical specifications requested by its first owner, who ordered it through the well-known local importer ‘The Madeira Supply Company Lda.’.

The memory associated with the Triumph TR4 stems from its participation in motor racing events, held in the 1960s, on the island of Madeira, driven by the well-known Madeiran driver Zeca Cunha.

Its participation in 1965, in the race “7ª Volta à Ilha da Madeira”, made history by securing the first victory achieved by a driver born in Madeira, in what would go on to become the longest-running European motor racing event.

This was followed by many other appearances in that race, and other motor races in Madeira, as well as in the Azores on the island of São Miguel (2nd place in 1965), and on the Portuguese mainland, where the car remained from November 1968 until 2014, passing through four different owners.

After 46 years on the mainland, there was a shift of fortune, and the Triumph came into the hands of a Madeiran who returned it to Madeira and began its restoration, enabling it to achieve its greatest victories and delighting thousands of motorsport enthusiasts.

The neglected state of the vehicle required a major restoration project that took almost five years to complete. The restoration work included repairs to the mechanics, bodywork and interior, as well as the electrical system and paintwork, with the car being changed to its original black colour, more than 56 years later.

Throughout this demanding process, the current owner prioritised the use of the vehicle’s original components, preserving and restoring them, respecting the car’s historical significance and opting for a meticulous and detailed restoration.

The Madeira Classic Car Club (CACM), organiser of the 2019 edition of Portugal’s largest classic car exhibition, highlighted the Triumph TR4, designating it, due to its historical significance, as the “Guest of Honour”, which allowed for its prominent display at the entrance to the event.

The competition jury members of the 2019 edition of the Madeira Classic Car Revival, awarded it the prize for best restoration, acknowledging the journey undertaken in its restoration and highlighting the work carried out by all those involved in the process.

At the 21st edition of the race ‘Rampa dos Barreiros’ in 2025, it finished in third place, having won in the Category F of the same competition.