TR2 restoration: It begins in earnest
It begins in earnest
A 1955 TR2 stripped for restoration, then offered for sale unfinished
Alfred E. Neuman began a ground-up restoration of a rough 1955 TR2, stripping the body to assess extensive rust and damage in the sills, floors, inner wings, and bolt-on panels. He documented the frame and body condition in detail and began sourcing replacement parts, but after three months of no progress due to work commitments, he put the disassembled, parts-tagged project up for sale.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Commission number
- TS5460DL (assembled in Ireland)
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Suspension & Steering 1
- Front disc brake conversion suspension parts
Complete set of front suspension parts purchased to allow fitting disc brakes instead of original drums
In the shops
Front 7.5" Disc Brake Conversion Kit (Mini) ↗
bpnorthwest.com· $1,347.18 USDFront Brake Disc for Herald and Spitfire ↗
TRGB· £15.35 GBP
Front Brake Disc - Mini 84 On, 8.4 Inches ↗
bpnorthwest.com· $19.49 USD
Body & Trim 6
- Replacement floors and inner/outer sillsMoss and TRF
New floors and sills bought to replace rotted originals
In the shopsTR2-3A Inner Sill L/H ↗
TRGB· £181.45 GBPTR2-3A Inner Sill Assembly R/H ↗
TRGB· £181.45 GBP
Rocker Panel, Left (Outer Sill) ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $45.75 USD - Hinges and hardware for boot and bonnet
New hinges and hardware purchased for boot and bonnet
In the shopsTR2-3A Boot and Bonnet Hinge Gasket (Large) ↗
TRGB· £0.66 GBPTR2-3A Boot and Bonnet Hinge Gasket (Small) ↗
TRGB· £0.44 GBP
Bonnet Hinge Return Spring ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $33.49 USD - Door latches and hardware
New latches and hardware for the doors
In the shops
Door Latch Screw (Reproduction Latches) ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $2.49 USD
Datsun 510 Door Latches ↗
Zedd Findings (Datsun Parts & Restoration)· 229.00
Hardware Package for FM Door Bushings ↗
Flyin' Miata· $3.99 USD - Weather seals and clips
All weather seals and clips purchased to fit doors, boot and spare tire lid
In the shops
Weather Strip Clip Tool ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £20.00 GBP
Inner Weather Strip Clip ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.95 USD
Clip, inner weather strip to door ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £0.96 GBP - Body mounting kitMoss
Kit purchased to remount body to frame
In the shopsTR2-3 Body Mounting Kit ↗
TRGB· £60.45 GBP
Thick Body Mounting Pad ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $1.55 USD
Aluminum Body Mounting Pad ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.25 USD - Dzus mounts and hood latch
New Dzus mounts and hood latch purchased for the bonnet
In the shops
Hood Latch (TR2/TR3/TR3A) ↗Betaset (France)· €21.95 EUR
Photos
17 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from It begins in earnest. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-01-19T09:48:33-0500 2this post at It begins in earnest ↗
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-01-19T09:56:04-0500 5this post at It begins in earnest ↗
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-01-19T10:41:12-0500 4this post at It begins in earnest ↗
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-01-19T10:47:37-0500 2this post at It begins in earnest ↗
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-01-19T11:40:28-0500 3this post at It begins in earnest ↗
Alfred E. Neuman · 2026-02-12T08:11:25-0500 1this post at It begins in earnest ↗
How it was done
Starting condition
The TR2 arrived covered in a strange silver overspray and fine grey dust, with every bolt-on panel needing work from both rust and old dents. The front fenders and bonnet were the worst, the bonnet being bent, rusted and oil-canned with no rear strengthening lip.
Stripping and assessment
Over following weeks the owner removed all body panels, wiring and the fuel tank, uncovering extensive rot in the inner front wings, A-pillars, sills, floors and rear valence closing panels. Cage nuts, hinges and windscreen mounting hardware were all found seized or damaged and had to be drilled or ground off.
Parts sourcing and planning
He planned to blast and epoxy-coat the tub panel by panel, use the better-fitting doors to build straight sills and floors, and check the frame for squareness before deciding between repair or a new Ratco frame. New floors, sills, hinges, latches, seals and stainless trim kits were bought from Moss, TRF and Macy's Garage, along with a front disc brake conversion kit.
Project halted
After three months without any shop time due to work demands, the owner decided to sell the project rather than continue. The car remained fully disassembled, bagged and tagged, with the dash and gauges noted as being in good condition, and was listed for sale with all accumulated new parts included.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at It begins in earnest ↗