Despite Donald Healey's best efforts to reinvent Triumph as the British equivalent of Alfa Romeo, the firm was essentially bankrupt by the time war broke out in 1939. Subsequently revitalised by Standard impresario Sir John Black, Triumph was able to launch two new models - the 1800 Saloon and 1800 Roadster - during 1946. Styled by Frank Callaby, the latter was a flamboyant mix of 1930s styling cues and boasted what was reputedly the last dickie seat to be incorporated into a production car. Bodied in 'Birmabright' aluminium alloy over ash (save for its steel pontoon front wings), the Roadster was underpinned by a tubular ladder-frame chassis featuring independent front suspension, a 'live' rear axle and four-wheel drum brakes. Powered by a 1776cc OHV four-cylinder engine (shared with the contemporary Jaguar range) allied to four-speed column-change manual transmission, the model was reputedly capable of 80mph. Superseded by a larger-engined version in 1948, just 2,501 1800 Roadsters are thought to have been made.

According to its accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, this particular example - chassis TRD/1086 - was built to right-hand drive export specification complete with kilometres speedometer on 28th August 1947. An underbonnet plaque for Fergus Motors of New York suggests that the Triumph was resident in America for a while. Repatriated during the late 1980s, the Roadster had its engine overhauled by Maidstone Sports Cars during June 1990 (cylinder head refurbished, new valves / guides, fresh piston rings and big end bearings etc). Forming part of a private Irish collection for the last quarter of a century, this charming Triumph appears to be in basically good overall condition and started readily during our photography session (October 2017).

PLEASE NOTE: All estimates are subject to a buyer's premium of 15% incl. VAT (@ 20%)