HISTORY OF 4

Those interested in registration TR4 may wish to know its history .

The TR series issued by the borough of Southampton commenced in 1925- not as early as some number letters date to 1903 and TR1 was retained on the mayoral car.The early history of TR4is not known as the Southampton records were destroyed ,but it was issued on application to a Mr Thomas Morley of Nottinghamshire 1957 for the sum of £5. He anticipated the production of the TR4 and there is an interesting if incongruous photograph in the standard triumph review of his TR3A registered TR4. Morley subsequently transferred the number to later TRs including a TR6.

After his death, the registration was bought by another TR enthusiast Tony Roach, a man with corresponding initials, who nevertheless displayed on to a Honda 70cc motorcycle.

The registration then appears for sale at Elite Registrations during the 1976 Civil Servants strike, which related to the abuse of the cherished transfer facility and some including the autocrat, predicted its ending . The dealers panicked and the market collapsed and somebody took change in buying TR4 for a good price for TR4A. Eventually , the then minister of transport Neil Kinnock, was persuaded to intervened and allow transfers under stricter conditions- the Government recognising perhaps for the first time there was serious money in registrations. Th rest of course , of course , is history.

In no time a dealer was back with a tempting offer to buy it which was declined. The number was then transferred in 1980 to a proper TR4 to be regularly used and enjoyed . Often being asked which is worth more , car or plate ? Both car and number plate being kept in the family beautifully kept.