A Look at baT Auction Success Story: A Red TR4, Reconsidered
Today’s Success Story, from BaT user kwaz023, concerns the 1965 Triumph TR4 that he won from BaT-MaN in a December 2025 BaT auction:
Much like purchasing our house over a decade ago, there were a lot of swings and misses as it related to my BaT experience. There were a handful of cars that I bid on; however, I always seemed to be outbid at the last minute. The only advice I could provide to those in a similar situation is: “persevere.”
I was notified via email that this TR4 was live. I glanced at the email, saw that the car was red, and moved on without a second look. There were a number of colors I liked on a TR4, but red wasn’t one of them. Two days before the auction ended, I glanced again at the listing. The long-term ownership stood out, along with the fact that the car spent its lifetime in Southern California. At that moment, the exterior color didn’t seem to matter. This car now spoke to me. I knew I needed to be its next caretaker and return it to where it was originally sold new.
As I’m sure was the case with most who have won cars through an auction, I did surpass my budget. As the seconds ticked down, I started to rationalize extending past my set limit. I couldn’t believe I won. Within minutes, my phone rang. It was the seller. I was still in disbelief. It was all a blur. But the seller couldn’t have been more helpful. I won the auction on a Friday afternoon. By Tuesday evening, the car was in my garage.
Buying a car sight unseen was nerve-wracking. We relied on photos and videos to put us at ease as we locked in on the auction. But there were still so many unknowns, especially with a 60-year-old car. But as soon as the ramp dropped on the transporter, I was in love. To say the car was better than I imagined was an understatement. It was amazing. Truly the culmination of years of love by the seller—54 years, to be exact.
I’ve only owned the car for a few months now. And in that time, we received a lot of rain. That said, as soon as the skies cleared and the roads dried out, I felt like a 16-year-old kid who just got their license and looked for any reason to take the car out. It has been to a number of car meets already and drawn crowds. While I realize Triumph made a lot of TR4s over the years, this one stands out. The love the previous owner showed this car over the past 54 years is prominently shown.
Even now, after I put a few hundred miles on the car, I chuckle at my nervousness. I truly got lucky.
In the end, I have fallen in love with the color that nearly caused me to lose out on this amazing automobile.
If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to community.content@bringatrailer.com, and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.
We love to hear from satisfied BaT buyers and sellers, and a Success Story feature is a great addition to any car’s history when you’re ready to sell.
