11 replies to this topic

[Paul Parker]

Can someone tell me where I can find the power output of the Pete Brock designed Triumph TR250K that raced at Sebring in 1968, no.47, please.

 

I have the other details but no bhp or torque figures, it was powered by a modified TR5 motor that was either 9 or 11 inches further back in the frame than the road car.

 

Many thanks.

[BRG]

I'd be surprised if you could find a figure and if you do, I doubt it will be very reliable.  That engine was 111bhp on Strombergs and 150bhp on injection, in production cars.  From what I remember, you would have been lucky to get 200bhp in full race trim on Webers.

 

And what a truly ugly car!

[bradbury west]

I found some interesting stuff on t'internet about it, with Kas Kastner etc. Nothing about power though. I wonder if the proud new owners have any info. When found prior to recent restoration it had a 2000cc GT6 engine. Perhaps the original stayed with Triumph or the US team who developed it. Can Graham Robson throw any light on things?
Did one of the magazines do a piece on it a while back?
Roger Lund

[AAGR]

Sorry no clues. It wouldn't be more than 200bhp, for sure, and BTW it was not at all competitive against the Porsches in the only international race it ever contested.

 

There was a review of it in TRIUMPH WORLD magazine in the spring of 1995.

[group7]

would be some information here, Car & Driver Magazine, April '68, can't get to my copy at the moment.

 

http://www.deansgara...avis-2002-1.jpg

 

 

Mike (group7)

[group7]

Paul, here's a link to a PDF of the article on the Kastner TR 250 K. from C&D '68. haven't had a chance to read it, so don't know if it gives power figures.

 

http://www.kaskastne...ver_apr1968.pdf

 

 

Mike (group7)

Edited by group7, 16 March 2016 - 04:46.

[Paul Parker]

Many thanks for all your posts, they much appreciated.

 

Given that manufacturers' power outputs were usually exaggerated in period, I remain suspicious of their claims, I agree with AAGR, circa 200 bhp might be somewhere near the truth in race tune although 175 bhp seems more realistic. Having driven early TR5s and TR6s before they were detuned I can state with certainty that the TR5s were quicker than the TR6.

 

I drove most of the high peformance cars of the late 60s/early 70s and manufacturers' claimed power outputs were in some cases, pure fiction, Aston Martin and Jaguar being typical, Ron Beatty told me many years ago that the most powerful production 3.8 litre XK engines were those in the early MK2 saloons, because they were properly gas flowed and polished, he reckoned 210/215 bhp.

 

The production line 3 carburettor E types were usually 205/210 bhp apparently and Aston Martin were equally disingenuous, some were quite pedestrian, others more responsive. I would also mention that the early 4.2 litre E types were fast (later cars would barely pull the skin off a rice pudding) but we were told not to drive them over 4,500 rpm in top for more than 5 minutes on motorways as the head gaskets were prone to failure. This due to the bodged up block and everything out of alignment to get the extra capacity.

 

Please forgive my lack of mechanical knowledge, it was and still is magic to me.

[Paul Parker]

Paul, here's a link to a PDF of the article on the Kastner TR 250 K. from C&D '68. haven't had a chance to read it, so don't know if it gives power figures.

 

http://www.kaskastne...ver_apr1968.pdf

 

 

Mike (group7)

 

Thanks very much for that, meanwhile Triumph or should I say British Leyland, predictably didn't want to know about it.

[BRG]

Thanks very much for that, meanwhile Triumph or should I say British Leyland, predictably didn't want to know about it.

You can say a lot about what was wrong with the whole BMC/BL/JRT etc complex, and many of us frequently do.  But not building this repulsive car isn't one of them.  I guess Messr Kastner and Brock were blinded by love.....

[arttidesco]

I guess Messr Kastner and Brock were blinded by love.....

 

... they were not the only ones ...

 

 

 

... am I missing something here, what is not to like ?

 

Photo's courtesy Kerry Williams.

[group7]

thread here on the Kastner/Brock effort, from the Roaring Season in Australia.

 

http://www.theroarin...Triumph-TR-250K

 

 

I'm with arttidesco, what's not to like ! was there ever a 1/43 model done of this car ? 

 

Mike (group7)

 

 

thanks for posting those current photos of the car 

Edited by group7, 18 March 2016 - 18:30.

[BRG]

Each to their own.....