A Triumphant Bond

by Dana Caruso

My father started collecting Triumph wrecks in 1970, piecing together several fully formed cars of the spare parts. I was gifted with a TR4A in British Racing Green, my brother got a red TR4A, and my sister a blue TR250. I drove that car every day down the winding Merritt Parkway to Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. It was the perfect highway for that car, with its narrow lanes and extreme curves—built for a roadster.

My TR broke down plenty of times, though, and each time, my father would just go into his TR pick-a-part junkyard and get the needed part. He was a big man with big hands, which made some engine jobs difficult. His solution was to call me over and teach me how to install a starter or a thermostat—my hands being the perfect size for the job.

Was it a coincidence that two of the men I dated in college were Triumph owners? One owned a TR250 in navy blue, and the other owned a TR4A in white, but, oddly enough, both of them totaled their cars. When my father heard this, he graciously offered to take the mangled wrecks off their hands. The TR250 was only a mile away, so that was easy to tow home, but the TR4A was 90 miles away in Queens, NY.

The biggest obstacle that stood between the car and my house was the Whitestone Bridge. My father would not let that 2,300 feet of suspended road stand between him and his next conquest. He loaded up his Jeep with tow chains and a tow bar, and with me by his side, we drove to Queens to claim our prize. The white TR had severe front-end damage, but we were able to attach the car to the Jeep. As I was getting in the Jeep’s front seat, my father said, “You have to get in the TR and steer and brake as needed.” I did as I was told. My life flashed before my eyes as we drove across that massive suspension bridge. The laws were not as strict back in the ’70s, since somehow we weren’t stopped by troopers in New York or Connecticut.

I have loved Triumphs for over 50 years, and now that I am retired, I can attend car shows and rallies with my beautiful red TR 250. My TR gets a lot of attention, and I stand back as the proud owner and call up to the Heavens, “Thanks Dad, this car is my tribute to you. I love you.”