The car is a 1965 IRS with overdrive. It is the result of a three year project and is a compilation of three cars, two TR-4's and a TR-4A which of course donated the IRS frame, overdrive transmission, wire wheels and many other parts. The motor was completely rebuilt and the car assembled by Chip and two of his close friends, one of which did most of the motor work. The paint and interior were done by others. Chip is still working out some of the kinks.

 

Aside from the interior (the seats are from an early TR-6), most people comment on the front of the car. As you can see, the driving lights are recessed into the grille and the grille is painted black instead of the factory polished aluminum. It all started because Chip purchased the driving lights on Ebay and then had to figure out how to mount them. Because of the way the hood opens, it was either recess the lights, add a bar out the front or install them upside down under the bumper. Chip happened to have a ratty grille as well as a very good one. Before destroying a good grille he experimented on the ratty one, cutting and reinforcing as he went in order to get the lights back far enough. He sprayed the whole thing black and installed it just to see what it looked like. So far he has had positive comments and at this point he doesn't know if he will install the polished grille.