The British Are Coming: A Union Jack Trio at Ressler Audi

There’s something about the crisp Montana morning air that makes the smell of unburnt hydrocarbons and vintage leather even better. At this week’s Cars & Coffee at Ressler Audi in Bozeman, we were treated to a rare sight: a primary-colored trio of Triumphs that looked like a rolling Union Jack.

Seeing these three parked together wasn't just a lucky coincidence; it was a masterclass in the evolution of British open-top motoring.

The White One: The Refined TR4A

First up, the white TR4A. While it looks nearly identical to the standard TR4 at a glance, the "A" signifies a major shift in Coventry's engineering. This was the era where Triumph introduced Independent Rear Suspension (IRS). It transformed the car from a bumpy, live-axle kidney-shaker into a proper grand tourer that could actually handle a mid-corner dip without drama. Seeing it in white highlights those sharp, Michelotti-designed lines—clean, crisp, and quintessentially 1960s.

The Blue One: The Scrappy '68 Spitfire

While the TRs represent the "big" British sports cars, the blue 1968 Spitfire is the ultimate underdog. 1968 was a sweet spot for the Spitfire—it’s a Mark III, which brought the raised bumper to meet safety regs but kept that beautiful, uncluttered rear end. These cars are all about "momentum driving." You aren't going to win a drag race against a modern Audi, but with its low center of gravity and swing-axle rear, you’ll feel like you're doing 100 mph while just crossing the Main Boulder Road.

The Red One: The Classic TR4

Rounding out our flag is the vibrant red TR4. If the TR4A is the refined sibling, the standard TR4 is the purist’s choice. It’s got that signature "surrey top" capability and the rugged 2138cc wet-liner engine that sounds like a tractor but pulls like a freight train. In red, it’s the quintessential British sports car—bold, slightly loud, and impossible to ignore in a parking lot full of modern SUVs.