An evolution of the TR2, the TR3 was a traditional old-fashioned roadster with a steel body on a separate chassis. It was powerful for its size, which made it both a popular competition car as well as a hugely popular sports car in the UK and overseas, with the biggest export market by far being the USA.
Compared with the TR2, the TR3 had greater power and improved braking. Power came from Standard-Triumph’s popular “wet liner” in-line four, with 95bhp, an increase of 5bhp over the TR2 thanks to larger SU-H6 carburettors. The chassis was very traditional, with colil spring, trunnions and A-arms and a leaf-sprung rear, but it was still terrific fun to drive – and still is.
The suspension is by double A-arms, manganese bronze trunnion, coil springs and tube shocks at the
Around 78,000 were sold, of which 45,000 went to the USA.
This one has come back, reimported in 2018 after being restored in the USA. It’s a rot-free California car and is in excellent order.
The vendor of this car is. Serial TR3 enthusiast and has owned “six or seven” of them in the past. He saw this one for sale in 2018 in the USA and imported it himself as he had an itch for another, the original plan being to convert it to right-hand-drive. But then a TR3A restoration project came along that he wasn’t expecting, so he kept the RHD parts for that and simply used and enjoyed the red one while he builds his green one. With the project nearing completion, the red TR3 will soon be surplus to requirements so is for sale.
The vendor knows of someone in Triumph circles local to him who has all the bits to convert it to RHD should the new owner want to, and is happy to put them in touch.
It’s pretty basic inside a TR3, but this one is all as it should be with the original spec black leather seats piped in white; a preference of the owner who doesn’t like the overly luxurious approach adopted by some restorers, with tan leather and walnut.
It’s all in very good order, with a new carpet set and good door cards. All of the dials work other than the oil pressure gauge, which recently packed up showing 70psi, which the vendor says was its usual reading anyway!
The boot area is excellent with no visible rot and it has its original jack and spare wheel.
The TR3 was restored and repainted din the USA a few years ago, and while it has a few very slight signs of age it’s in great overall condition and still retains a lovely shine.
The vendor has gone over the car completely and describes it as rust-free both on top and underneath – he has the facilities in his workshop to inspect the underside and says that the chassis is faultless.
It has painted 60-spoke wire wheels (again, a preference of the owner who thinks chrome ones are too showy) and correct Michelin MXV tyres in good order. It also has working auxiliary lights, which is unusual.
A hood and side screens are included and they’re in functionally good condition, though one side screen window is missing and another has a small crack. The roof itself is in very good condition.
Triumph’s stalwart two-litre four is a strong and well-respected engine that’s renowned for its durability. The exact mileage of this one is unknown but it starts and runs very well indeed, with no excessive smoke or untoward noises.
The vendor has been driving it frequently and says that it’s in great order overall with no known problems.
This is a charming example of the TR3 in one of the best colours, and is in great condition. Not concours, but extremely usable and very well-presented. It’s a charming old car in brilliant order overall.
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1957 Triumph TR3 (LHD)
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