・Full Nut-and-bolt Restoration Completed in 2000

・Various Parts Included (including Period Wire Wheels)

・Less than 2,000 Miles Completed in 11 years

The Triumph TR3 is a British sports car produced between 1955 and 1962 by the Standard-Triumph Motor Company of Coventry, England. A 

traditional roadster, the TR3 is an evolution of the company's earlier TR2 model, with greater power and improved braking. 

The TR3 was a natural follow-on to the Triumph TR2 range. Introduced in 1955, it wasn’t hugely different to the TR2. It had a slightly modified styling (notably the grille), stronger axle to cope with disc brakes at the front and a few tweaks to the engine to increase the power output. A couple years after the introduction came the TR3A, otherwise known as the wide mouth. 

The radiator grille filled the width of the front of the car and the sidelights were mounted on the grille. It also had such advances as a lockable boot, door handles and a full tool kit! To me, this vehicle looks like it was designed by Nick Park asit has a definite ‘Wallace and Gromit’ appearance! 

The previous grille looked like the car was gritting its teeth with the effort. It was a popular motorsports vehicle and surviving examples can be seen whizzing round the tracks today – well over half a century since they were made. In the summer of 1957, Triumph began to build a modified version of the Triumph TR3.  

This modified TR3 became known as the TR3A, however it was never officially known as the TR3A.  As far as Standard-Triumph was concerned, it was just a continuation of the TR3.  However, the cars were quite different in their appearance.  The TR3A had a full-width radiator grille and the headlights were slightly recessed instead of protruding like on the older TR3.

The Triumph TR3A was built from September 1958 to October 1961.  Next to the TR6, the Triumph TR3A was built in the largest numbers by Triumph with a total of just over 58,000 TR3A cars being produced.

Imported from 1991 from the USA by the previous owner.

The car then underwent a full nut and bolt restoration which took 9 years and subsequently was re-registered in 2000. The current owner has had the car for the past 3 years or so and was bought privately from Bolton.

In that time he has added a few things to the car which is listed in the mechanical side of things.

This car comes with lots of paperwork – mainly from the nuts-and-bolts restoration. It also comes with the V5.

The doors in-case lovely black leather seats with white piping and are in very good condition.

The dashboard is also in lovely condition and houses the various switches, knobs and the chrome and black dials perfectly. We're told that all the dials work without any issue, with exception of the fuel gauge. By all accounts the fuel gauge requires re-calibrating.

The Triumph is finished off In, of course, British Racing Green, which suits this car down to the ground. There are certain colours that suit certain cars more than others, and this is the absolutely right choice of colour for this car. The car is in fantastic condition and there was no evidence of rust.

This is largely down to the fact the rain hasn’t touched the paintwork – certainly in the last 3 years, and before that, the previous owner very rarely drove the car. There is a little bit of rust on the centre chrome wheel nuts (see pictures) but that is a nice easy fix.
The car also comes with a full set of wired wheels, so you can choose which set you’d personally prefer.

The car will also come with the side screens and the original full windscreen.

The car has been maintained for the last 3 years by the current owner who is an ex-Aircraft Engineer. The current owner did an oil change and new drums at the back and new discs at the front.

They also fitted an electronic ignition and coil. The owner still put the car through an MOT, to which, on the last one the car had no advisories. While it was in for the last MOT the mechanic doing the most apparently commented on how good the underneath looked. He was surprised at how good condition it was in – The underneath has also been powder-coated! The owner doesn’t have any information on the engine.

The car states that the mileage is 368, however the actual mileage is an educated guess at around 42,000 miles (the MOT from September 2017 the car was at 41,110 miles). The current owner is unaware why the odometer has been reset at that time. There doesn’t seem like there are any leaks, and during the albeit short ride in the car, when we went to photograph it, the car feels like it drives (and certainly sounds) fantastic.

The car is a bit – hesitant when cold (as most cars are from this period) but as soon as that engine warms it, it is silky smooth.

Well, what to say about these wonderful cars. They make people smile, the classic lines along with, what’s regarded by many, as the perfect colour, makes people stop and ask about the car. 

While it was being photographed and the short drive back to the garage after, we were stopped twice by people asking questions about the car. It turns heads wherever it goes, young and old appreciate the simple, yet elegant design of the Triumph. What is also important to remember with this car is that it has been fitted with the electronic ignition and coil and has the original setup with the generator and positive earth. 

If you look over the previous mot’s you will see that the owner who had the car before the current owner, never did any mileage in it at all. From 2006 to 2017 the car completed just 2,000 miles! By all accounts the gentleman who owned it was a collector, and because of this, he didn’t drive this car a lot, which is a shame, this car has bags of character and the nuts-and-bolts restoration has taken it back to its former glory days, this car really needs to be enjoyed now (in the sunshine) and to be seen by the masses.

The car comes with lots of little bits and pieces which are all included in the sale of the car! Here’s a fantastic opportunity to own a genuine classic car which will only become more exclusive as time goes by. What is definitely a bonus is that all the “hard work” has already been done, so this car is ready to go and to be enjoyed.

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