Highlights
- Just 52,505 miles recorded, with only 2,173 miles covered since 2010
- Rare complete package with matching hard top, soft top, side screens and tonneau
- Beautifully presented in British Racing Green with chrome wires and black interior
- The car had a rotisserie restoration in 2009
- Only four former registered keepers in 65 years
- Highly original example with impressive history file
The Appeal
The TR3A was Sir John Black’s bid for transatlantic glory in the burgeoning two-seater, post-war sports car market. He faced tough competition from MG and Austin-Healey, but the original TR, with its revvy Standard-Triumph engines and stylish lines, stood out for its durability and handling.
While the later Michelotti-penned cars have undoubted appeal, many collectors favour these earlier, arguably purer TRs. They’ll doubtless love this one. Beautifully presented in classic British Racing Green following an older renovation, it is one of the best TR3As that we’ve seen in a long while. The current keeper runs a well-regarded classic specialist and the quality of the car is therefore perhaps not surprising.
The car is tailor-made for some high-end classic car tours and events because it comes with a rare hard top and is fitted with the factory overdrive gearbox. Despite very sparing recent use it is said to be in very good mechanical order.
This is a collector-quality example of the highly regarded TR3A. For serious enthusiasts, it is one not to miss.
The vendor says:
“I bought it because it was in near-perfect condition, it is a classic example of a British roadster in British Racing Green and because it had different hard top and soft top options for all weather conditions. It's also a dream to maintain and has never broken down (the only one of my classics). It also gets up and goes, with plenty of power and legs for the highways. I've had her up to 105mph and there were still horses left for more.
“The vehicle is a joy to drive and is the most used of all the cars in my collection. It is fabulous to tour in, especially with the uprated TR4 overdrive and turns heads everywhere it goes. It's also very comfortable for drivers of any size. I'm 6ft3 (191cm) and there is still room left to push the seat back. There's ample room in the back seat for dogs, groceries and small children and the boot has enough space for luggage.
“For connoisseurs, the TR3A remains the quintessential Triumph roadster—lighter, rawer, and more engaging than its successors. This example combines originality, fine presentation, and low mileage with the rare completeness of both hard and soft tops, side screens, and tonneau. With a rich history, excellent condition, and strong documentation, it is a superb representative of one of Britain’s most beloved sports cars.”
History and Paperwork
- Built in the first half of 1959 with chassis number TS51939
- First registered 29th May 1959
- Originally factory finished in yellow
- Restored and repainted in British Racing Green in late 2001
- First registered keeper was a country publican in England
- Only four former registered keepers in total across its 65-year history
- DVLA records a total of six registered UK keepers, including the current one
- Acquired by the current keeper, a classic car specialist, in December 2014
- Spent time in Germany, registered in Köln in 2014 before returning to the UK in 2015
- Purchased by the current owner, Craig, from UK Sports Cars of Canterbury in 2015
- Last MOT was in 2010 when the odometer showed 50,332 miles
- Currently classified as a Historic Vehicle, MOT-exempt and zero-rated for UK road tax
- Comes with current V5, earlier MOT certificates, German registration documents and bill of lading for its return to the UK in 2014
- Service history and purchase invoices from 2015 included
The vendor says:
“This Triumph TR3A, chassis number TS51939, was built in the first half of 1959 and registered in May that year. Triumph’s TR3A chassis sequence for 1959 ran from TS41630 through to TS65123, placing this example firmly in period.
“Factory records suggest the car originally left the Canley works in yellow, though by 2001 it had been refinished in British Racing Green—a colour that perfectly complements a late-’50s British sports car. By then, it had seen just three registered keepers across more than five decades, the first a country publican in England. In the early 2000s, it briefly changed hands twice before heading to Germany, where it was registered in Köln in 2014. It returned home in 2015, purchased by the current owner, Craig, from UK Sports Cars of Canterbury. Since then, the Triumph has been carefully stored with his collection and very lightly used.
“At its last MoT in 2010 the odometer recorded 50,332 miles; today the British Jaeger instruments show just 52,505 miles. Its condition clearly reflects this gentle, low-mileage life.
“Much is often made of the post-TR4 cars and their Anglo-Italian style, yet many purists regard Walter Belgrove’s TR3 as the most authentic Triumph roadster. Compact, purposeful, and immensely characterful, the TR3 outsold the later TR4 almost two to one.
“The roots of the TR line trace back to Sir John Black, a driving force of the British motor industry. Having transformed Standard Motor Company in the 1930s and helped steer Britain’s wartime production effort, Black engineered Standard’s takeover of the struggling Triumph Motor Company in 1944. Desperate to inject glamour into a line-up dominated by Vanguards and Ferguson tractors, he even tried to buy Morgan in 1950. When rebuffed, he resolved to build a Triumph sports car of his own.
“The result was the TR2 of 1953—a small but spirited roadster shown at Geneva that re-established Triumph on the global stage. The TR3 followed in 1955 with more power and disc brakes (making it one of the first production cars so equipped). In 1957, the revised model, enthusiasts still call the TR3A, introduced a wider grille, external door handles, a locking boot, and optional 60-spoke wire wheels. It proved so successful that Triumph wore out its original tooling for producing them.
“The Triumph comes with its current V5 (Historic Vehicle classification, MoT-exempt, and zero-rated for UK road tax), earlier MoT certificates, and documents from its German registration in Köln (including bill of lading for its return in 2014). Invoices from the 2015 purchase and other service history accompany the car.”
The Condition
- Older high-quality restoration with very good British Racing Green
- Vendor describes paintwork as lustrous with even, glossy paintwork
- Panel fit in very good order with precise opening and closing of doors, bonnet and boot
- Chrome brightwork presents well overall with only minor age-related haze
- Fitted with chromed 60-spoke wire wheels with twin-eared knock-offs
- Quality Goodyear and Continental tyres (165/80, paired by axle)
- Complete with black vinyl soft top, tonneau cover, bolt-in side screens and period-correct hard top
- Interior trimmed in black vinyl with white-piped seats in smart condition
- Rear bench offers occasional space for luggage or a small passenger
- Dashboard finished in textured black vinyl with a full suite of British Jaeger instruments
- Large convex-lensed speedometer and tachometer behind a three-spoke banjo steering wheel with Bakelite hub
- Boot is usefully sized, finished in carpet and vinyl with body-colour steel visible
- Separate compartment houses the spare wheel and tools
- Correct data plate and body stamping present
- Underside remains in good condition
The vendor says:
“This TR3A is finished in lustrous British Racing Green with even, glossy paintwork. Panel fit is excellent, and doors, bonnet, and boot open and close precisely. Chrome brightwork is good overall, showing only minor age-related haze. Chromed 60-spoke wire wheels with twin-eared knock-offs provide a visual highlight, shod with quality Goodyear and Continental tyres (165/80, paired by axle). Included with the car are a black vinyl soft top, tonneau cover, bolt-in side screens, and a period-correct hard top—making it adaptable to any weather.
“The cabin retains its 1959 character, trimmed in black vinyl with white-piped seats. Upholstery is in impressive condition, with only light slackness to the seat bases. The rear bench offers occasional space for luggage or a small passenger. The dashboard, finished in textured black vinyl, carries a full suite of British Jaeger instruments (with one Lucas gauge noted). The large convex-lensed speedometer and tachometer are period-evocative, sitting behind a three-spoke banjo steering wheel with Bakelite hub. A dash-mounted switch engages the Laycock de Normanville overdrive.
“The boot is usefully sized, finished in carpet and vinyl with body-colour steel visible. A separate compartment houses the spare wheel and tools, ensuring practicality on the road.”
The Mechanics
- 1991cc Standard Vanguard inline-four engine
- Four-speed manual transmission with Laycock de Normanville overdrive
- Twin SU carburettors producing around 95 bhp when new
- Starts readily, idles smoothly and revs freely with no smoke or untoward noises reported
- Engine bay appears highly original with clean, straight panels
- Disc brakes fitted (one of the first production cars so equipped)
The vendor says:
“Power comes from Triumph’s 1991cc Standard Vanguard inline-four, running twin SU carburettors and producing around 95 bhp when new. At under 950 kg, the TR3A offered a 100mph top speed and 0–60 in 12 seconds—serious performance for 1959. This example starts readily, idles smoothly, revs freely, and shows no smoke or untoward noises. The engine bay is highly original, with clean, straight panels and correct data plate and body stamping. The underside remains equally impressive.”
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