Highlights
- Rare and desirable “small mouth” variant of the TR3
- Comprehensively restored back to original specification, with over €20,000 invested
- Extensive restoration file including invoices and photographic documentation
- In current ownership since 2012
- Carte Grise de Collection
- Matching numbers reported
The Appeal
The early Triumph TR3, produced before the adoption of the wider grille that would define later cars, is affectionately known as the “small mouth.” As the direct successor to the TR2, it marks a pivotal moment in Triumph’s sporting heritage, and it’s notably rarer than the full-width-grille version—making it a particularly tempting find for fans of 1950s British roadsters.
Our 1956 example has been in the hands of its current owner since 2012, and during that time it has undergone a comprehensive, professionally executed restoration to original specification. We’re told that more than €20,000 has been spent on parts and labour, with everything backed up by invoices, and the process is fully documented with photographs. Finished in period-correct Primrose Yellow over a black interior with a walnut dashboard, the car runs chrome wire wheels and keeps its original-spec look throughout; the seller confirms no modifications have been made.
Mechanically, the engine has been completely overhauled by professionals and is reported to have good compression, with annual engine assessments carried out. The non-synchromesh first gear, four-speed gearbox and drum brakes are all correct for the period.
The seller, a long-standing member of the Triumph Club de France Provence Méditerranée, describes the driving experience as “spartan” but very pleasant—exactly the kind of thing you’d hope for from a 70-year-old British sports car. With its side windows, tonneau cover and hood included, this is a great opportunity to buy a well-documented, sympathetically restored early TR3.
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