The TR3 was a British sports car (aka roadster) built between 1955 and 1962, sandwiched between the TR2 and TR4 models. These machines used plexiglass side glass for windows and were quite successful in rallies across Europe. This ’58 edition spent 30 years hiding in a barn but suffered some water damage due to a leaking roof. As such, it’s going to need a lot of work, including mechanical, to bring it up to snuff. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this product of Standard-Triumph Motor Company of Coventry is available here on eBay where bidding holds at $2,125. Our thanks to barn finder T.J. for this tip!
Across its eight-year production run, the TR3 would become Triumph’s third-best seller in the TR range, with 75,000 units compared to 94,000 for the TR6 and 111,000 for the TR7. They were powered at first by a 1,991-cc inline-4 engine which was upgraded later to 2,138-cc, both using a 4-speed manual transmission. Given the suspected model year of this TR, the smaller engine should be present, but the seller is unsure of the year and the motor is now stuck.
No title exists for the car which was last registered many moons ago in Washington. We suspect its current resting place is not the one where the leaky roof caused the floorboards as well as the trunk floor to get wet. Those panels will need replacing and the seller believes the frame to be okay. While most of the car wears faded purple paint, some version of red may be the original color given the inside of the trunk lid.
The seller offers a top for the Triumph, but its long-term storage did the material in, and we’re told it’s probably only good enough now to serve as a pattern. Whoever takes this car home is buying not only a project but a mystery and, hopefully, the car can be salvaged in its current condition.
For me to buy this car the bidding would have to hold where it is now. Rough!
What a colorful little English roadster! Seriously what was somebody thinking, never have I seen an English car or any car with this color palette. Needs a little work.
The 60’s were a groovy time. I agree totally, the color is hideous and completely out of character but, remember, this car was only 10 years old when the owner decided to repaint it purple, and probably not worth much. He was, “stickin’ it to the Man, man.” BRG was for the bourgeoisie…poor man’s version of this: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/16/janis-joplin-psychedelic-porsche-auction-sothebys
But you wouldn’t loose it in the parking lot.
Whitworth?
Put an Italia 2000 body on it and take it to Pebble Beach.
With 75,000 produced, find a better example. Life is too short for purple rusted out English sports cars. Even free, this car is too expensive…
(BTW. Get off my lawn)
my dad drove a 58 and loved it. A soup can with steel wool was the exhaust and it worked
Be afraid, very afraid
I’m building one right now, engine is a really expensive build considering it’s only 4 cyl. You can get all parts but everything is expensive especially compared to most american cars
I’ve always found parts for Triumphs and MGs to be very reasonable. Maybe not Mustang levels but it is strange to get a part for your Ford that was made in China…
I got a 63, picked up everything including 2 engines, floor panels,all chrome, and im stuck…no time and parts costs were not easy.
As far as terminology goes I’m sure they didn’t use “Plexiglass” side windows. I’m fairly sure my TR 3a had side curtains with clear, PVC I think it was. Very thin as used in the rear window of the soft tops. Please correct me if I’m wrong, old age is not for sissies!
Old age also here.The windows on our ’62 Midget were 3/32 plexiglass. The rear soft top windows on most of the cars we owned were 1/64 but I don’t remember what they called the clear, soft material. Could have been vinyl.
IIRC, the sliding side curtain “plexiglas” was called “Perspex” in the UK, and the clear, flexible top window material was “Vybak” (both likely being trade names, of course).
I have an MG Midget parts car with original paint that is the exact same colour. The inside of the panels that did not get beaten into oblivion by the sun are much darker. This paint shade faded badly. That said I am a Brooklands green fan but it was a pretty colour for some, and as the Keith’s beer add goes, “those who like it, like it a lot!”
She’s a TR3A , which I THOUGHT did have the bigger engine , but when I learned to drive in Dad’s TR3A, this one was still on the road , so I could be wrong
The “larger engine” (2138cc v. the original 1991cc) became an option sometime later in the TR3A production. The larger engine was then used in the TR4 (and most TR3Bs), although, at least in theory, the 1991 engine was an option!
The commission number (VIN) TS 36953 LO does make this a 58. Mine is TS 38055 L and was built on October 23, 1958, but is classed as a 59 as it does not have the four blanking bolts to mount the “Brooklands” racing windscreens. The LO indicates left hand drive, with overdrive, a desirable option to keep the RPMs down. Mine does not have it and the red line is 5000. At 95mph I’m showing 4800 (I’ve only done that once, at night, on I-95, and my passenger on that occasion will no longer accompany me anywhere in the car.) My collector insurance company thinks mine is worth over $30K (a tad optimistic IMHO) so the current bid on this is a very good start, especially if the rust is confined to the floors and boot (trunk) as these pieces are readily available and relatively inexpensive.
Unless you are a do-it-yourself restorer and know how to paint cars, (Peter Egan, based on his experience, said figure 12 cents per hour for your time),
the car has no value.
Poor baby, it needs it’s soul back. Somebody rescue it. I know, as I have kept my 67 E type roadster in my garage and I haven’t been able to give it up. so many memories.