Selecting the right candidate for a family classic car restoration can be difficult. There are many factors to consider, chief amongst these being affordability and ease of restoration. That is why older British sports cars are attractive. With a few notable exceptions, they remain affordable for the average person, while their hand-built nature tends to make them ideal for restoration in a home workshop. This 1958 Triumph TR3A is a case in point. It appears to be an essentially complete vehicle that requires some TLC. However, it would be the perfect car for a family to tackle if they don’t mind getting their hands dirty. Located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, you will find the Triumph listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price at $8,500. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting this gem for us.

The owner doesn’t supply a lot of information about this Pearl White Triumph. Externally, it shows plenty of promise. Its paint is tired, and it sports a few dents and flaws, but there is no evidence of significant exterior rust. It appears that there has been a repair to the trunk lid at some point, and the Bondo has chipped away to reveal bare metal. The usually prone areas like the lower rear quarter panels and doglegs look clean, while there’s no evidence of problems around the scuttle or rear filler panel. It isn’t clear what state the floors and frame are in, and this is a case where an in-person inspection may be warranted. If it proves structurally sound, this TR3A is an ideal candidate for restoration in a home workshop. It appears that all of the trim is present, and as with the wire wheels, it all looks restorable. The glass is in good order, and I believe that the black soft-top would probably respond positively to a deep clean.

The sole interior shot provided by the owner tells us little about its condition. Before spending any money, the buyer will undoubtedly treat everything to a deep clean. It appears to be original and unmolested, and one of the few faults obvious is some deterioration in the dash pad. The banjo-style wheel has avoided the cracks that can plague these items, while there are no apparent rips or tears in the seats. If this photo accurately represents the condition, it will take more time than money to whip this interior into shape. The owner also doesn’t supply any engine photos, but we know that the engine is out and disassembled. If it is the original motor, it will be a 1,991cc four-cylinder engine that produces 100hp. Those British thoroughbreds find their way to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. This little Triumph would have covered the ¼ mile in a neat 18 seconds in its prime. For potential owners, there’s a bit to consider with this motor. One of the attractions of classic British sports cars is that their engineering tends to be elegantly simple. The TR3 is no exception. Its engine is a traditional overhead-valve pushrod motor that would represent an easy rebuild if the engine block and cylinder head are in good condition. Even if one or both items are faulty, replacements are easy and cheap to find. A complete novice should find this process relatively easy if they can get their hands on a workshop manual. It is an option worth considering if they wish to save a few dollars on this project.

If I were in a position to park a project car in my workshop today, I would find this 1958 triumph TR3A pretty tempting. I admit that it doesn’t offer the performance available in a classic muscle or pony car, nor will it provide the cocooned motoring experience that comes with a traditional luxury car. This Triumph is raw and bare-bones, but the driving experience would be involving and rewarding for anybody willing to put in the effort behind the wheel. It is not a car you would hand over to professionals for restoration because the potential value is simply not there. If you wander around the internet today, you will find some tidy examples available for around $20,000, while $30,000 will buy an absolute gem. The ace that this Triumph holds up its sleeve is that it is hand-built. Human fingers attached every nut, bolt, screw, and washer to this classic. If human hands assembled it, those same hands could dismantle the car for a total restoration. That makes it an ideal candidate for a family restoration to be tackled in a home workshop. With those thoughts in mind, have I tempted you to pursue this one further?