I have to admit that I am a traditionalist. I hate to see an original car butchered up to become a hot rod or some monstrosity of a custom. Or, worst of all, butchered up and abandoned when the butcher figures out that their skills weren’t up to the task. This 1957 Triumph TR3, for sale on craigslist in Bremerton, Washington, must have been fileted up by the grandmaster of all hacks. This one will never, ever be restored to factory correct. Would it be OK to absolve the new owner of this $1,000 Triumph of any sins committed when bringing it back from the dead? So, what would you do with this Frankenstein Triumph? Thanks go to T.J. for this Triumphant tip!
Social media has made all of us aware of the project cars of enthusiasts all over the planet. While some of these modern day garage stars amaze us with their talents, the problem is that seeing these metal miracles gives inspiration to a legion of hacks with saws and blowtorches. How many cars have been subject to the first stages of chopping, channeling, engine transplants, and various other processes that actually require a high level of skill and years of experience? Of those cars, what do you think the percentage is of cars that actually made it to completion? My guess would be ten percent, and I think I am being generous here. Gas Monkey and Bad Chad have, through no fault of their own, likely are indirectly responsible for a staggering amount of automotive butchery by folks who should have known better.
Which brings us to this heavily abused TR3. While it retains the basic shape of a TR3, and has a lot of original parts, this former beauty has ben subject to some highly questionable modifications. The firewall and transmission tunnel were unceremoniously cut out to stuff in a Mopar V-8. The rear end is believed to be scavenged from a Mopar of some sort, perhaps a truck axle. Another issue would be that the front wheels are four lug and the rear are five lug.
To add insult to injury, the front end was modified to accept an egg crate type grill. While the belief is that the grill is from a Studebaker, it would be interesting to hear of any other guesses from the readers. The plan was to allow enough cooling air to flow over the larger radiator needed for the Mopar V-8. While arguments could be made either way as to the change in appearance, you have to admit it looks to have been a pretty well fabricated and almost seamless modification.
Looking inside, we see that most of the dash is intact. Rough, but intact. To the right of the steering wheel is perhaps the most unusual of all the modifications. Is that an ammeter? At any rate, you can also see the transmission tunel that may either be a modified original or something transplanted from a junkyard car. Does anyone recognize this as original or from another car? At least the steering wheel has an attractive design and could probably be restored.
The picture above lays out exactly why this Triumph has no chance whatsoever of being restored to stock. The damage is too extensive to repair at this point without backing up the Brinks truck and sacrificing a better car to the effort. In years past this would have been a poor choice for a parts car. Now, the car is at the point that whoever buys it can modify or customize it with no guilt whatsoever. So, what should the new owner do with it?
My thought would be to fabricate a frame and build it up as a street racer. That Triumph body is still very attractive, and there is enough of it left to make for a very handsome exterior. Under the hood? Perhaps this would be a great home for the 3.6 liter inline four cylinder engine with an LS head that has been mentioned in the media lately. This engine is compact enough to fit, and can make a reliable 340 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. While not yet in production, I think it is a safe bet that the interest it stirred up wll make that a surety. In a light vehicle like this, just imagine the acceleration.
What would you do with this shell of a vehicle? Let us know in the comments.
Listing is pulled. Tunnel is original on rear 60%. Front 40% looks like it hit a cement mixer head on.
From the seller: Now I know what it is like to be slammed by people who think they know everything, only to show how little they know. Being a purist, I suppose you hate all the customs that were built in the fifties and sixties, and are now selling for hundreds of thousands of $$$$$. The installation was done very professional. The grille adaptation has no bondo, all pieces of metal beat to shape and welded in. Same for the firewall modifications and the shifter housing. Cut off neatly and welded back in where they needed to be. It had a 4-speed with a V-gate (vertical gate, google it), all homebuilt. the steering column was moved with a minimum of U-joints in the right places. There was no doubt many miles were put on the adaptation, but it was ruined when the car was flooded in a mud slide in LA, near the Riverside race track where my friend found it. Please keep in mind, TR3s were worth nothing fifty years ago, when this mod was done. And yes, I sold the car yesterday for full price. Should have asked more.
No big deal now but I will say that the body work on the front panels is very good, but if anyone is going to say that the tunnel and firewall work is “cut off neatly and welded” properly I’d say there is a crying need for some updated glasses to see what’s going on in the world.
I can understand the sellers frustration. He’s wasn’t asking an arm and a leg, he also wasn’t responsible for the modifications, which were done as he said, when the car was worth almost nothing.. He’s right, the people contacting him criticizing the car are just grandstanding they were just interested in stroking their own ego, not purchasing the car. Whoever bought it got a good deal, I hope they can bring it back to life, however they choose.
Steve R
jageater, I agree. It’s obvious that the author for BF has never looked closely at one of the ‘Ole Yallers’ that Max Balchowski built and kicked a** with. I think this creation was probably at one time (and could be again) a really interesting and fun car. Besides all it would need is one front body piece to restore stock looks and they are relatively cheap. I am glad someone saw the value and will bring it back.
For what it’s worth, that was a Studebaker Lark grill
Terry,
You are very close! It’s actually a 1956-61 Studebaker Hawk grill assembly. The quickest way to tell the difference is how the grill was made. The Lark grills are stamped steel, the Hawk grills are diecast, as on this TR3.
In the late 1970s I ran a Triumph TR restoration shop, and I was also interested in Studebakers & Packards. I sold S-P parts and actually had a couple of used Hawk Grills laying about. I ended up setting a Hawk grill in the front hole of an early TR3, and was surprised at how well it fit the lower part of the grill opening.
Of course I never cut up a front nose of a TR3, because even back then a decent used grill assembly was very hard to find, and you could forget about finding a NOS version. I’m happy to see I wasn’t the only crazy guy to spot how alike the 2 opening were, and I can finally see from these photos it wasn’t too oddball an idea after all!
In my opinion this looks far better than if someone had taken a 1958 PACKARD HAWK grill and used it to replace the later TR3A wide mouth grill!
If I was 20 years younger I might have considered taking this car and fitting a Rover 3.5L alloy engine in it [ex Buick 215].
The best news here is that it will be saved and run in some form or another.
The better news is that being creative with your talent has not yet been outlawed in our country. They sure as hell are trying though…….
I own many original cars and boats and several that have been modded before I purchased. NONE are trailer queens and I don’t give a damn about trophies either. “Run what I brung!”
Celebrate the fact that we are all gearheads in one form or another, all trying to keep our toys on the road.
Triumbaker? Studeumph?
“Anybody can run a blowtorch – but it takes guts to restore a car to original.
It takes determination to preserve automotive history, and a genuine love and respect for the past.
It takes a willingness to honor all the great automotive pioneers, the engineers, stylists, designers, and even line workers whose hearts and souls went into those early motoring classics.
It takes long research and patience to restore a car correctly.
And there’s no greater feeling than to know you’ve done it right.”
I’m currently restoring one of these, parts are available but on the pricey side. If nothing else get a new front apron for it, the grill is one of the nicest features of these cars, shame to have that Lark grill fabbed into it.
It looks like a basking shark when it opens its giant maw to filter sea water. Huge, harmless and benign.
This sad little car could become the subject of a children’s book like Mike Mulligan’s Steam Shovel or The Truck that Drove all Night or The Happy Man and his Dump Truck.
When it goes forgotten and friendless to the back of a junk yard the local youth will discover it and crowd aboard in “a bit of a squash” (Mr. Gumpie’s Motorcar).
Cue the terrifying Junk Yard Dog, who really just wants to play.
Will these kids rebuild it with a cool drive train and win a rally?
Will it revive on full moon nights for magical adventures?
Barn Finds essays often end with a question.
What do you think will happen in this Triumphant tale?
I’ll take that front clip if anyone decides to go back to the original.
A good front clip will be a bit hard to come by though.
Murdock2: Maybe not so hard to find – http://www.vintagesportsspecialtycars.com/tag/triumph/
http://www.radfordpanel.co.uk/tr2.htm
https://rimmerbros.com/ItemList–Triumph-TR2-5-Front-Body-Panels–m-13148
Rob Jay and others: Thought the Studebaker was a (necessary with the V-8) improvement over the stock nose.
Jimmy Novak: There’s no greater feeling than to know you’ve done it the way you wanted it, and knowing you have something unique.
I love it ! It could use some refining tho.
I kind of liked it….
I prefer stock, but respect mod and would rather see a rat rod anything than have a nice old car crushed.
It’s unique .
Whatever floats your boat …