The seller has already done some of the work on this gray 1960 Triumph TR3A as it is a running, driving and stopping find! It’s listed for sale here on eBay where bidders have moved the price up to $6,200 already. There’s no reserve so one of them (you?) will be taking this car home from Irving, Texas.
The seller describes the car as being in the original Silverstone Gray. I’m not sure about that, but my favorite TR3 in the whole world is gray with a dark red interior and I can see this one refinished in my mind already. As my wife would tell you, the mind is a dangerous thing — but this car does look like it could be a decent driver without too much work! As a matter of fact, check out the seller-supplied video of the car here and watch it being driven!
One of the great things about working on Triumph TRs is that you can get almost any part necessary, including, for example, the missing overriders from the front bumper. Or just leave them off; some folks feel the cars are better looking without them anyway!
It’s obvious that this car has received a few home-grown repairs; this certainly isn’t the original floor panel. However, I’m guessing this piece could be reworked a little and welding in properly if you want a driver. Besides, if it’s under the carpet who will know anyway?
You’ve got to wonder how those seats would look cleaned up. The seller says you will need to paint the car, sort the wiring, add a muffler, replace the tires and add seat belts before the car is roadworthy. Personally, I would go through the brakes completely as well, but that isn’t a very long list.
I really can’t see any reason not to purchase this car if the price stays low and you are looking for a driver-quality TR3A that needs a few straightforward projects completed. What say you, Barn Finds readers? What TR3 memories do you have?
Great entry point into the hobby if the price stays below $7000. What’s not to love…the items mentioned are either commonly replaced or common sense areas to check before driving on a regular basis. In a dry, non-rust region of the country I would double check those tack welds on the floor and simply recarpet then drive the car. Restore as you go.
That was stupid.
Cars like this are the hit of the old car rallies these days. Just make it safe and roadworthy (both relative) and leave the rest. Cheap and cheerful as they say.
My girlfriend had one of these back in the ’70s, and I used it extensively when she was out of town. I had a German Shepherd at the time that went everywhere with me, and I had to learn really fast to grab his collar in left turns so he wouldn’t fall out.
I,ve always liked and wanted one of these. Ever since my mom,s cousin came to visit in his red and black Jaguar back in the late 50,s –60.s. I tried the roomieness in a Fiero awhile back and I thought my back was gonna break in to. Are these little cars more comfortable then the Pontiac Fieora? I,m about 5feet 11 inches tall.
No problem with the leg room, I’m 6’2 220 lbs
Once you get in there’s lots of room.
I love my TR3A. Funnest car I’ve ever owned.
Thank you Rob
I just spent four and a half years bringing a lost cause back to life in my buddy’s driveway. He had restored others and had extra parts around. I sanded every inch by hand and rethreaded every nut and bolt. Today it drives as well as it did when it was new; not to be confused with, “like a new car.” I’m imagining mine is worth somewhere around 20k. It really is completely sorted out, solid and very pretty. It was a fun project and I recommend it as a great adventure. What do others imagine a restored 58 TR3 sells for these days?
I have a Viet Nam friend from Clay County W.Va. restored one.It wasn,t but a shell waiting for the junk man and he got it and it looks brand new now. I want one everytime I see one.Maybe someday soon I,ll get one.
My wife & I spent our honeymoon weekend driving my ’56 TR-3, when not in our motel room. Fun car but I went through trannys with my lead foot. Also very difficult to ‘make out’ in. That was in 1960.
Reply to Johnny: At 6′ tall, I had to move the seat forward to reach the pedals.
Thanks Rex. I had a teacher at Kelly Barracks near Stuttgart ,Germany. While I was staioned their in the army. She was from Michigan and married to a army officer. She drove a dark green and black MG. It was a good looking little car. The driver was GREAT looking and a really nice lady,.We all liked her and got along. That is when I started liking them–little cars. Thanks for the information. . Now I am more determined to get one. A friend of mine got one out of the junk.It was nothing but a shell. He asked the guy if it had a tile and could he have it. The guy gave him both. Him and his brother took it home and it looks brand new. He,s a Viet Nam vet also and a great person. He offered me one a few years ago,but I never had the money.
Why is it that EVERY Triumph that shows up on Craig’s List and eBay in the North Texas area is never a car from the local Club and no one locally has ever seen it before? Just curious?
Maybe local club members sell cars amongst themselves :-) That what we do in the Triumph Club of the Carolinas…
A face only a mother could love. Looks like the grimacing emoji 😬
You made me laugh out loud. I don’t do that.
My dad bought a light blue one to fix up.(I think it was blue..the world was still black and white back then..)Found that the prior owner had used a belt for #3 rod bearing. Went through the engine ordering parts from JC Whitney. ALSO found that there were two “standard” piston sizes. You could toss the 1st set of rings down the bore from 20 feet away! Took sis and I (both crammed into the seat) for a quick run up the street. No drive tunnel installed and we were warned to “stay away from” the spinning U-joint at the back of the transmission. Sold it quickly to try to get his money back. I still smile when I see one.
I have told my grandchildren that yes, the world was black & white until 1938. Another note: The only repair shop in Nisland, South Dakota, a few miles east of Belle Fourche, repaired a traveling friend’s TR-3 when it blew a piston. He modified a Ferguson tractor piston to fit & it worked fine..