Stored since 1981, this 1958 Triumph TR3A has been awaiting refurbishment for a while. Unfortunately, the owner has realized that it will be uneconomical to have the car professionally restored, and thus the shop has listed it for sale here on eBay. It’s currently located in Newark, Delaware. Bidding has started at only $2,000 and there’s no reserve. This seems like a pretty good project for a home restorer with more time than money.
The owner of the shop has the car listed, and seems quite honest about its condition. The floors, trunk and rocker panels will have to be replaced, and I suspect there will be other localized repairs as well. Additionally, although the 72 spoke wire wheels fit, there aren’t original for these cars, so if you really want originality (I’d stick with the 72 spoke ones, myself) you’ll need to replace them. After that long, they may need rebuilding anyway; thankfully there are specialists for that kind of thing.
There will also be some dents to take care of. However, I’ve seen far worse TR3s restored to beyond showroom condition, so don’t despair if an open Triumph roadster with cut down doors is what you are looking for.
Here’s another area where you will need some new parts; but many more things are available now than there used to be. For example, you can get excellent reproductions of the springs needed for the bottom of both of the seats. All the other components are available as well. I’m curious, how many other folks besides me would at least get the car running and driving first and show up at some events in its current cosmetic state?
The little Triumph wet liner four cylinder started right up after some Marvel Mystery Oil was put down the cylinders and allowed to soak for a while. Not only did it start, but it ran without smoking as soon as the MMO was cleaned out of the cylinders. I’d have to agree that you could buy a restored car for far less than this would cost to restore, but if you were to do most or all of the work yourself, this might be the perfect project for you. If you decide to bring this TR home, be sure and let us know!
I loved these little cars, never could get into one though. The only sports-car I could get into and drive was my Mom’s Austin-Healy 3000, and then I grew some more.
Had one of these, no 1gear sync so I put in atr4 tranny. If I had kept it and my 58 speedster I’d be retired.
FYI your pop up ads for email list are too often they are getting annoying
Real easy to get rid of, become a member
had a 58 I bought in 1966. bit rough I repainted it in Brittish Racing Green, put on wire wheels and drove it as a DD. Froze in the winter, the top would blow off in rain storms. Wrecked it, rebuilt in with parts car, Finally traded it in on a new Ford Mustang. :) Still, have a few parts in my garage.
what about the tr4a in the background?
My favorite TR3 memory was driving back from a college date on a rainy night. I bought a ’62 TR3B from Calumet Auto Wreckers for $175 in 1968. To say it needed work would be a gross understatement.
A Semi passed me going the other way fast on a 2 lane blacktop and “Whooosh” the roof just disappeared like a magic act. My date just screamed once. I gave her a raincoat I had in the trunk, stopped, went back to pick up the top and put it back on slowly, snap by worn out snap and took her home.
Yes, after she dried off and thought about it, she laughed and we went out again.
The same car is in my garage now, waiting on a new interior and for me to install the OD transmission I found and had rebuilt.
@dPeter1946
Isn’t the story supposed to end I got the girl wonder whatever happened to the car?
As to the money that has to go into the car to get it back on the road; Isn’t there a point where you can just get the car on the road again and not be upside down on it? Do we always have to drive a brand new shiny restored car?
Trouble starts when a 500 dollar car is 2k to start the project with.
Cars like this scream vintage race car project instead of restore to perfect for street use.
Trouble is, far to many people start with really nice street cars and ruin them by converting them for vintage racing use. Why don’t they start with this and build from the ground up? I’ve never quite understood this?
We went on our honeymoon 56 years ago, in my ’56 TR-3. I loved the car but it didn’t like me, leaving a trail of broken axles and transmissions.
My brother and my cousin had brand new ’59’s, red/b;ack and white/black w hardtop n wires, louvered hood (cuz was a hot-rodder). I had a red ’61 20 years later. I now had a TD