Stored Twenty Years: 1960 Triumph TR3A

By most measures, Standard Motor Company was late to the sports car niche. Vauxhall’s 1910 C-10 – dubbed the “Prince Henry” – is considered to be Britain’s first sports car; MG and Morgan were born making sports cars; Jaguar produced its SS 90 in 1935 under the Swallow Sidecar umbrella. But it took Standard until after WWII to launch the Triumph Roadster, and while the rest of the market’s offerings were slim, spare, and zippy, the Triumph was a luxurious beast – more along the lines of a drophead coupe. The company inched its way toward the TR2 with a prototype shown at the 1952 London Motor Show. Despite a few foibles, more than 8000 examples of the new model were sold from 1953 to 1955. The TR2 also provided the basis for the much better car to follow: the TR3. The TR3 gave buyers more power from the same engine, optional overdrive, and by 1956, front disc brakes. Here on eBay is a 1960 TR3A bid to $3450, reserve not met. The car is located in Marcy, New York.

This odd shot of the engine obscures most of the ancillaries, but it’s a 1991 cc four, breathing through two SU carburetors and capable of generating 100 hp. This car has been stored for 20 years, but the listing implies that it runs (“You can drive and enjoy it the way it is and work on it as you go….” ). Underside and sill photos show a bit of rash and plenty of undercoating. The seller indicates that the car was painted several years ago and is generally solid, but a hole in one wing is termed an “easy fix”.

The red interior was renovated some years ago when the car was painted, and provides a wonderful contrast with the black exterior. The footwell rugs are worn, but mats could cover the problem for the time being. The top has been replaced, and matching side curtains are with the car. The seller notes that the original soft top and tonneau are included, though it’s likely they’ll need reconditioning before use – vinyl shrinks over time. Also with the car are historical ownership and maintenance documents.

The TR3 series sold over 74,000 copies from 1955 through 1962, until the TR4 arrived. It was a popular road car, and it easily adapted to the track. Like many British sports cars, the TR3 reached a popularity peak a few years ago, when nice examples breached $40k routinely. While the occasional finely-restored TR3 will sell in that region today, the vast majority are drifting down in price. Still, the bid on this car remains below the typical project price.