Lot Ended
Description
Well documented
restoration; Overdrive; hood and tonneau cover: six previous owners; imported in
1963 from Germany; converted to RHD
The car is
documented and confirmed as a 1958 vehicle, although the logbook records 1964.
This discrepancy relates to its import from Germany by an American serviceman,
at which point it was converted to right-hand drive. It is a multiple
concours-winning example, presented in excellent condition
throughout.
The vehicle
underwent a full restoration approximately 15 years ago. Since then, it has
covered fewer than 4,500 miles on a rebuilt, balanced and lightened engine. It
also benefits from a galvanised chassis and a TR4A overdrive gearbox, making it
both mechanically robust and highly enjoyable to
drive.
The Triumph
TR series is widely regarded as the quintessential British sports car of the
1950s. The original TR2 was powered by a durable 1991cc four-cylinder wet-liner
OHV pushrod engine and was capable of reaching a genuine 100mph. In period, it
was also praised for its impressive fuel economy, returning around 34.5mpg over
long-distance testing. The TR3 followed in 1955, offering increased power, front
disc brakes, and optional overdrive on the top three gears. This electrically
operated system was controlled via a dashboard
switch.
Further
development led to the TR3A, introduced in 1957. This model featured a wider
front grille, external door handles, a lockable boot handle, and a full tool kit
as standard. Mechanically, it retained a strong boxed-section chassis with
independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle, combined with
disc and drum braking. With around 104bhp and 117lb ft of torque, it could
accelerate to 60mph in approximately 10 seconds and reach a top speed of just
over 109mph. The model was eventually succeeded by the more modern TR4 in
1961.
This
particular TR3A was built in October 1958 and was originally a left-hand drive
car, believed to have been first owned by an American serviceman stationed in
Germany. It returned to the UK in March 1964. Since then, it has had six owners,
with the previous vendor acquiring it in April 2010.
Over the
following two years, the car underwent a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration.
It was later sold again in 2021 by Brightwells to the current vendor and has
since been kept in dry storage, covering just 219 miles over the last five
years.
The
restoration work is extensively documented through a large collection of
invoices. Key mechanical upgrades include a full engine rebuild by Worcester
Classic Cars, featuring new pistons, lightening and balancing, and conversion
for unleaded fuel use. Additional improvements include an alloy sump, upgraded
rear crank oil seal, electronic ignition, and a rebuilt TR4A overdrive gearbox
with synchro on all gears and overdrive in second, third, and fourth. A new TR4A
clutch kit was also fitted, along with an uprated cooling system featuring an
alloy radiator, electric fan, and Evans Waterless
Coolant.
Cosmetically
and structurally, all outer panels were chemically stripped and e-coated by SPL
of Dudley before being professionally repainted in red. The car also received
new stainless steel bumpers and brightwork, stainless steel headlamp guards, a
new aluminium fuel tank, painted wire wheels with tyres, and a stainless steel
exhaust system. The interior was fully retrimmed in black leather, and new
weather equipment—including hood, sidescreens, and tonneau cover—was supplied. A
battery cut-off switch was also installed. The chassis was found to be in
excellent condition, being a galvanised unit fitted by a previous
owner.
Since
completion of the restoration, the car has covered around 4,000 miles in fair
weather use and remains in outstanding condition. It has an impressive
competition history, winning the TR Register Birmingham Group TR2/3 Concours in
2012 and going on to win the Master Class Concours six more times over the
following seven years, competing successfully against later TR models including
the TR4, TR5, TR6, and TR7.
Supporting
documentation includes a V5C, an older style V5, a 1974 green logbook, an MOT
certificate valid to March 2021, 19 historic MOT certificates dating back to
1998 (when the mileage was 14,840), and a large file of restoration invoices
along with a transferable “660 FOW” number plate.
Overall,
this is arguably one of the finest TR3A examples ever offered, and it remains a
strong contender for further concours success in the
future.
Contact
james.booth@brightwells.com