1957 Triumph TR3A O/D

Long famed for their rugged reliability and idiosyncratic good looks, the 'side screen' TRs have attracted a fanatical following over the years. The final evolution of the Triumph TR2/TR3 sportscar line (save for the American market TR3B), the TR3A was introduced in September 1957. It was never officially badged as such and was, in fact, a minor revision of the TR3 with updates including a new wide grille, exterior door handles, lockable boot and a full tool kit. 

Great fun to drive, its tough box-section chassis featured independent coil and wishbone front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and disc/drum brakes, (the first British production car to have front disc brakes as standard). Fitted with a 1,991cc four-cylinder OHV unit developing around 104bhp and 117lb/ft of torque, it was reputedly capable of 110mph. A great sales success on both sides of the Atlantic, the model provided a rather more visceral alternative to its MG and Jaguar competition.

This very early TR3A was one of the first ‘A’s to roll off the production line in 1957, and was built for the American market, arriving there and initially registered in 1958. It remained overseas until returning to the UK in 2018, ripe for a restoration which it was to receive at the hands of the present owner, a retired race engineer of some standing.  Every nut, bolt, washer and screw has received attention with accuracy and attention to detail being at the forefront of the build. The bare shell was totally stripped and rebuilt as required, retaining as many of the original panels as possible, and sourcing the finest quality parts when required, to achieve a fit and finish that is difficult to criticise in any way. Delve a little deeper and the quality is clear to see from the outstanding Medici Blue paintwork to the fully detailed underside and the superbly trimmed interior.

The engine bay is a work of art and houses the fully rebuilt and upgraded 2,138cc straight-four. After the bare block and head had been 'Hot Tanked' to chemically clean them, reassembly began with new 89mm pistons and liners, the con rods were replaced with Max Speed forged items, the crank was reground and balanced along with the flywheel/clutch/front pulley assembly. New parts included a Newman uprated camshaft plus followers, springs, valves, pushrods, rocker shaft and arms, Vernier-type timing sprockets, timing chain, ARP head studs and nuts, water and oil pump, oil filter conversion, rear-main seal conversion, narrow fan belt conversion, stainless steel four-branch exhaust manifold and single silencer system, Hi-torque starter motor and an uprated Aluminium radiator. The head, after some port work to match the TR4A inlet manifold (better flowing than the STD item) and the tubular exhaust manifold, was sent to a local automotive engineering company for skimming and lead-free valve seats to be fitted. The enhanced power output is fed through an uprated all-synchro, overdrive gearbox to the fully rebuilt final drive. The car's full specification is too long to list here but full details are available to interested parties.

The quality of the restoration is exceptional in many ways and has to be one of, if not the, the finest example available today. Triumph TR3s come to market on a fairly regular basis, but spectacular examples of this quality do not, and your early inspection is welcomed and encouraged to fully appreciate the lengths that have been taken to produce this outstanding example.

Ready to be enjoyed once again and with less than 100 miles covered since completion, a period of 'running-in' is highly recommended to achieve the very best from this ever popular 1950s roadster.