1959 Triumph TR3 'S'

• An accurate recreation of ‘XHP 939’, the 1959 experimental 'Works' Le Mans Entrant
• Correctly UK-registered bearing the registration ‘XHP 939’ and corresponding Chassis No #X628
• Holder of the Le Mans fastest lap record for any Triumph
• Full race TR3 engine breathing through extremely rare twin-choke DU6 SU carburettors
• A competitive car in the right hands and a potential entrant to many prestigious events.

Having enjoyed moderate class success at Le Mans in 1955 with a couple of TR2s, Standard-Triumph's Competition Department decided to return to the Circuit de la Sarthe four years later. They fielded three bespoke Triumph TR3S machines that boasted longer chassis, fibreglass bodywork, disc brakes all round and the in-house developed 'Sabrina' twin-cam engines. Sadly, the trio retired - two due to cooling fan failures and the third because of a faulty oil pump - but not before they had left an indelible impression on marque enthusiasts. Once back at the factory, the TR3S racers were shorn of their bodywork and had their chassis reused for the subsequent TRS project which would go onto distinguish itself by winning the coveted team prize in the 1961 race.

In 2001, the present owner of ‘XHP 939’ gained legal title to Chassis #X628 and embarked on a project to bring this famous Triumph back to life. Having the original factory blueprints and various Works' parts, the project commenced with Protek Engineering in Wallingford being given the enviable task of building the TR from the chassis up. Marque specialist Glen Hewitt of Protek, had built a TR3S Evocation for himself in the past and that was partly responsible for our vendor deciding to create another TR3S tribute car. 

With historic accuracy being of paramount importance, great lengths were taken to ensure that the finished article would be as correct as it possibly could be. The donor chassis thus had its side rails not just lengthened (by 5" 7/8") but also deepened (by 3/4"). Further rigidity comes from the installation of a roll-cage front and rear with associated bracing struts. The TR3S' elongated fibreglass bodywork was painstakingly recreated even down to the ducts ahead of the rear wings, reshaped spare wheel 'letter box' and racing windscreen. In the absence of a Sabrina engine, the car has been fitted with a blueprinted 170bhp TR four-cylinder engine fuelled by a pair of the very rare twin-choke DU6 SU carburettors and mated to a heavy-duty overdrive gearbox. Such was the general enthusiasm for the project that even Claude Dubois, one of the original Le Mans drivers, provided access to his archive of racing ephemera. 

Making its first appearance at the 2010 Le Mans Classic, the car performed exceptionally well with appearances following at Goodwood, the Oulton Park Gold Cup and the 2013, 2014 and 2016 Le Mans Classics followed, driven in the later event by one of its original pilots Claude Dubois, achieving the fastest ever recorded lap and top speed by a TR at a Le Mans Classic ; 5:39.7.

Faithfully replicating XHP's original looks and spec, this TR3S re-creation looks remarkable value. It would be welcome at prestigious events anywhere and can offer much enjoyment, pride of ownership and maybe even a bit of silverware gracing the circuits of Europe.