1960 Triumph TR3A - Ex Press Car

The Triumph TR3A was built between 1957 and 1961 and boasted a number of cosmetic upgrades from the standard TR3. These included a wider front grill incorporating indicators, exterior door handles, lockable boot handle and an improved interior. With the TR3A, Triumph were genuinely able to rival MG and Jaguar offering practical 100mph-plus performance at a reasonable price. Consequently, the TR3A was a huge success for Triumph selling 58,236 examples, mainly to foreign buyers. However, it is believed that only 10,000 of the original 58,000 built are on the road today.

'46 HP' is a particularly important and special car in Triumph folklore. It was first registered in February 1960 to the Standard Motor Co Press Fleet, hence, the registration number containing the coveted Works registration, "HP'. One of the last side screen TR's on the press fleet, it was to be the chosen steed of the Assistant Editor of MotorSport Magazine on a glitzy European tour to take in the Monza GP and visit the Maserati, Abarth and Lancia factories for their October 1960 issue; a copy of which accompanies the car, naturally.

The original and continuation log books show that the car was sold to private hands in 1961 seeing a small number of owners through to c1971-3 whereupon the car was believed to be laid up. Rediscovered in a barn in the late 1980s, '46 HP' was quickly purchased in poor, but original condition, from which a full restoration was undertaken seeing the car back to the road in factory original specification around 1990. Many invoices relating to this restoration (and indeed to continued maintenance throughout its life) accompany the car.

Poor health again forced a sale in 1998, before being later acquired in 2004 by our vendor. Once again, time had caught up with the car cosmetically and it is at this very time being professionally stripped and repainted before auction in late February. This means that this very honest and important Triumph will be beautifully presented ready for the 2014 season of classic motoring.

Offering what we consider to be fantastic value at today's guide price, this significant TR, sporting that all-important Works registration (itself worth in excess of £10,000!) presents an intriguing and seductive opportunity to own a real piece of history for a comparatively modest outlay. Don't delay to own such a car...