Vehicle Description
British sports cars are a cornerstone of the old car hobby, and
we'd argue that the Triumph TR3 sits neatly at the intersection
between affordable and desirable. This 1963 TR3, for instance, has
a gorgeous look that's reminiscent of a Jaguar XK120, a burly
4-cylinder engine, and a very reasonable price tag for all that
classic British fun. It's a great choice if driving enjoyment is
your primary goal.
This car has been restored, freshened, and repainted several times
over the course of its life, which suggests to us that it has been
loved and enjoyed, but never abandoned and resurrected. As a
result, there are a myriad of upgrades and it's thoroughly sorted
and ready to enjoy. Original documentation suggests that it was
originally British Racing Green, and at some point it was repainted
red, and today it wears a handsome coat of Oxford White, which
suits it just fine. It was repainted in 2015 and the workmanship
was on par with what you'd expect from Triumph in the '60s: nice
but not perfect. There are few signs of use, which is a great
indicator of the care it has received, and there is no evidence of
major rust repair or previous issues. The later TR3s, known as the
TR3A, had exterior door handles, which was certainly a worthy
upgrade, and they certainly didn't take it easy on the chrome, with
bright headlight rings, cool mirrors way out there on the front
wings, and a classic raked windshield. There are a pair of
bumperettes up front, but the full-sized front bumper is also
available if you want the factory look.
The tan leather interior appears to have been recently freshened as
well, carrying fresh seat covers on the comfortable wrap-around
buckets. The carpets are in excellent shape and the dash has been
wrapped in the same tan leather as the seats for a classic look.
The big banjo-style steering wheel is right in your chest, the
typical British sports car driving position, and all the controls
are centrally-mounted because it was built in both left- and
right-hand-drive versions for a global market. All the factory
Smiths instruments are fully operational and look great, and that
little T-handle thing hanging on the dash is the hood key, so don't
lose it. You'll also note that the gear shift now sports five gears
instead of four, and there are auxiliary switches for the electric
fan and fuel pump. Weather equipment includes a matching white top
and the trunk is neatly finished with simple black carpets.
The 1991 cc four-cylinder engine is a big over-achiever, making
this Triumph feel nimble yet torquey. Rebuilt about 300 miles ago
(not a typo), it's extremely fresh and very well-tuned with twin SU
carburetors and a very tidy engine bay. Upgrades include an
electric fuel pump, electronic ignition system, high-capacity
alternator, and a custom side exhaust that sounds fantastic. Some
shiny chrome dresses up the engine and it really pops in that
bright white engine bay. The aforementioned 5-speed manual
transmission is from a Toyota and that overdrive gear makes this a
great long-distance cruiser that's relaxed at speed. The rest is
stock, including the simple suspension, manual steering, and,
remarkably, front disc brakes, which were factory-issue. The
underside of the car is quite tidy and it looks like original
floors and straight, solid frame rails, so you know it hasn't been
left out in the salt air. Traditional painted wire wheels look
great and carry 160/80/15 blackwall radials, which have the right
tall, skinny look.
Complete with receipts, historical documentation, restoration
photos, and lots of extra goodies, this is a wonderful way to get
into a vintage sports car that doesn't cost a small fortune. Call
today!
