Vehicle Description
(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this Triumph TR3 on a
website other than our main website, it's possible that only some
of our many photographs of this car are presented due to website
limitations. To be sure you are able to see all the more than 125
photographs, please go to our main website: Garage Kept
Motors.)
1959 Triumph TR3
"Seldom, if ever...have we ever met a man who bought a TR2 or a TR3
and regretted the purchase." -Len Griffing for Car and Driver,
1970
There are a number of excellent reasons why Mr. Griffing's quote is
accurate. Triumph TR3s are simply very, very satisfying sports cars
in the classic British tradition. The Car and Driver archived
review went right down the line with praise beneath the headline
"100 horses of fury."
?
The engine: "There is plenty of power, even around 2000 revs, but
the engine likes to go over the 3000 mark." The gearbox: "...the
short gear shift lever is perhaps the nicest feature in this
department: we changed gears by reaching out and taking hold of the
rubber dust cover on the stick, and changed gear slots by moving
just the thumb. It's as easy as that." Performance: "Acceleration
can be neck snapping if you want it to be...." Stopping power: "The
brakes leave absolutely nothing to be desired." With characteristic
English, to-the-point brevity, another publication, Britain's Motor
Sport magazine, described the TR3 simply: "Commendably High
Performance and Excellent Brakes."
The red-over-black TR3 offered here has been collector-owned and
exclusively adult-driven for the past16 years. It comes accompanied
by a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate showing a
certified copy of factory records for the North- American-spec
vehicle. Built in Coventry, England, the car still wears its
original "Type 20/TR3" chassis tag with identifying number
(TS52659L) matching the factory record. "Factory fitted equipment"
originally included a heater, whitewall tires, a tonneau cover,
"occasional rear seat," tool kit and "spare wheel" (with, one
assumes, a tire mounted thereon). It was built on May 26, 1959, and
"despatched" shortly thereafter on June 4th, bound for European
Motors in Detroit. From other available records, the car appears to
have spent many of its early years in Canada, coming back to the
states several years later.
Originally a gray-over-red leather example, a complete restoration
occurred in the late 80's and early 90's including an engine
rebuild as well as the color change inside and out. Sheet metal
replacement took place for the lower portion of the door sills at
the same time. In preparation for its sale, the car just received a
complete tune-up by a Holland, Michigan shop nationally known for
its expertise in British sports cars.
Short of an in-person inspection (which would be welcome), the best
indication of this TR3's condition can be found in the over 125
photographs of the car on the Garage Kept Motors website. In
particular, numerous close-ups are included so as to capture the
car's solid, well cared-for condition. Its engine compartment and
undercarriage are tidy. Condition of the upholstery, dash, gauges,
and other interior appointments is uniformly excellent. Wheels and
tires are pristine. Also included with the sale are the car's top,
side curtains, and rear window canvas, as well as technical
manuals.
Meant to be driven, and not put away on a shelf, this TR3 has many
twisty roads and autumn drives ahead of it. And more smiles than
can be counted await its new owner.
