1958 Triumph TR3A

This TR3A has been the subject of a full restoration by a previous owner, and looks superb in the arresting combination of a Powder Blue exterior and a cream interior. Although the restoration was completed some time ago, the car has covered very few miles since and looks to have been very well looked after.

Our vendor had previously restored an MG, but decided it wasn't the car he wanted to tour in, hence this purchase. Over the years it's enjoyed trips and tours across the UK, with journeys abroad to the Le Mans Classic, the Circuit des Remparts in Angoulême, and onwards to Northern Spain. 

Our vendor tells us he has "fitted seatbelts, an alternator, electric petrol pump, converted the oil filter to a canister, replaced the clutch plus clutch master and slave cylinders, replaced the exhaust valves, seats and wired an auxiliary socket into the glovebox for mobile phone charging"

He noted that "like all TR's it could do with a HI Torque Starter"... a job for the future you then. Having purchased a SAAB 96 from us not long ago, which is somewhat easier with his mobility issues, he has decided the time has now come for the TR to be enjoyed by new custodians.

 

This Triumph gleams in the spring sunshine and generally presents very well indeed, although the paintwork doers have the odd flaw. There is a mark by the large alloy fuel filler cap and some slight bubbling of the paint nearby.

There is a small light scratch in the paint to the rear nearside wheelarch just behind the wheel. There is also a small crack in the paint finish on the offside front wing. In addition there are small marks in the paintwork in the panel adjacent to the trailing edge of the passenger door.

The painted wire wheels have some marks on their edges but are generally still in good shape. The chrome spinners are in nice condition. The tyres have a healthy amount of tread on them.

The car’s front bumper is not fitted.

The windscreen is cracked near the top on the passenger side and is delaminating nearby. The hood itself is in very nice condition, as is the tonneau cover, which was replaced relatively recently.

The panel under the boot contains a spare wheel.
 

We’re informed that new interior carpets have been recently fitted and an original spec steering wheel fitted. The cream interior is generally in excellent order, but there are a few marks on the rear upholstery, probably caused by the hood frame rubbing on it. By the same token the hood frame itself has lost some paint finish here and there, as you can see in the pictures.

Generally there is the odd small mark here and there, but nothing to detract from what is a very pleasant cabin. All the dashboard gauges look bright, clear and untarnished. The original switches have a lovely patina but the white paint that would have been on them has mostly worn away.

There’s an iPhone connector sprouting from one of the windscreen air vents which we imagine is purely for charging purposes as there doesn’t appear to be any kind of stereo system fitted.

The chrome passenger grab handle has some tarnishing to its finish, as does the very short gearstick, which is topped with a wooden knob carrying the Triumph badge. The seatbelts look very recent.

The boot is clean and carpeted, and underneath that are shiny blue panels, with no signs of any trouble. There’s an extensive toolkit with the car, and there are also some new spares – spark plugs, points, condenser, distributor cap and HT leads among them.
 

This TR’s engine bay is as nice looking as the exterior and interior, which tells us this was a thorough restoration. Stuff the ‘tractor engine’ jibes, the hearty four-pot sits pretty in the spacious engine bay, with twin SU carbs sprouting from its head.

This TR3A also has the very desirable four speed plus overdrive gearbox, to help give more relaxed cruising with lower revs at high speed.

This is very much the kind of classic that could be easily maintained by an enthusiastic owner, with no electronics whatsoever to worry about, and plenty of nipples to grease if you’re in a hands-on kind of mood.

It looks as though someone’s fitted a spin-on oil filter conversion too, which makes things even simpler. And aside from a bit of peeling paint on the engine block itself, everything is very smart indeed.

We’re told the car has just had a gearbox and brake overhaul, and recently had the following new parts fitted:

•    Clutch

•    Propshaft

•    Stainless steel exhaust

The little wheel on the top of the under-bonnet heater valve has a little chunk missing, but it will still function and besides, this is a car that’s unlikely to see much use in the winter, when it will probably be tucked up safely in a dry garage.

The car’s underside, with its separate chassis, also looks very clean indeed, with no signs of any corrosion that we could spot. The exhaust is stainless steel and is new. It looks as though this car has had dry weather use only, as all the fasteners under here look uncorroded too.
 

This TR comes with a photographic record of the restoration and a huge stack of bills for parts associated with it. Looking at this it’s clear that the bodyshell had many new panels fitted.

The car was first registered in the UK in 1995, which might have indicated it was imported from somewhere with a kinder climate than ours. However, there is also the original registration book issued by Somerset Licensing Office in 1958, so this is a genuine right-hand drive, UK spec TR3A. A certificate from the Standard Register confirms this.

There is a selection of old MoT certificates, historic tax discs and invoices going back many years, including one which confirms that the car’s cylinder head has had hardened valve seats fitted, so it can run happily on unleaded petrol without the need for any additives.

Of course, any car over 40 years of age is exempt from MoT tests and attracts zero road tax, but we’re told this TR’s owner had it MoT’d last year simply as a precautionary measure.
 

A sparkling Triumph TR3A that’s ready to be enjoyed this coming summer. It’s not absolutely perfect, but then if it was you might hesitate to take the top down and blast along a B-road in it. And what a shame it would be to miss out on that thrill.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £21,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.