Britain’s economy was in shambles after the Second World War. So the country looked to automotive exports to help in its recovery. More than half of the industry’s vehicle output was directed overseas, especially to the all-important American market. Like this 1958 Triumph TR3 project car recently for sale on eBay.
The sporty Triumph make was one of the most storied of that time. This TR3A, in College Park, NY, has a $7,950 Buy-It-Now price.
The TR3: Sports Car Royalty
This “large mouth” TR3 is a descendant of the “small mouth” TR2 that was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1953. What was then Standard-Triumph, headed by Sir John Black, wanted a sports car that could go up against Morgan. However, Black insisted that it had to use existing platforms and running gear—and 90 mph was a must.
Back in the day, the 1958 TR3 cost $2,675 in the US, which was affordable at the time. A 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne sold for $2,343. The MGA at $2,462 was another big rival.
These Spartan sports cars—with side curtains instead of roll-up windows—weren’t exactly speed demons, though they were lots of fun to drive. Drivers sat practically on the ground. The venerable inline-four offered 100 horsepower and a top speed of 105, which made Sir John Black happy. However, reaching 60 mph took a leisurely 12.5 seconds.
Triumph used coil springs up front and leaf springs in the back. Power got to the road through a four-speed manual transmission. The mechanicals are quite robust—although the electrics could be dodgy.
A ’58 TR3 to Get Greasy For
The car for sale is a project, though it’s better than most. According to vendor Ashish Talwil, a co-owner of Merit Cars in College Park, the car was one of three TR3s that came out of 20-year hibernation in a Long Island garage. The owner sold a blue car, but this example and a parts car are left.
Talwil said:
It shouldn’t take too much to get it started. The fuel system will have to be gone over. It’s mostly complete, has a nice top with side curtains, and is clean for a Long Island car.
The TR3 has rust on the bottom of the doors and rocker panels. However, the nose and fenders look clean—they’re fiberglass. The chassis, seen on a lift, seems quite good. The two-tone interior is intact and could be serviceable by replacing some fairly nasty hand-cut green carpeting. A spare wheel and some extra parts are included.
Thankfully, a robust aftermarket exists for the TR3—while not everything is available some 60 years after the initial production of this body style, many reproduction pieces continue to be offered by specialists on eBay Motors.
Shop now for Triumph car parts
Ragtop Dreams
The TR3 was refreshed in 1957. The grille got broader and less set-back, door handles became standard, and the trunk was lockable. Bigger bumpers were also part of the upgrade. More than 58,000 of this generation of TR3 were produced, with most coming stateside.
Triumph TR3s like the car offered on eBay make great inexpensive classics for wind-in-the-hair fun, and they’re not too expensive—even when fully restored. Hagerty values a concours example of the ’58 at $47,500.
In fair condition like this one, values are closer to $10,000. There were many of them sold here, so parts are numerous. With ready parts and accessories available, and a massive knowledge base from a big enthusiast following, this could be a reasonable manageable project to make your ragtop dreams a reality.
