1963 Triumph TR3

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!