Lot details Registration No: 827 XUY Chassis No: TS34476 Mot Expiry: June 2011
Triumph's TR Series began with the unveiling of a prototype (retrospectively called the TR1) at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was built around the chassis of the pre-war Flying Nine, the suspension from the Mayflower and powered by the engine from the Vanguard. Trials showed it to handle poorly, however, and the design was not progressed. The new, much improved TR2 was launched the following year. The two-seater body was mounted on a substantial separate chassis. Suspension was independent by coil springs at the front and featured a live axle hung on leaf springs at the rear. The newcomer was powered by a twin SU version of the 1991cc four-cylinder engine from the Standard Vanguard, tuned to produce 90bhp. The TR3 of 1955 was a direct evolution of the TR2. With it came minor styling revisions, a slight hike in power and the options of an occasional rear seat and a bolt-on hard top. The overdrive system for the four-speed manual gearbox was upgraded to work on the top three ratios, effectively giving a seven-speed gearbox. In 1956 the front brakes were changed from drum units to disc. The final iteration of the TR3, the TR3A, appeared in 1957. It was instantly recognisable for its wider front grille, exterior door handles and lockable boot handle. The TR3A continued in production until 1962, by which 58,236 are said to have been built. A road test by Road & Track magazine in the USA gave a 0-60mph time of 12 seconds for the TR3A.
The TR3A being sold started life as a left-hand drive North American export that was built in August 1958. Since being repatriated it has been converted to right-hand drive, fitted with new floors and sills and generally treated to a considerable degree of recent restoration. For example, the body and chassis have reportedly been shot blasted and zinc primed and all the under parts have been Waxoiled. The interior has been retrimmed, the wiring loom and hood have been renewed, and it is intended to fit new stainless steel bumpers before the sale. The car is taxed and MOT'd until June next year.
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