Full Description

SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED

A unique ‘Works’ designated Triumph TR3 with exceptional historic provenance.

EQUIPMENT
Mohair hood, side screens and full/rear tonneau covers, detachable front screen, central stop lamp, 5in tachometer and speedometer, fuel, water temperature, ammeter and oil pressure gauges, button starter, scuttle ventilator, panel lights, glove locker, door pockets. Optional Extras; Electrically operated overdrive, Lucas auxiliary lamps, Desmo chrome door mirror, stainless steel luggage rack, leather bonnet/boot straps, knock-on type wire wheels, 16 Jewel Ingersoll Triumph day clock, Agat stop watches X2, Mike Lempert wooden steering wheel.

EXTERIOR
This highly collectable very early TR3 Works car is finished in Signal Red and looks fetching at any angle. All the chrome, accessories and very expensive mohair all-weather equipment is in excellent order. Enjoyed immensely for touring and top revival meets the perfection seeking owner will find signs of use but make no mistake, this car is very smart and used to the show circuit! Documented expenditure from its total restoration by the late Brian Lofts in 1988 totals £71,602.78 and reveals the care lavished on this show stopper. A remarkable established tourer.

INTERIOR
A well-appointed interior finished in Stone leather has all the qualities of a traditional sports tourer with bucket type seats, thick pile carpeting and working Jaeger instrumentation. The correct chromed grab handle and rear view mirror is supplemented by period accessories such as Agat stop watches and a Mike Lempert wooden steering wheel. Spotlessly clean, the seats have been upgraded by the previous owner at significant cost in 2021 and sourced from Ridguard Classic Seats, although the original seats and runners have been kept and are included with the car. A complementary interior used to publicity from new.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The original engine remains fitted having completed a full documented engine rebuild enjoying the benefits of unleaded fuel use and 87mm bore pistons and liners as per the works rally cars. Modern enhancements such as a high-torque starter, an alternator and electronic ignition improve reliability and use but nice period touches such as the glass and Bakelite electric windscreen washer bottle remain. The single dry plate hydraulically operated clutch enables smooth progress through the 4-speed gearbox and the optional overdrive snaps in instantly. A real pleasure.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Immaculate and optional knock-on type chrome wire wheels are shod in branded 155 SR15 tyres with ample tread. The separate lockable compartment houses a spare. The Wilwood 4 piston calipers previously fitted to the car have been replaced by a standard front disc and rear drum set up in order to qualify for competing in historic rallies.

HISTORY FILE
Truly exceptional. Built by the Standard Motor Company Limited on Wednesday 26th October 1955 at 11.30am, just 15 days into Triumph TR3 production, and sent to the works teaching and PR section. This matching numbers car registered as SWK 772 can be seen in early photos promoting the Stanley Baker motor sport-themed thriller, Checkpoint. An overwhelming, articulate and chronically filed history reveals ownership tales, competition foils, expenditure logs totalling tens of thousands of pounds and many literature entries. These include an extensive feature in the widely respected Triumph TR guru, Bill Piggot and his book ‘Triumph TR2, 3 &3A in Detail’, a copy of which is included. A previous owner who purchased the vehicle from Hurst Park Automobiles Ltd for £39,000 commissioned a hard copy book entitled, ‘A Car of its Time’ dedicated solely to this car and its fascinating past. Efforts in the making also traced the original owner who was reunited with the car some 55 years after purchasing it with photos taken in the same location both in 1957 and 2014! A brief outline of this cars timeline can be found on the following link. https://drive-my.com/en/retro-carss/item/1857-life-cycle-triumph-tr3.html

In 2015 the car was sold by KGF Classic Cars to Mr Pollitt who has certainly continued this TR3’s amazing history and life story! Used enthusiastically in classic car tours and FIVA registered historic rallies, the car was even used in the opening ceremony for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and subsequently featured on BBC News! Having now added over seven years and almost 5,000 miles to this amazing story, the car is proudly presented to the next custodian to carry on its incredible future legacy.

HPI Clear.