Cars

The Triumph TR3A belongs to the line of early sports roadsters produced by Standard-Triumph in Coventry in the late 1950s. It is a direct descendant of the TR2, launched in 1953, Triumph’s first attempt to produce a simple, fast and exportable sports car, primarily for the American market. The TR3, launched in 1955, introduced several important improvements, including Girling front disc brakes – a remarkable innovation for a car in this class at the time.

1957 saw the introduction of the TR3A, a significant evolution of the model. Externally, it is recognizable by its enlarged grille, designed to improve cooling, as well as its exterior door handles and various finishing refinements that make it more practical and civilized. However, the car remains true to its original philosophy: a simple, light and robust roadster, designed to offer sporty performance with easy-to-maintain mechanics.

Under the hood, the TR3A uses the sturdy 1991 cm³ Standard-Triumph in-line four-cylinder, fed by two SU carburetors. This engine develops around 100 hp, enabling the car to reach speeds of almost 175 km/h, a very respectable performance for the late 1950s. The separate chassis, independent front suspension and rigid rear axle with leaf springs deliver the kind of road handling typical of British roadsters of the period: direct, lively and highly communicative.

The TR3A is also distinguished by a rare technical detail: it is one of the last mass-produced sports cars to retain the very low “cut-away” doors inherited from the first TR2s, which allow the arm to rest on the bodywork like on a competition car. Precise rack-and-pinion steering, disc brakes and high engine torque contribute to its reputation as a particularly effective car in rallying and amateur competition.

Between 1957 and 1962, around 58,000 TR3As were produced, the vast majority exported to North America. Today, it represents one of the most emblematic Triumphs of the classic era, combining the purest British roadster aesthetic with simple yet robust mechanics.

The example presented here is a 1961 Triumph TR3A, belonging to the model’s late production period, when the car benefited from the latest improvements made to this generation of roadsters, which became a benchmark among post-war British sports cars.

The engine was completely rebuilt +/- 10 years ago, and runs perfectly. It is equipped with a steering rack for added driving pleasure. It’s also fully equipped for rainy weather: side windows, soft top and tonneau cover.