Your classic: Triumph TR3A

| 12 Aug 2025

My first old car was a Volkswagen Beetle, but back in the ’70s it wasn’t yet cherished, just an everyday hack.

So my first proper ‘classic’ would have to be my Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato, but even that was my daily transport at the time.

I have been an enthusiast from a very young age, and have been fortunate to own myriad classic cars, from a 1928 Rolls-Royce 20hp tourer to a 2015 Ariel Atom 3.5/245.

My current collection includes a Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition, a 1949 MG TC and the car in question here, my 1957 Triumph TR3A – a model I have wanted to own for quite some time.

This Triumph TR3A’s balanced ‘four’ is now up to 2138cc

A few years ago I was keen to build my dream garage, but the local authority didn’t agree with the plans so I had to scale back my aspirations a touch.

The result was a garage that could hold two small sports cars, albeit one on top of the other with the aid of a four-post parking ramp, making just enough space underneath for my Triumph.

This TR3A, according to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, was built on 24 December 1957 in Coventry.

It was a left-hand-drive car bound for export to the USA, where it was registered in 1958. The only American history I have for it is a certificate of title from North Carolina for a Michael Ray Corbin, dated 4 August 1975.

It was then sold to the Beverly Hills Car Club Inc, from where it was purchased as a non-running project.

The Triumph TR3A shares garage space with a 1949 MG TC

The TR eventually came back to the UK in September 2018, ready for a full nut-and-bolt restoration.

As of 12 March 2023, the original reconditioned odometer showed 30,530 miles – the point at which the restoration was completed and the car put back on the road.

I have now been working on and restoring cars for more than 40 years.

I started tinkering with them when I was 15, and attended – and displayed cars at – various shows from the age of 18, but I’m now at an age where I prefer to enjoy the fruits of another’s labours.

This car is a keeper, and the restoration is of a quality rarely found.

According to records, this Triumph TR3A was built on Christmas Eve in 1957

Since taking delivery of the car, I have replaced the painted wire wheels with a set of chrome 72-spoke items and fitted stainless-steel bumpers, and I’m about to add a set of cone K&N-style air filters – I don’t want to run a newly built engine with open trumpets.

It also has a few non-original, upgraded period parts on it.

The plan is to use the car as much as possible, but I do try to avoid bad weather.

I have always aspired to own a classic vehicle restored to this superb standard.

The car is brilliant to drive and easily keeps pace with modern traffic.

The engine has been uprated to 2138cc, balanced and breathed upon.

This Triumph TR3A is now a Best in Show winner, but a leather retrim is maybe on the cards

Future jobs include changing back to steel wheels (wire-wheel cleaning is a punishment, not a pleasure).

I may even retrim it in leather, because upholstery is one of my things.

I regularly display the Triumph at both regional and national car shows, and I hope to attend the local TR Register meeting soon as a new member of the club’s ‘Red Rose Section’.

I was fortunate to take part in a local show three days after purchasing the TR.

It was on display among 160 or so well-presented classics and drove away with the Best in Show trophy – testament to the skills of Adrian Salisbury, who did such a lovely job with the restoration.

Lead image: Shawcross Car Photography

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