Triumph TR3A

[Gilligan]

So I can't help myself sometimes when it comes to auctions..sticking my card in the air netted me a 1959 Triump TR3A project car at Knott's auction last weekend.

Now the reality sets in. Do I complete the well-begun restoration (very well done so far - the chassis complete and rolls; apparently the guy passed on and the car came from an estate sale) or cut my losses and eBay the thing right away?

 

[ciwmj]

So I can't help myself sometimes when it comes to auctions..sticking my card in the air netted me a 1959 Triump TR3A project car at Knott's auction last weekend.

Now the reality sets in. Do I complete the well-begun restoration (very well done so far - the chassis complete and rolls; apparently the guy passed on and the car came from an estate sale) or cut my losses and eBay the thing right away?

You might want to talk to some folks that have restored the vintage British
marques. Google PVFCC for info.

 

[jrt_ms1995]

Don't let any of the smoke get out of the wiring!

 

[aps45819]

I once bought a TR4 and I should have suspected something when the guy gave me a second one free to use for parts

 

[Gilligan]

I've messed around with some Triumphs, Austin Healeys and MG's..(and a Datsun 1600 Roadster...they copied the Healey) over the last 30 years or so...but this would be my first ground-up project on any of those marques.

 

[aps45819]

and that's why I love my MX5 Mazda, the only thing I have to restore is gas in the tank

 

[Gilligan]

and that's why I love my MX5 Mazda, the only thing I have to restore is gas in the tank

I've always been a nut for the old rides. From the 1927 Dodge Brothers coupe I started restoring in 1974...and so many since then (maybe 20?..more?).

Last year's project was the 1947 Harley U Big Twin..but that bumped time from the '69, '76 and '78 Bronco projects..and the '61 T-Bird..and....now this thing.

Anyone can buy a ride. Not everyone can build one. That said, perhaps I take the "build it yrself" aspect a bit far.

 

[aps45819]

Not everyone can build one. That said, perhaps I take the "build it yrself" aspect a bit far.

It's a lot of fun but not everybody has the facilities or space for restoration project.

 

[Gilligan]

It's a lot of fun but not everybody has the facilities or space for restoration project.

I know. In the nearly 40 years that I've been doing that, its been barns, sheds, tiny garages, even tents (where I restored my 18-foot '53 Chris Craft Special Sportsman runabout back in the early 80's..).

Nowadays, its amazing how many people are prevented from doing cool resto projects by their HOA rules.

 

[aps45819]

even tents (where I restored my 18-foot '53 Chris Craft Special Sportsman runabout back in the early 80's..).

A friend did one of those. Had a couple coats of varnish on the hull and came out to find the neighbor's cat had walked across it immediately before the cat died

 

[Gilligan]

A friend did one of those. Had a couple coats of varnish on the hull and came out to find the neighbor's cat had walked across it immediately before the cat died

Varnish..especially fresh varnish..is highly toxic to cats. Who knew?

 

[Dukesdad]

I had two of them, a 59 and a 61. one of my few regrets in life is letting the red one get away from me. Great cars. Fix it up.

 

[Gilligan]

I had two of them, a 59 and a 61. one of my few regrets in life is letting the red one get away from me. Great cars. Fix it up.

Well..it is a red one, so....

 

[Dukesdad]

mine had the knock off wheels and an overdrive transmission. great car. Boatload of fun. Putting the crank in the front and starting it up was priceless. I was/ am still a dumbazz for letting it go. don't mremember what i did with the blue one.

 

[Gilligan]

mine had the knock off wheels and an overdrive transmission. great car..

So does the one I just bought. I'm sure it will be a hoot to drive.

 

[Claff]

I'd at least make it driveable, semi-safe, and semi-reliable. Spend the winter on it and drive it next summer, then decide if you want to hang onto it or send it along. I'm doing the same with a derelict MGB. There's some serious charm fiddling with a 40+ year old car.

And yeah, when I want to actually drive something, the Miata comes in handy. There's some serious charm in a fun car that starts every time you turn the key.

My dad had a TR3 back when they were "new". Drove it year-round while commuting between Albany NY and Pittsfield MA, plus autocross, ice racing, pretty much anything you could do with cars he did with his. In the end it got ratty, rusty, developed a rod knock. When I was shopping for a British roadster he told me STAY AWAY FROM TR3! I still like the way they look, though. Well-done ones are real head turners.

If I was buying a Brit today I'd probably shoot for a Spitfire. But I've had the MGB for 20 years, I'm kinda stuck with it.

 

[Gilligan]

I'd at least make it driveable, semi-safe, and semi-reliable. Spend the winter on it and drive it next summer, then decide if you want to hang onto it or send it along. I'm doing the same with a derelict MGB. There's some serious charm fiddling with a 40+ year old car.

And yeah, when I want to actually drive something, the Miata comes in handy. There's some serious charm in a fun car that starts every time you turn the key.

My dad had a TR3 back when they were "new". Drove it year-round while commuting between Albany NY and Pittsfield MA, plus autocross, ice racing, pretty much anything you could do with cars he did with his. In the end it got ratty, rusty, developed a rod knock. When I was shopping for a British roadster he told me STAY AWAY FROM TR3! I still like the way they look, though. Well-done ones are real head turners.

If I was buying a Brit today I'd probably shoot for a Spitfire. But I've had the MGB for 20 years, I'm kinda stuck with it.

I helped a buddy get an old Spit on the road back in the late 70s. This TR3 is built much more like a tractor as far as the driveline goes....reminds me of the Datsun 1600 I fixed up for another buddy of mine..the 1600 being a Healey copy, of course.

My mother was a member of an amateur sports car racing club in her college days, circa 1954-57, and of course nearly all the cars involved were the Brit makes. She will love to get a chance to drive this TR3....

 

[Claff]

My mother was never into the oddball cars my dad brought home, and he's brought home a lot of oddballs. For that matter, he still is. We're having a little competition to see who gets whose clunker on the road first: my MGB vs the basket case Sunbeam Tiger he got over the summer. He says he's already got his car to start and idle so he's ahead of me, but I've been playing with autocrossing Miatas all summer so the MG has been extremely low priority. Plus, he's retired so he has a lot more time to play with his toys.

 

[Gilligan]

My mother was never into the oddball cars my dad brought home, and he's brought home a lot of oddballs. For that matter, he still is. We're having a little competition to see who gets whose clunker on the road first: my MGB vs the basket case Sunbeam Tiger he got over the summer. He says he's already got his car to start and idle so he's ahead of me, but I've been playing with autocrossing Miatas all summer so the MG has been extremely low priority. Plus, he's retired so he has a lot more time to play with his toys.

Sunbeam Tiger ..as in with 289 V-8? I thought I had one of those tracked down locally about 20 years ago, but never got to see it.

 

[chuckster]

and that's why I love my MX5 Mazda, the only thing I have to restore is gas in the tank

I have a 96 MX5 that is great. Thinking about restoring it and have found a number of web sites for the parts to do it. Car runs great even with 158000 on it. Went to Brandywine Parts on 235 and walked out with close to $900. in parts for under $100.