1956 Triumph TR3 - Inquire - Bedford Hills, NY - Sixty years ago, after decades of changing ownership, Standard-Triumph decided to use the Triumph name for sporting cars. In 1953 the Triumph TR2 was initiated, the first of the successful racing and road sports car series that would be produced until 1981. In 1955, the TR2 became the TR3 with a new lattice-work "small mouth" grille, a bump to 95 BHP and the addition of Girling disc brakes for the front wheels; a first for a British production car. The TR3 continued with "A" and "B" versions through 1962 when the latter was sold along side the new TR4 with that vehicle's larger 2138cc engine. The low, rounded nose, "frog's eye" headlights, and the rearward-falling front fender line that repeated on a smaller scale over the rear wheels capture the essence of the post-war British sports car.
Perfect for weekend excursions and vintage car outings, our very well sorted example is a piece of sculptural art in classic British Ivory with red interior, white wall tires and steel wheels with hubs. The interior presents itself as showroom fresh and the frame is straight with no apparent signs of rust as the car spent the majority of its life on the west coast. The chrome is excellent and the mechanicals are in outstanding order throughout. Everything functions; the car is ready to be driven and enjoyed.
While maintaining the sleek lines of the early TRs and heritage details such as the "small mouth", cut-away doors opened by a pull-cord and bonnet "key", this version benefits from an upgrade to the larger and more refined TR4 engine that appeared in the final TR3s. The classic look and feel of the original TR3 with the enhanced modern power of the final version makes this an outstanding driver that makes every trip to town, club, or event special.
The March 2014 Classic Motorsports notes that the TR3 is one of "today's 5 hottest deals". With prices of Big Healeys reaching highs: "The TR3 makes a great substitute. These are terrific vintage sports cars, offering a lot of what a Healey 3000 or 100 does for a fraction of the price. The Triumph is a much simpler car to own and parts are significantly less expensive. You should buy yours soon: prices are definitely on the uptake".?