This is the 1959 Triumph TR3A I'm restoring. It's a Raucous Beastie!
































(With apologies to "Tigger")

They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy

Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!

But the most wonderful thing about TR's

Is mine's the only one


















I chose a Triumph TR3A to be my fair weather classic street driver for several reasons. Firstly, because I can't afford a D-Type Jaguar! Seriously, there are a lot of cars I might have chosen first if money were no object (like an Austin Healey 3000 or a Jaguar XKE roadster), but the TR3-A is the most bang for the small budget in the classic roadster market in my mind. It has a great combination of performance and classic style for the money. For instance it has good initial acceleration, 100mph+ capability and disc brakes, yet has provocative 50's era styling with the voluptious French curve fender lines and cut down doors. They are great fun to drive with primitive but sporty handling. They feel like you are going at least twice as fast as you actually are. It's very easy to get the live axle rear end to break loose and hang the tail out at very moderate speeds. You really feel like you are driving with no power steering or brakes and being out in the open so close to the road. It's a very sensual experience. These cars were intended to be raced by their owners and the stock windshield ("windscreen" to Brits) is designed so it can be removed for racing in under a minute!



Secondly, parts are readily available and I already had a fair amount of experience with them. Since all the body panels unbolt and are mounted on a separate frame, body and chassis repair is much easier than many other cars. These cars are extremely Spartan and robust which makes restoration relatively simple and keeps costs down. They don't even have windows in the doors, just detachable vinyl & Plexiglas "side screens". The fun way to drive them is open with just a tonneau cover to snap over the cockpit when you leave it parked.

Finally, on the public roads!!
























































Oh No!!! hit by a deer my second weekend on the road after 4 years of work!



Cruising along at about 45mph a mile from my house, several deer dashed across the road in the middle of the day. One ran right into the side of me hitting the rear fender making three big dents. Back to work, Oh bother!!! never even got to show it off to hardly anyone first! I've had less than an hour of driving it before this happend. I've now re-restored the fender, and it's good as before.























When I bought it, it was sitting in a lean-to mostly disassembled and very forlorn looking. A previous owner had started restoration and then (very sensibly) become discouraged and given up. I suspect my friend Joel, though too polite to say so, thought (perhaps "realized" is a better word) I was totally insane as he helped me unload the many boxes of rusty old parts from the U-haul when I brought my project home.>


























Here I'm giving the old girl a vigorous 80 grit massage after her Bondo beauty treatment. Boy am I glad those days are past. (Spoke too soon, see deer mishap above.)

Go Back to main page