1959 TR-3A
Owner: Sam Barer
Commission No.: TS-42396Here’s the story on Sam’s TR-3A:
The day the photo was taken for my TR-250’s Car of the Month entry (see the June 1999 Bluebonnet or surf to http://www.kingswayrc.com/txtr/com0699.html), I was given a ride in a powder blue TR-3. “Wow!” I thought to myself. “TR-3s are more of a kick in the pants that TR-250s.”A few hefty mechanics’ bills later, my wife Lisa “suggested” that I sell the 250. Five days and an ebay auction later, my first Triumph was on its way north.
Within four months, the Triumph void was too hard to ignore.I purchased this 1959 TR-3A locally in February 2000. It spent March and April at Hamilton Motorsport. Despite a faulty distributor, in June I finally got an opportunity to drive her a little and clean her up. Off with the 14-inch mags, and on with the traditional 15-inch steel wheels. Out with that ripped “occasional rear seat”, and in with the inboard fire extinguisher. Out with that stuck thermostat... whoops... stripped a bolt... caught the capillary tube of the temperature gauge... broken, just like that, with no replacements available.
Thank goodness for ebay. In August I got all the parts I needed (distributor, temperature gauge), and with the exception of a little vapor lock incident, the car has been running well. With our first child due in less than a month, the new powder blue coating is on hold. The Healey ice-blue chipped paint, complete with primer from an earlier dent to a fender, will have to do.
Sure, it’s not much to look at. There are certainly much prettier TR-3s in the TTR. However, when I take that stubby lever and snick it through the gears, press the gas and turn the wheel (elbows out, of course), the panel gaps, oxidized paint and discolored vinyl disappear.
Maybe in 193 months I’ll let my daughter take her driver’s test in it. By then, I hope it will gleam with polished powder blue. But even if it doesn’t, I’ll enjoy it all the same.
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