1957 TRIUMPH TR3A RESTORATION DETAILS Chassis number-TS25546L Registration Number: 589 XVR The quality of this TR's restoration is simply spectacular. One of, if not the, finest example available today. Long famed for their rugged reliability and idiosyncratic good looks, the 'side screen' TRs have attracted a fanatical following over the years. The final evolution of the Triumph TR2/TR3 sports car line (save for the American market TR3B), the TR3A was introduced in September 1957. It was never officially badged as such and was, in fact, a minor revision of the TR3 with updates including a new wide grille, exterior door handles, lockable boot and a full tool kit. Great fun to drive, its tough box-section chassis featured independent coil and wishbone front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and disc/drum brakes, (the first British production car to have front disc brakes as standard). Fitted with a 1,991cc four-cylinder OHV unit developing around 104bhp and 117lb/ft of torque, it was reputedly capable of 110mph. A great sales success on both sides of the Atlantic, the model provided a rather more visceral alternative to its MG and Jaguar competition. This very early TR3A was one of the first ‘A’s to roll off the production line in 1957, and was built for the American market, arriving there and initially registered in 1958. It remained overseas until returning to the UK in 2018, ripe for a restoration which it was to receive at the hands of the present owner, a retired race engineer of some standing. Every nut, bolt, washer and screw has received attention with accuracy and attention to detail being at the forefront of the build. The bare shell was totally stripped and rebuilt as required, retaining as many of the original panels as possible, and sourcing the finest quality parts when required, to achieve a fit and finish that is difficult to criticise in any way. Delve a little deeper and the quality is clear to see from the outstanding Medici Blue paintwork to the fully detailed underside and the superbly trimmed interior. This TR3A, according to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, was completed on the 24th December 1957 in Coventry England. Built as a left hand drive car (denoted by the ‘L’ suffix to the chassis number) for export to the USA. Paperwork with the car states its registration in the USA as 1958 which would tie in with shipping time from the UK. The only history of the car in the USA is a “Certificate of title” of a motor vehicle from the state of North Carolina for a Michael Ray Corbin on the 4th August 1975. It was then sold to the Beverly Hills Car Club Inc. from whence it was purchased as a non-running project car for restoration. The car eventually arrived in UK in late September 2018 ready to undergo a full strip down nut and bolt restoration. Shell & Chassis The body was subjected to a total restoration with the fitting of as few new replacement panels as possible to retain the originality of the shell being the main objective. Where possible for those items purchased were being supplied with German Bastuck panels. New floors to the cockpit and boot area’s along with new inner & outer sill's, particular care was taken when fitting the outer sills to ensure they follow the curvature that the door bottoms have, a feature many restorers miss. Due to wanting to keep the body shell original as possible it was decided that the remaining original inner & outer panels would be repaired as required making repair sections. Considerable was time taken to ensure the fit/finish of the repairs by TIG welding all the joins where possible to minimise distortion leaving the minimum of preparation work at the painting stage. The shell & chassis once restored was as one unit then sent away for Thermal paint removal followed by total immersion in a rust eradication solution at Ribble Technology. On return the Chassis was removed then painted inside & out with an epoxy paint. The bare metal shell was then fitted back on the chassis along with all the outer panels to get the correct fits/gaps before being sent for painting at RVR Kettering. The colour chosen was a period Triumph colour Medici Blue. The advice of RVR was to have all the exposed (i.e. body underside, inside of wings, cockpit floors, etc.) painted areas have a body colour very light protective durable finish applied followed by the final colour coats. All steel parts originally painted, brackets, suspension arms, hood frame etc. were shot blasted & powder coated where possible, otherwise painted in 2 pack. Original Zinc plated items when reusable were prepared and re-zinc plated. Suspension F&R was rebuilt with all new bushings bearings, shock absorbers, fasteners. Wanting a compliant ride standard bushes were used mainly with only some Nylon replacements. New Uprated rear lever arm and new Koni adjustable front shock absorbers fitted. Due to the poor quality of new aftermarket rear leaf springs the originals were re-heat treated and set to the OEM spec. Rear axle was rebuilt at TR Enterprises with new CWP, bearings, etc. Brakes F&R all new master/wheel cylinders, later callipers, brake lines/ Aero-quip flexible hoses. A TR4A Fly-off lever type lever was fitted to the transmission tunnel. The front and rear brakes were converted to the same twin master cylinder set up as sold by Revington TR. Steering As the bulkhead pressing originally has bolted in blanking covers for LHD or RHD versions the change to RHD was a simple matter of sourcing a used correct long type RHD steering column. A similar story for the brake/clutch pedal assembly. The steering box was fitted with a Revington adjustable top plate conversion plus new seals and bearings to the box & linkages. The 3’s have an inherent steering issue due to the suspension geometry design where by the when turning the outer wheel does not track with the inner, Revington steering angle conversion kit using TR4A uprights etc. cures this problem so that was fitted along with fitting all new trunnions, track rods ends etc. As the original plastic type steering wheel rim was broken and wishing to retain the original signalling equipment the rim was removed and a Jaguar E type wooden rim fitted in its place then leather covered to match the interior Wheels 4 Brand new MWS chrome 5.5 inch wire wheels along with new wheel adaptors supplied by The TR Shop & fitted with new tyres. Gearbox The TR came with the standard 4 speed 3 synchro g/box in poor condition, so a used Triumph Dolomite Sprint Overdrive gearbox was sourced & then given to Peter Cox who fitted a correct output shaft for this car & reconditioned both the box/O/D. The later g/box gives synchromesh on all gears with addition of overdrive on 3rd & 4th gears. The overdrive switch being on the gear lever. The later TR’s have a diaphragm clutch so Peter supplied a lightened modified flywheel to enable a new pressure plate of this type to be fitted along with a new friction plate, slave/master cylinders etc. Engine Subjected to a total rebuild. After the bare block and head had been “Hot Tanked” to chemically clean them, reassembly began with new 87mm pistons & liners, (2188cc) the con rods were replaced with Maxpeeding forged items, the crank was reground & balanced along with the flywheel/clutch/front pulley assembly. New: Newman PH1 uprated camshaft, plus Followers, Springs, Valves, Push rods, Rocker shaft & arms, Vernier type timing sprockets, Timing chain, ARP Head Studs & Nuts, Water & oil pump, Oil filter conversion, Rear main seal conversion, Narrow fan belt conversion, Stainless Steel 4 branch exhaust manifold & single silencer System, Hi-torque starter motor, Uprated Aluminium radiator. The head after some port work to match the TR4A inlet manifold (better flowing than the STD item) and the tubular exhaust manifold this was sent to a local Automotive engineering Co for skimming and lead free valve seats to be fitted. Fuel system is now electric due to poor quality of aftermarket fuel pumps, the SU carburettors were rebuilt along with new fuel lines & a new Aluminium petrol tank (the original had inner corrosion) Electrics New loom made with addition of extra relays/fuses. Distributor rebuilt by the Distributor Doctor, new ignition leads, coil, etc. fitted. 45 amp alternator conversion fitted with polarity change & correct gauges Interior/ Exterior Body Bright work all new, door/boot/bonnet handles/catches, the wind screen frame was re-chrome plated and fitted with a new laminated tinted screen. Seat belts have been fitted to the front two seats The original seat pans were restored & fitted with new spring bases/padding plus covers inc factory fitted rear seat. New interior panels, extra trim panels fitted in boot, also sound deadening stuck to main and boot floors. The rear seat fitted has been slimmed down on its depth to allow the driver’s seat to go back more. A modern interior Heater with lever control was fitted New Mohair hood, frame rear tonneau & door screen flaps in Dark Blue fitted. The door side screens that came with the car were an aftermarket American conversion which I decided to keep, they were refurbished & fitted with new perspex. Stainless bumper were fitted both front and rear