We recently found a new project and need space in our garage, so we’ve made the hard decision to let one of our other projects go. Since it’s the closest car to being finished, we’ve decided our 1960 Triumph TR3A barn find is the one to go. It was a really hard decision, as we’ve put a ton of work into it and it’s turning out to be one sweet machine, but we need the space and want to see it go to a good home where it can be enjoyed. Before we dive into all the work that’s gone into it, let’s get the details out of the way. The car is currently parked in our shop in Boise, Idaho and you can bid on it here on eBay where bidding is currently at $6,766 with no reserve.

If you missed reading about how we found this Triumph, you can read the original article here. It’s a real deal barn find that was parked for 30 years in Nampa, Idaho. As a result, the rubber bits were dried out and cracked, but the body and frame are in amazingly solid condition. Once we got it back to our shop, we got straight to work making it a runner again. The fuel tank was drained, the oil and filter were changed, and the cooling system was flushed. The engine was turned over with the coil disconnected to ensure fresh oil was distributed throughout the engine. We also opened up and cleaned out the float bowls and flushed the fuel lines before attempting to start it. With all the prep-work completed, we added some fuel to the tank, installed a new battery, pulled the choke out, turned the engine over a few times and it fired right up! Since we had fresh plugs and wires, I went ahead and installed them, but the engine honestly ran so well as it was that it probably didn’t need them done. It’s running like a champ with great oil pressure and temperatures stay right at 185F even in 100F degree heat.

While the engine was running incredibly well, the car wasn’t exactly ready to be driven. The clutch pedal was stuck to the floor and the tires were dry rotted. We really wanted to experience the car and we just happened to have a brand new clutch slave cylinder sitting on the shelf, so we installed that and bleed the system. The brakes had been fully rebuilt shortly after Neal purchased it. That was 30 years ago, so I gave the system a full inspection to make sure it was safe to drive and everything looked great. We decided to take it for a spin in the parking lot. It did great on its first drive in 30 years, although we kept speeds under 20 mph. To get it truly road-worthy, we ordered a set of tires and tubes. And that’s where things really started to get interesting, as it turns out no one wants to mount tires with tubes anymore, so we had to get a bit hands-on. I found a manual tire mounting tool and tackled the job of removing the old tires and installing the new liners, tubes, and tires. I also found an old-school tire balancing tool and got them as balanced as possible. With new tires mounted up, the wheels went back on and we took it out for a drive on the street. It did amazing, although there was a little bit of shake at 45 mph, I will balance the wheels out better before sending the car off.

As I mentioned earlier, the rubber bits were in bad shape. The radiator hoses were leaking badly, so I installed all new hoses, including the hoses going to the heater core. I also removed the windshield and replaced the gasket between it and the body. I have yet to install the hardtop gasket but that will be done before the auction ending. While I had the windshield off, I replaced the hood hinge gaskets as well. New drain hoses have been installed in the trunk to ensure the trunk floor stays solid.

With all the work done to get it running, I set to the task of reviving the paint. The car has definitely been resprayed, but other than oxidization, it has held up well. Much of the car was hand polished, but I used the orbital buffer to clean up the hood and trunk deck to speed up the job. Looking back at photos of the car when we got it to the shop, I can’t believe how much cleaning up the paint has transformed it. It was eye-catching before, now it’s an absolute stunner. It’s not perfect by any means but has an incredible look to it. When Jesse first saw it after I finished detailing the paint, he remarked how much it looked like the Monte Carlo Rally TR3s right after the race. It has some dents and bruises, but they just add character. I’m sure a large part of his comment comes from having the white hardtop installed.

Speaking of the hardtop, we received a comment from reader Casey that he had a top for it. Jesse contacted him and it turned out he’s right here in Idaho. So, we made the two-hour drive to his shop and bought it from him. Unfortunately, it’s missing its mounting hardware and rear window. A replacement window has already been sourced, as well as the gaskets to install it. I made mounting brackets for the front edge to mount it well enough to take photos, but we will have to mount the back edge before it can go long distances.

There are still things that need to be fixed to make this a very nice driver. The interior is probably the biggest project left, as it could really use new upholstery and carpets. Everything you need to finish it is readily available and fairly simple to install. The seats appear to be the originals but were dyed or painted white when the car was restored. The dash still wears its original grey covering, which looks great with the red paint, although with the white hardtop a white interior might look best.

I’ve got a few things that I will complete before the car heads to its new home, such as installing a new differential seal, having the wheels balanced, and tightening the hardtop down. We have lots of new, spare, and original parts that aren’t shown that will go with it, including a white vinyl top and a set of side screens.

Yes, this is your typical British classic car, it leaks oil and smells like you’d imagine a British car would. That said, when your behind the wheel of this TR your instantly transported back to 1960! It’s a blast to drive, gets tons of thumbs-ups, and produces all the smells and sounds a British classic should. You can find tons of photos of it here for closer inspection. So, if you’ve been hunting for a great example of the iconic TR3, this might just be the one for you. If you have any questions about it, don’t hesitate to ask!