A natural evolution of the Triumph TR2, the TR3 offered both improved performance and safety over its predecessor. This particular car, available here on eBay, is an example of the last variant, whose production overlapped with that of the TR3’s successor, the TR4. Located in Wylie, Texas, the bid at the time of writing is $1,125, with five days left in the auction.

The TR3 came in three versions, commonly called the TR3, the TR3A, and the TR3B. Interestingly, these names were never used by the Standard Motor Company, or its successors, to refer to the car, which was always called simply “the TR3.” The initial offering was produced from 1955 through 1957 and is easily distinguished from the TR3A by its smaller grille. Powered by an (almost) 2 liter inline four, in 1956 this model became the first British production car with front disc brakes. The production run of the TR3A was set to conclude in 1962, but dealers were wary of the new TR4. The company responded by extending production: the resulting TR3B became a one-year-only offering.

I can’t see anything wrong with the engine, transmission, or glass on this classic British roadster… because it doesn’t have any of these things. It’s a roller, but one that presents an intriguing question. Like all convertibles left out of doors, these cars are prone to rust almost everywhere there is metal. How is it, then, that the underside looks to be relatively solid? This is a West Texas car: could the arid climate be responsible? If the climate is the reason for the preservation of the frame, then it’s also likely to blame for the deterioration of almost everything else. There’s little left to salvage of the interior. Most of the top and all of the windows are gone, though these cars don’t have much of a top and the windows slide into brackets on the doors. The gas tank doesn’t go there, of course, but it’s not far from home: it’s supposed to be secured by those two metal belts immediately behind its current location. Finally, the car seems to be missing almost all of its trim, except some lettering and the TR3 badge on the bonnet. We won’t discuss the rust, dents, gashes, and so on.

There is no car that can’t be restored given enough time, money, and pig-headedness, but I suspect that this vehicle might be destined to serve as a donor to a less challenging specimen. Which is a shame, in a way; these later examples of the TR3 are a bridge between the British sports cars of the fifties and those of the early sixties. Produced mainly because American dealers had their doubts about the Michelotti-designed TR4, the TR3B is an interesting blend of components from the new model and the old, with almost every surviving example showing some curious quirk or feature. Hopefully, either restored or otherwise, this car can serve to help preserve a piece of automotive history.