Rare Survivor: 1962 Triumph TR3B
When Standard-Triumph finally moved to replace the TR3, which had been in production since 1955, the new TR4 struck some as less of a sports car than its predecessor. Its Italian design, wind-up windows, “normal” doors, and slightly improved handling made the TR4 a bit of an outcast with TR3 owners who viewed it with distrust. Was this a GT in disguise? The press felt it necessary to assure us it was not. Since several TR3 bodies were still available as the TR4 went to market, Triumph decided to install the TR4 drivetrain in the last of these and send them to dealers to graduate buyers more cautiously to the new model. These late TR3 commission numbers were prefixed “TCF”. Only 2804 were produced in 1962 – the final year of TR3 production. To differentiate these special cars from earlier TR3s, dealers and customers christened them TR3Bs (confusing the nomenclature, some TR3Bs were fitted with the smaller 1991 cc motor and carried a TSF prefix). Here on craigslist is a 1962 TR3B, with an asking price of $16,500. The car is located in La Habre, California from a seller we’ve seen previously on these pages. Thanks to the inimitable T.J. for this tip!
The four-pot powerplant displaces 2138 cc’s, breathes through twin Stromberg carburetors, and generates 105 bhp. Top speed is about 110 mph. The transmission is a four-speed with a full synchromesh; overdrive was optional. Triumph was using front disc brakes back in 1956 while other makers were still saddling production cars with drums. The seller says this car’s motor turns but with the car recently out of long-term storage, some recommissioning is necessary. This car’s original paintwork was French Blue, which can be seen beneath the black paint above.
Renovating the interior will not be difficult as parts are plentiful from Moss Motors, Victoria British, and other suppliers. The seller provides floor photos and indicates there is a single rust hole on the passenger’s side pan; these also reveal yet another blue shade of paint. At some point, this car must have been given a thorough repaint. Small dents are scattered among most of the panels. Heavy surface rust in the trunk will need to be remediated. The front windshield is cracked, but again, a replacement is available. The side curtains are with the car, as are the top bows. The car needs a horn button and front headlights.
The underside is mostly straight and dry. Overall, this car is a great foundation for restoration. Fully restored, these unusual cars can command $40k. While farming out a restoration can run costs well past the highest selling price that any TR3B has ever seen, these cars offer plenty of opportunity for the do-it-yourselfer. I might try for a modest discount off the seller’s asking price to cover shipping. What do you think?
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Comments
Got to wonder why you wouldn’t put sealed beams in the headlights and bulbs and lenses on a car with rear collision damage and crappy paint and then ask 16K for it. I agree it’s a good rebuild candidate but not at that price. Good write up Michelle.
Forgot… the cracked windshield, rusty wheels and air cleaners are nice touches. Bet there isn’t an original wheel anywhere near that car.
They seem to be “touched” in California in many respects
Someone abused this little car, had it’s lights knocked out and. The windshield isn’t a stone chip. Great car to restore but flipper is asking for it all!
I sold this car like this to these people I have all the rest of the parts that are missing I couldn’t find them that day
Judging by those blue California license plates, this may have been off the road for many years. Those are the 70’s.
I had a 62 TR3B. Gone now but I kept that black shift knob, like the one shown here. I’ve seen worse to start with on a restoration project. Hopefully the price will come down to a place where someone will find it worthy to do a restoration.
Sadly, Victoria British is gone, but The Roadster Factory remains as an alternative to Moss.
Moss bought Victoria British a couple years ago. Been using Moss since 1970 and appreciate the number of cars they carry extensive parts for. Service to customers hard to beat. This is year 75 for the company.
I inadvertently restored a 1960 TR in the late 70s. I’d been driving it daily since 74 and it wasn’t a cream puff when I paid too much for it ($800). I planned to take the dents out, remove everything I didn’t want painted and roll it down the hill to the paint shop on the Avenue. Amazing how quickly they come apart and how much it takes to get them back together! A year of every night and weekend later I tightened the little chrome hood fasteners, installed my girlfriend and took a lap of California. Drove it for another 13 years and sold it to help finance a disaster.
If I did it again, I’d probably stray far from the purist job I did the first time and install rack & pinion steering from a later car, and I might remove the torque monster TR engine and install something lighter and more powerful.
I love these cars and they are incredibly reliable for a Little British Car but I have a hard time coughing up twenty times the price for a car as rough or rougher than what I bought back in the day.
Located in La Habra, CA. Phil Newey
Sports Cars
Right Mike, Vic British was a good supplier.
True Matt. Years ago bought from both of them. It seemed like if Moss didn’t have a part I needed Victoria British did and vice versa.
I rarely complain here at my favorite site, and certainly never at the site itself, but…, This price is easily 10k over what it is reasonable. I did a five years nut and bolt restoration on a 58 TR3, and ended up with a perfect example that is presently racing on the vintage circuit in France. It sold for 19k two years ago here on BF. It got one bid and sold and was then shipped at the new owner’s significant expense to France. Everybody was happy and felt well treated. This is a great start on a resto that might be worth 16K at the end of the project, but certainly not now. Once finished, if well restored, it’ll bring its owner plenty of fun summer driving. If it had an overdrive, it could easily keep up with modern traffic and get endless thumbs up along the way.
Heck if I wanted to look at junk I’d go in my own backyard!
If you look at the picture of the underside you can see where someone has taken a cutting torch to the frame member just behind the cruciform. What other surprises lurk?
slight correction to the comments on the Tr 3B. The TSF prefix was given to the cars when the factory ran out of gear boxes and had to put an all syncro gear box to the TR 3’s from the Tr 4 production line. The TCF prefix was given to the cars when the bigger engine and the all syncro gear box was added to the last 2800 cars that were produced when the factor ran out of the 1991 cc engines prior to the end of production. Triumph also produced a twin cam engine proto type which never went into production.. .
For $16,500.00, it should be running with working lighting, an unblemished windshield, decent tires and a top that can at least be used, even if worn. In other words, a driver.
This is a doable project but it will never be a high dollar car. The valve cover, ZS carbs, pcv valve, etc, show that it does not have its original 3B motor, but has a late TR4 motor instead. Also, underside photo shows no OD now. Hopefully another will be saved and put back on the road but this one will take serious work.
TR3B with OD is the best.
This isn’t.
In 1956/57 a Triumph Tr 3 new cost $ 2625 plus tax and license according to a ad i found for the sale of the Triumph Tr 3 cars in 1957.. later a new Tr 3 A cost around $ 2800 plus tax and license. 60 years later the same car cost $ 16,500 and it does not even run.Go figure why the asking price of collector cars now has no relevance to original price or the current condition of the car being sold..