Five-Decades-Owned 1960 Triumph TR3A 2.2L

The four-speed manual transmission was rebuilt and overdrive was installed in the 1980s. During the more-recent refurbishment, the suspension was overhauled, the steering was updated, MWS 48-spoke wire wheels were installed, the dual SU carburetors and the fuel pump were rebuilt, and drivetrain gaskets were replaced along with various hoses, tune-up parts, fuel lines, and the fuel-tank filler hose. The vehicle also has a Monza exhaust system, a spin-on oil-filter adapter, a luggage rack, front disc brakes, and a banjo-style steering wheel.

This TR3A is now offered with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, service records since 2021, trophies and awards, spare parts, a suitcase, and a Minnesota title in the seller’s name. Finished from the factory in black, the car received replacement rocker panels and other body work before being repainted in the 1976 Buick color known as Mount Vernon Cream in the mid-1970s, according to the seller. Equipment includes a wide grille, fender-mounted side mirrors, a cowl vent, a detachable one-piece windshield, windshield wipers, wind wings, rear-fender stone guards, a flip-up fuel cap, a luggage rack, a chrome front bumper, and rear bumperettes.

The seller tells us that the body was wet-sanded with 1500-grit paper followed by two levels of compound and then wax in preparation for the sale. Blemishes in the paint—including age-related crazing in a few spots as well as an area of rust approximately ½” wide and ¼” tall on the lower portion of the driver door—and other imperfections are discussed in the seller’s videos presented below and shown in the photo gallery. The black Amco soft top and the matching side curtains and tonneau cover were replaced concurrent with the 1970s repaint, the seller states.

Silver-painted 48-spoke 15″ MWS knock-off wire wheels were installed in 2025 along with 165HR15 Vredestein tires; a replacement Vredestein spare is mounted to an older refurbished wire wheel. The front suspension was overhauled in 2025 with replacement of the bushings, trunnions, bearings, seals, and tie-rod ends. Delrin bushings with stainless-steel pins were installed in the steering rods, and a Revington TR kit was installed in the steering box.

The tube shocks also were replaced, as were the bushings at the trailing edge of the rear leaf springs and one shackle pin. In addition, the front and rear suspension pieces were repainted in black during the recent work, the front brake calipers were repainted in silver, the rear drums were repainted black, and the front and rear brake hoses and the brake-light switch were replaced. The bucket seats and door panels were retrimmed in red vinyl with white piping during the mid-1970s, and the red carpeting was replaced.

Appointments include a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror, a heater, a passenger-side grab handle, a lockable glovebox, door-panel pockets, lap belts, and aftermarket floor mats. The banjo-style steering wheel fronts a Jaeger 120-mph speedometer and a 6k-rpm tachometer, while auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, and amperage are positioned at the center of the dash. The five-digit odometer shows 33k miles and was reset during the 1970s refurbishment; true mileage is unknown.

The OHV inline-four was rebuilt in the 1970s and fitted with 87mm Hepolite pistons and liners (yielding a displacement of 2,188cc) as well as a TR4 camshaft and a Monza exhaust system. A spin-on oil-filter adapter has been installed. The car retains a positive-ground electrical system and a generator.

Work conducted in the early 2020s involved rebuilding the dual SU carburetors, cleaning and repainting a portion of the engine bay, and replacing the following: Valve-cover gasket Oil-pan gasket Distributor cap Spark plugs and wires Radiator and heater hoses Fan belt Choke cable Fuel pump Fuel lines Fuel-tank filler hose Fuel-gauge sending unit The engine stamping is depicted above. The four-speed manual transmission was rebuilt in the 1980s and an overdrive unit was added. The clutch hose was replaced in 2025, the overdrive filter was removed and cleaned, and the differential gasket was replaced, according to the seller.

An undercoating was applied during the 1970s refurbishment. The seller notes that the overdrive and the engine’s rear main seal leak fluid. Video footage of the car’s underside is provided below.

The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate lists the factory serial numbers, colors, and equipment and indicates that the vehicle was built on July 15, 1960. The Minnesota title lists the car’s body style as an abbreviation for “two-door sedan”. Filed under: tr3 , tr3 a , tr3-a