CHOOSE a PICTURE of Our TR3 GALLERY TR3 BLUE TR3 BLACK 1 TR3 BLACK 2 TR3 BRITISH RACING GREEN

TR3 : In the autumn of 1955 the TR2 was superseded by the similar looking TR3. The immediate point of identification was the egg-crate grille that now adorned the nose of the car. Engine power initially improved to 70 Kw, up from 67 Kw, but further refinements boosted this to 74 Kw during the life of this model. The following autumn Triumph again left the competition standing by becoming the first sports car in its class to fit disc brakes at the front as standard. This also coincided with the fitting of a more robust rear axle from the Vanguard mark three saloon.

TR3A : Officially there was never a TR3A model although it is known throughout the sports car world by this designation. Mechanically it was identical to the TR3, but it had a new  WIDER GRILLE  that extended below the headlamps and incorporated the side lights. Personally I found it to be a very stylish treatment of the front end and greatly prefer it to its predecessor. Other identifying features were external door and boot handles, a feature that was decried by dyed in the wool enthusiasts at the time.A larger 2.2 liter engine was offered as an optional extra, but there seem to have been few takers for this option. From 1957 the optional extra hardtop was made in steel. TR2/3/3A models were upholstered in Vynide cloth and the fascia panel was covered in a matching material. Two large round instruments directly in front of the driver housed the speedometer and tachometer. A panel in the center of the fascia accommodated the switches, warning lights and four smaller gauges for fuel level, engine temperature, oil pressure and ammeter. A large glove box and a grab handle were provided in front of the passenger.

For the 1959 LeMans Race special grp versions of the TR3A were built on modified chassis, with longer bodies and housing a twin cam engine under the bonnet. Annoying mechanical troubles that year led to all three works cars retiring.

In the late fifties Italian designer Micholetti had been commissioned to produce a new body style for the popular TR roadster. One of his early experiments in 1958 was code named Zest and incorporated many features that were to form the essentials of the next production car. Zest was built on the existing TR3A chassis. Further elements were tried out in later experiments under the Zoom code name using a modified chassis.