Triumph TR 3 from 1957 - the successful roadster

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Triumph TR 3 from 1957 - the successful roadster

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Created on August 21, 2014

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

18

Bruno von Rotz

14

Balz Schreier

3

RM Auction Darin Schnabel

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Archiv

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - classic lines, clearly English design

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - particularly pleasant to drive on country roads

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - fast traveling is always possible with it

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - only a thin windshield frame obstructs the 360-degree view

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - deep door cut-outs for more fresh air

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - good kidney protection is recommended

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - there is even some luggage space in the rear

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - still without external door handles

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - generously equipped dashboard

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - the radiator grille only came to the front on the TR 3

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - thin windshield frame, minimal visibility restriction

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - longitudinally mounted four-cylinder with retrofitted Weber carburetors

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - external hinges for the trunk lid

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - attached indicators, filigree bumpers

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - the classic radiator grille of the first TR3 version

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Triumph 20 TS (1952) - the forerunner of the TR 2 with a rounded rear end

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Triumph 20 TS (1952) - forerunner of the TR 2, drawing

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - hood, opened - at the Geneva Motor Show in 1953

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - the rear of the new sports roadster, shown for the first time in Switzerland - at the Geneva Motor Show in 1953

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Triumph TR (1953) - the success story began with the TR, later also known as the TR 2

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - the Jabbeke Highway, a concrete road in Belgium, was the ideal test track for the Triumph

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - The slightly optimized Triumph reached 125 MPH, or over 203 kmh over the mile

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - during the record runs, where the car reached over 200 km/h

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - Record drives on the highway from Jabekke

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - The mechanics all had their specialty and cared for the little sports car with heart and soul

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - Ken Richardson gets ready for the first ride, to his left are Sir John Black and E. G. Grinham

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - Sir John Black wishes Ken Richardson good luck

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) the measurements were monitored by 20 police officers)

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - The measurements were supervised and extrapolated by Mr. Lamot of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - the record-breaking car is shown at the Brussels Motor Show in 1954

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - during early test drives

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - Testing the new sports car

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Triumph TR 2 (1953) - illustrative representation of the available space

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Triumph TR 2 (1954) - simple and practical sports roadster

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Triumph TR2 (1954) - white road version and red car in racing livery - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - the bumpers were not all that robust

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - the rear seat is suitable for children at best

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - variant with hardtop exhibited in Geneva

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - of course there were no crank windows, door handles also came later

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - with hardtop (extra charge)

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - foam model with transparent plastic body, shown at the London Motor Show 1956

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - plenty of openness and optimum all-round visibility

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - the TR 3 differs from the TR 2, among other things, by the front radiator grille

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - the TR 3 was very successful in rallying because it was robust and fast enough

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Triumph - Triumph Herald and TR3 on the stand in Geneva at the 1961 Motor Show

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Triumph TR 3 - the TR 3 pokes its nose out at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Triumph TR 3-S (1959) - optimized version for Le Mans in 1959 - plastic body, wheelbase extended by 15 cm, aluminium four-cylinder engine with two overhead camshafts, four disc brakes

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - the TR 3A variant with wide radiator grille

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Triumph TR 3 (1960) - who could resist here

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - now with a wide grille and external door openers

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Triumph TR 3 (1960) - for the sporty woman of "today"

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - modified radiator grille and bumpers, repositioned parking lights

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - back seat - but there's not too much room

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Triumph TR 3 (1960) - the successor TR 4 was just around the corner

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Triumph TR 3 (1960) - cut a fine figure even with a hardtop

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Triumph TR 3 (1959) - with attached hardtop

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Triumph TR 3 (1959) - advertisement from 1959 - and Standard Vanguard

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Triumph TR 3 (1961) - it was also available in a racing version with a small windshield

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Triumph TR 3 (1961) - Advertising image from 1961

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Triumph TR 3 (1961) - contemporary illustration on a sales brochure

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Triumph TR 4 (1962) - successor to the TR 3

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Triumph TR 3 (1959) - at the meeting of the FNA (Friends of Nostalgic Cars) at the Seedammcenter - probably 1981

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Triumph TR 3 (1957) - in the races as part of the Triumph Competition & British GTs - Hockenheim Historics 2014

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - in the races as part of the Triumph Competition & British GTs - Hockenheim Historics 2014

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Triumph TR 3 (1958) - in the races as part of the Triumph Competition & British GTs - Hockenheim Historics 2014

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - in the race for the Fordwater Trophy at the Goodwood Revival 2013

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Triumph TR 3 (1956) - in the race for the Fordwater Trophy at the Goodwood Revival 2013

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Triumph TR3 (1970) at the Arosa ClassicCar 2013 - Alpine Performance category

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Triumph TR3 (1970) at the Arosa ClassicCar 2013 - Alpine Performance category

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Triumph TR3 SM (1957) at the Ennstal-Classic 2013

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Triumph TR3 (1962) - at the start in the sports car class - Gaisbergrennen 2013 - Mountain run up the Gaisberg on Friday

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Triumph TR3 (1959) - in the Plateau 3 (1957-1961) at the Le Mans Classic 2012

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Triumph TR 3 A (1958) - offered at the RM Auction of Monterey on August 19 and 20, 2011

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Solitude Revival 2011 - Anniversary Corso - Triumph TR3

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Triumph TR2 (1955) - Le Mans Classic 2014 - Plateau 2

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Triumph TR2 (1954) - Le Mans Classic 2014

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Triumph TR2 (1955) - at the Saalbach Classic 2013

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Triumph TR2 (1955) - at the Saalbach Classic 2013

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Triumph TR2 (1955) - in Plateau 2 (1949-1956) at the Le Mans Classic 2012

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Triumph TR2 (1955) - in Plateau 2 (1949-1956) at the Le Mans Classic 2012

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Summary

In 1952, Triumph presented a new sports car, which was a miscarriage at the first attempt. But the company was not deterred, continued to develop and presented the TR2 in 1953 and the TR3 two years later, creating a first-class sales success. To this day, the TR2/3 models are popular English roadsters with a reputation for robustness. This report portrays a Triumph TR3 from 1953 and tells the adventurous story of the TR3, of which over 85,000 were built, illustrated with almost 90 historical and current pictures and four original brochures.

This article contains the following chapters

All beginnings are small (or cheap)
Debut with difficulties
From ugly duckling to swan
The transformation to the TR3
First car in its class with disc brakes
Farewell
A true roadster
Further information

Estimated reading time: 13min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Sir John Black was determined not to leave the attractive sports car market to MG alone and had Triumph develop the answer for 16,000 pounds sterling. Too fast and too cheap, as it turned out, but nevertheless the beginning of a success story. Triumph had observed the success of the MG TC with suspicion and pondered an alternative of its own. Sir John Black, who was in charge of Triumph, tried to take over the sports car company Morgan in 1950, but was unsuccessful. It became clear that he would have to provide a new vehicle himself and he commissioned the designer Walter Belgrove to develop an affordable sports car.

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