The first model in Standard Triumph’s long-running TR sports car range was the TR2, first shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1953. Evolution of the series was rapid, with the TR3 appearing in late 1955. This model was revamped a couple of times before production ended in 1962 by which time the TR4 had already been on sale to the public for a year.

The TR3 was very much a facelift of the earlier TR2, with the same separate chassis and body construction, but featuring a restyled front-end with a grille. It was initially powered by an improved version of the Standard 1991 cc, 4-cylinder engine which, with better carburation, now claimed an output of 95 bhp and a top speed of a little over 100 mph. Although never officially badged as such, the TR3A model was available from early 1958 and earned its unofficial suffix from the modifications made. Mechanically largely unchanged, it now had disc brakes on the front as standard, it had larger tyres fitted on 5.5” rims giving it much better braking ability. Visually the changes were quite apparent, with the fitment of a full width chrome radiator grille and (less obviously) exterior door handles. In 1959, a larger 2138 cc engine was made available as an option. Production ended in 1961 with over 58,000 manufactured.

Always a big seller in export markets, with over 95% sold overseas, the TR3A offered here was one such originally with left hand drive (as evidenced by the chassis number suffix). Declared as manufactured in 1959, we believe it was probably exported to the USA, as it was repatriated through the UK company California Connection in 1999. We know that the car was with its first UK owner from 2000 to mid-2005 as there is a lot of supporting paperwork for the extensive renovation, modification and upgrade work he carried out. The Triumph was back on the road and re-registered in the UK in July 2004 - with mileage reset to zero.

The car moved to a second UK owner in 2005 for a couple of years, before finding a new home with a Jersey-resident keeper in 2008. Some further enhancements were completed over the next 10 years – such as the stainless steel wire wheels and bumpers – with the TR3A in regular use but only clocking up a modest additional 4,000 miles or so. In 2019 it passed into the hands of a new Jersey owner, who has continued with a regime of regular maintenance and good care – including some bodywork repairs and repainting work in 2022 – the Triumph now showing 8,990 miles.