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Triumph TR3 - 59 TR3 A

Gentlemen,
Hope you don't mind me being over here from the MGB BBS, but I need to pick some minds. I figured this would be the best place to go. I have a friend who is going to sell his 59 TR3 A. Its got approx 10k miles on a rebuild, Elec. overdrive and a large number of extra parts, including a spare trans. (in parts)and rear end. No there isn't any rust. On a scale from 1-10 it's easily a 71/2 to an 8. Can any one give me an idea on its worth? I'll check back on this BBS or you can e-mail. I thank you for your time and allowing an MGB driver to visit. Thanks Lee
Lee Keyes

Hi Lee Very subjective process. Try looking on E-bay, Hemmings,VTR classifides etc. A 7 1/2 to 8 to me would be a very nice unrestored car and that ( to me) has better value than a restored one. Do the numbers match?
You will need a build record to be sure. I am aware of a 59-60 TR3A for sale in Canada, very good restoration all #'s match, wires, OD for high 20's ($20,000) US. I would say the car is worth it, but he still has to find a buyer. Brian
B. Towne

My Northern friend, To start off with there is no such thing as a numbers matching TR3. Engines were also put in Morgans, Swallow Doretti, Peerless and Warwicks. Numbers range from a few hundred to thousands off. The only way to find if it is the orginal engine is to get a BMIHT Production Record Trace. As from the price of a 7 or 8 at $20,000, that a tad steep. More like 10K to 12K.

Thanks
Russ Austin
58 TR3A
TS/41804-L
Russ Austin

If it's a 10, it might be worth more than 10K US. But a 7 or 8 is less. How much less is up to you and the seller. If you're comparing, add about 1K for the overdrive. No rust ever?..it may be worth what a new Miata sells for, if it needs nothing. Talk him into selling it to you, even if you have to get on your knees. Its a manly auto..ah, but girls like it too.
Tom

I have since found out that the car has been restored.But I thank you for your input, It will halp Casey on his pricing. Best of luck and keep those cars running. Lee
Lee Keyes

RUSS My fine friend to the south! I am afraid I would have to disagee with you, and you tend to disagree with yourself. Please note my first statement. "Very subjective process." You and I might not pay that kind of money for a TR but some people do! Lee indicated "easily a 7 1/2 to 8. What is a 7 1/2 to 8?
To you, obviouly different than me. Very very good professional restorations are being sold for prices in the mid 20'. You and I both probably have enough experience to peg a pretty resonable price on this car with a hands on evaluation, but we don't have this luxury. In regards to matching numbers, you do agree that there are matching numbers and having these numbers "match" will increase the value of the car. "Do the numbers match? You will need a build record to be sure." Perhaps you missed that sentence! You indicated the same thing with the BMIHT Production Record Trace. "As from the price of a 7 or 8 at $20,000, that a tad steep. Agreed. I was refering to the Canadian car that I have seen and I would say it is worth it, but as I said, he still has to find a buyer.

Tom What do you drive? "If its a 10, it might be worth more than 10K US." I think there are quite a few of us that are driving pretty nice LBC that are not 10's (hard to reach) and they are worth easily that kind of money. The no rust got my attention too, but that is what would make the car more valuable!
Anyway as we all can see the car is restored, and all bets are off! Have a great day guys. Brian
B. Towne

Hi Brian,

I drive TR4 CT147L almost daily and year-round, but have owned a TR3 or 2 since 1969, one of which just returned to life the other day. I wish I hadn't parted out the one that had a Ford 6 cylinder installed, but it was pretty rusty. And the white driver I had about 15 years ago was nice enough to be worth much more than I sold it for then ($2000, and it drove nice, looked OK from 20 feet, completely functional, but had lots of panels welded in from rust damage.

Cars are worth what the buyer hands over when you transfer the title. I met a guy that had a TR2 given to him. A pretty nice one, too. Maybe that's what will happen to mine when I go to that twisty mountain road in the sky. It would take a bit of convincing to give them up before that.
Tom

Hi Tom Wow thats a realy early TR4. If you are driving year round, you must be south of the 49 th. Probably a fair bit south. A friend of mine just picked up an early 4 but I don't know his con #. It's a basket case but price was right. I have the TR2, a TR3A waiting for shop space and time and a 70 TR6 that is in the works. We must be about the same age. I got my first LBC in 67, Sunbeam Alpine, first TR in 69. Mounted a set of Brooklands on the 2 on the weekend and drove in this AM. What a blast! My ears are still ringing. Maybe thats why there are no Aeroscreens around. No one bought them! See ya!
B. Towne

Brian, I live in Nebraska. The TR4 is well sealed and has a good heater. I didn't know if it was gonna do it, but I actually used it to run to the parts store in below 0 F weather to get a battery for my van that died a couple blocks from my house. Had to pull the choke out ALL the way, but she started. Defrosting isn't very efficient, though. I'm 51.

I'll have to think about making some of those screens. That would be cool. Did you have to make some kind of bracket to fit the existing holes?

I'm quite excited about all 3 of the cars running at the same time, but have to decide which one to insure/license. Right now it's the TR4, but I may change that. I have a hardtop now and might try the 3 this winter. The sidescreens won't keep out as much snow, but hey, they're just cars, right?

Vroom..
Tom

This thread was discussed between 04/06/2004 and 10/06/2004

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