• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A Waking up a 1959 TR3A

Suncoaster

Member
Country flag
Offline
It may be more accurate to say the TR3A will be regaining consciousness rather than using the phrase "waking up".

The TR entered my life in December of 1959 and was a daily through high school, college, and my early working career. I'm afraid it suffered much abuse and neglect at my immature hands before getting a homemade "freshening" in the late sixties which included a TR4 engine & transmission and a very amateur paint job. It was again used on a regular basis as a second car until 1989 when it went on jack stands in the garage.

Fast forward to the present: Last Wednesday, I met with Gary Hatifield of Hatfield Restorations in Canton, Texas. We agreed for his shop to restore the TR to a "nice driver" condition. Unfortunately, his operation is backed up until around December or January so work won't begin until then. I asked if he wanted a deposit to draw against until more funds were needed and he said that won't be necessary as he maintains an adequate amount of working capital. He'll send a bill (along with pictures) every two weeks during the resto process. The car will retain its original Powder Blue color.

I've begun get my parts list together so the parts I know will be needed can be accumulated between now and next winter. I plan to order the interior from John Skinner after having read many very positive things about his company.

Human nature being what it is, after the car gathering dust for 30 years, I am of course now wanting the car back ti its original condition next week! ;)

I will try to keep everyone posted on progress once the work gets started. Oh, the TR's commission number is TS414376 L.

Best to all,

Rick
 

DavidApp

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Hello Rick

Great that you are getting the TR3A back to life.

Are you the original owner?

J. Skinner does a great job with his interior kits.

David
 

M_Pied_Lourd

Darth Vader
Country flag
Offline
Hi Rick, I look forward to the updates! Good luck with the project.

Cheers,
Tush
 
OP
S

Suncoaster

Member
Country flag
Offline
Hi, David and MPL -

David I'm _almost_ (or rather my late father is) the original owner. Dad bought the car in December of 1959 with 2,200 miles on it. The original owner complained that the ride was too rough given his medical condition - or, at least, that's the story we were told back then. The tires were still so new that they had the nubs of the "tits" that used to come on the treads of new tires. Dunlop Gold Seals, IIRC.

At any rate, the car quickly became "mine" as long as I kept my grades up (I was 15). Heck of an incentive for a high school sophomore!

Can't wait to get it back on the road!

Rick
 

mrv8q

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Offline
Interesting, mine was bought new on December 26, 1959: I have the original bill of sale.

Comparing our commission numbers, Triumph sold a lot of TR3s in 1959!

Good luck with your “awakening”.
 

sp53

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I am still coming to consciousness myself, but I would add, be as clever as a serpent and as soft as a dove when dealing with your restoration shop. A restoration demands extreme skill levels and long hours and the 2 are often juxtaposed.
steve
 

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I am still coming to consciousness myself, but I would add, be as clever as a serpent and as soft as a dove when dealing with your restoration shop. A restoration demands extreme skill levels and long hours and the 2 are often juxtaposed.
steve

+1. I am very excited about the restoration!

That said, be very certain to review all work done between checks. I have had more than one friend lose their entire car during restorations, with what was left being tied up as evidence for years. All shops start with good intentions. Once a business has financial troubles, all the good intentions go out the window. Wasn’t it Reagon who coined the term, “trust but verify!”
 

STeve 1958

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
I agree with John. I bought my car from a lady who had just gotten it back, after a four year litigation with a restoration shop. They charged her $30,000 and got maybe half done. Then during the litigation the car got dented four times. When I got it flames were coming out of the exhaust pipe. The one thing that seemed to have been done well were the brakes but now they are failing. So, one step at a time, one system at a time, no blank checks.

Steve
 
OP
S

Suncoaster

Member
Country flag
Offline
SP53, John, and Steve -

All very good points , thank you all for bringing them up. I really like the admonition to review all the work done between checks. I'm only 45 minutes away from the shop and have been told visits are welcome at any time. That said, the shop has an excellent reputation & has been in operation for 30 years. Like John mentioned, "Trust but verify".

Thanks again, y'all may have saved me some misery.

Rick
 

ckeithjordan

Jedi Trainee
Silver
Country flag
Offline
The every-two-weeks/twice-a-month billing works well. I had the drivetrain (motor/gearbox/OD/differential) rebuilt, along with other items, at Macy's Garage in Ohio. On the 1st and 15th, I'd get a detailed invoice describing the work done, with a parts listing and hours spent on each task and by whom, along with 2-3 dozen photos, showing the work done in that previous period. If there were any questions, I get an email or call from Mark Macy. It was exciting watching the progress. I joked with fellow TR owners that I had a collection of the most expensive photos!

Obviously, Macy's has a national reputation, so I was comfortable with the process. Now, I have a well-running, virtually new (mechanically), 62-year-old TR3!

In your case, I'd take advantage of the frequent visits to check on progress. I would have, except that Dayton is 700 miles from KC!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
B General Tech Waking up a sleeping car thread MG 1
trrdster2000 Waking a sleeping beauty Triumph 2
HCE Waking up and XKE Jaguar 16
T Amos waking up Triumph 19
A SOLD!! 1959 100-6 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
rgfrey 1959 Low Beam Headlights Not Working Austin Healey 5
C For Sale Center wiring harness for a 1959 Sprite Spridgets Classified 0
Hamish Racing TR2/3/3A 1959 TR3a used in anger Triumph 5
C For Sale 1959 TR3 - Unrestored survivor car Triumph Classifieds 2
rgfrey 1959 BN7 Throttle Control Linkage Austin Healey 2
C For Sale Parts, Factory Manual, Restoration Guide for 1959 100-6 Austin Healey Classifieds 4
K TR2/3/3A 1959 TR3A For Sale on Ebay for $8,500...kurttannermotors Triumph 1
L For Sale 1959 Jaguar Mark 1 Jaguar Classifieds 0
S Wanted 1959 Bugeye Fuel Gauge Austin Healey Classifieds 0
S For Sale Sunbeam Alpine Factory Workshop Manual - All Models 1959 - 1968 Other British Classifieds 0
S For Sale Morris Minor Factory Workshop Manual om CD/ROM - All Models 1959 - 1967 Other British Classifieds 0
S For Sale Austin and Morris MINI Factory Workshop Manual on CD/ROM - All Models 1959 - 1967 Other British Classifieds 0
S TR2/3/3A I've been wrong for 60+ years: it looks like it's NOT a 1959 Triumph 8
Z For Sale 1959 XK150 Absolutely Stunning Jaguar Classifieds 0
T For Sale 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 BN6 2.6L Race Car Austin Healey Classifieds 3
angelfj1 TR2/3/3A Restoring Smiths heaters as fitted to a 1959 Triumph TR-3A Triumph 4
J For Sale For sale: 1959 tr3a Triumph Classifieds 4
TRMark Craigslist 1959 Sprite Spridgets 3
J For Sale 1 owner 1959 Austin healey 3000 BT7 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
B 1959 mk1 3.4l jag Jaguar 4
M Wanted Windshield 1959 tr3a Triumph Classifieds 3
Tim Hollister Wanted Need Fuel Gauge for 1959 Bugeye Spridgets Classified 2
71TR6 TR2/3/3A Modern paint code for 1959 Triumph #19 Pearl White Triumph 20
J TR2/3/3A My 1959 TR3 Endeavor Triumph 6
L K&N filters on 100/6 1959 Austin Healey 6
LarryK TR2/3/3A Craigslist St. Louis under 1959 Austin, Jag, Triumph Triumph 2
HighAltitudeTR3 Wanted Heater Core, Capping Trim, OD switch 1959 TR3 Triumph Classifieds 3
69MGC 1959 Aston Martin DBR1 Other British Cars 1
M Announcing a Finished 1959 BE Sprite Spridgets 27
B For Sale 1959 Austin Healey, Bugeye Sprite with 74k Miles Price Drop- NEED TO SELL Spridgets Classified 0
R 1959 3000 Clutch not engaging Austin Healey 17
S 1959 Traveller and 1959 Glasspar Avalon Other British Cars 1
T TR2/3/3A I just posted classified for sale ad on nice project 1959 TR3A Triumph 0
D September 1959 Radiator Tag Austin Healey 6
P Doors won't stay open [1959 100-6] Austin Healey 16
P New Purchase - 1959 100-6 Austin Healey 13
C 100-6 Mainshaft Replacement [1959] Austin Healey 7
C removal of transmission cover from 1959 100-6 Austin Healey 16
C Quick question before I begin my first transmission fluid change on my 1959 100-6 Austin Healey 9
dougie Alpine Rally 1959 Austin Healey 2
NutmegCT TR2/3/3A My 1959 TR3a now for sale [ugh] Triumph 33
C 1959 100-6 Overdrive installation Austin Healey 4
A TR2/3/3A 1959 TR3 Inner and Outer Rocker Replacement Bracing Triumph 10
HealeyRick Sprite Endurance Records at Bonneville 1959 Spridgets 3
5 Concurs 1959 bugeye Spridgets 3

Similar threads

Top