TR2/3/3A Epitaph for my families 1962 tr3a

My fellow Triumph enthusiasts,
It is with a heavy heart I write this post. As of 10pm last night Friday May 25 my father’s tr3 of 45years saw it’s last sunset. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif My father, the original and only owner, was pulling out onto a dark county road and a semi-truck doing around sixty swerved to miss him as my father swerved to do the same. The back end of the semi-trailer caught the front end of the triumph and the triumph lost the battle. It was totaled./bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif The triumph my father and I had spent many a time rebuilding and fixing up all through my teen years into my forties was never to be mine. But the good news is, while the tr3 might have given it last ride my father walked away from the wreck (he is 75) with just a slight bump and scratch on his knee. The saddest part of the story is my father was driving it into town because we were having it detailed the next morning. I am thankful for all the times my father and I spent working on the car together. It is some of the most memorable times I will have to look back on. Only other triumph owners would understand why it's sad to say a “part of our family “has now become an item we will be parting out. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif
If other triumph owners remember one thing about this epitaph it’s this: DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR TRIUMPH IS “PERFECT”. AS SOON AS YOU GET IT ROAD WORTHY DRIVE IT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

May the sun always shine and your hair be windblown
David and Darmel (my father)
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif


/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/computer.gifif you wish to see pictures of my poor beloved triumph after the wreck :m(Since it was to be detailed Saturday morning I was going to wait to take all the pictures after the detail) and see if they are any parts you may need for your triumph tr3a e-mail me at:
dsteen@woh.rr.com

Two things.

I am glad that you Dad is ok.

I hope you had "collector car" insurance.

Wow, David, I am sorry to hear about the TR. It is always a shame to hear of a Triumph being involved in an accident, but especially so when it has been part of the family for so long.
If your insurance pays out could you not rebuild another car using as many parts as possible from your one. At least then some of it would live on.
I am so pleased to hear that no one was seriously hurt.
Good luck to you.

Glad to hear that Dad is okay, but so sorry to hear about the loss of the TR3A.
Thanks for the reminder to enjoy our toys every day, as you have no idea what tomorrow will be.

Glad to herar your Dad is OK. I vote wwith everybody else. Once past your loss, start to look for another the two of you can start to rebuild and make the new memories for the future.

That's great that your Dad walked away from it.
The sad part is no amount of insurance can compensate for the loss of what has been a part of your family and would have become a family heirloom. I hope your Dad can take it in stride. Is there any way it could be resurected or used as a parts car to rebuild another? Phil

Sorry to hear this.. I thought the story of your Dad & you sharing this car was a great one. Thanks goodness he is okay.

One of our local club member's TR4 was rear-ended by a Ford Excursion last December. Everything from the A-pillar back was crushed or twisted... he too was just shaken & bruised. Any reasonable person would declare that car was totalled.

I expect he will drive it to Triumphest in October.

It is a lot of work and not for the faint of heart but if you can't handle (I couldn't) perhaps the car will go to someone who can. Back in the day some TR3s were resurected by welding the back half of one car to the front half of another to make one good car out of 2 totals.

Bad news indeed, post a photo of it,let us look and see,who knows maybe its not as bad as you may think,when it comes to TR3's most anything is restorable.

Your Dad is the most important part of the story and I'm happy to hear that he is doing well.

If you can get another Triumph, go for it. If not, no one can take the memories that you share of the old one away from either of you.

And I do agree with your philosophy about driving as much as possible.

Glad to hear your Dad is okay! Sorry about the car.

I am glad to hear that your dad didn't get hurt.

What a bummer! When I saw your early posts I was dying to see the car. Nuts! Sounds like a modern day version of the Donald Healey vs. train shunt in the Triumph straight 8 Dolomite back in the 1930's. In view of the fact that your dad is fine, I agree with everyone saying let the dust settle a bit and then make a careful appraisal. You have the remains of a very late model. We'll assume nothing has been switched eg, engine block, gearbox, rear axle. So the original #'s are still there. Unless the car rolled like Marco Andretti's ride today I'll bet it's salvageable. I think I saw a arizona or calif. frame on ebay. Get those pictures posted.
Tom Lains
TS8651 & 58107

Cars come and go. Some are more special than others. But they are just steel and stuff in the end.

Better that your Dad is aound without injury to regret the loss of the steel and stuff...he can always get another toy, or stand with you to talk (healthy) about the old one.

Thanks everyone for the vote of confidence. My dad here from the claim adjuster Tuesday. We had full coverage but no appraisal insurance /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
The back end of the car from the smashed windshield back was no damage at all. I would love to post pictures but I do not have my own website. And you all are right any car could not repalce my dad /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
David

David,
Please send me the pictures directly, and I can post them for you on a web site I host. I will then post when the photos are available...

So sorry to hear of the accident David. And so glad to hear your dad's ok. The best part of my teenage years was working on the family car with my own Dad. He taught me a very important fact of life when I was holding the flashlight and he was working on the carbs. "You don't have to be an expert to fix most things - you just need to look carefully at one thing at a time, and see what doesn't look "right".

That is so true in so many things.

You mentioned "We had full coverage but no appraisal insurance." What is "appraisal insurance"?

Thanks - and best wishes.
Tom

I am glad your father wasn't seriously injured. As for the TR, well it's up to you and your father. Remember any car can be rebuilt, especially one that means something to you.

The good news is most any TR CAN be repaired...

New and used frames are available...sheet metal can be replaced. These cars are worth repairing...

mine said:

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

Click to expand...

That could be said for MANY things in life. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

TR3 people,
A fellow BCF member (Dave) has volunteered to post the pictures of the wreak on his website
Wreck pictures

My father and I are still dealing with the claims adjuster and the triumph sits inside at the towing place /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cryin.gif

As soon as I know the frame damage we will decide whether to rebuild it or not.
David

****Dave another Member offered to post the pictures in May but I did not know until now he did not get them. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif I will send them to him within a few days! I am sorry /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif