TR2/3/3A 1960 TR3A Small Mouth [Huh?] on eBay

[60TR3A]

Am I being too much of a purist because I think this car is hideous and way overpriced? If the restorer had put as much energy and expense into restoring the car instead of creating a "resto-mod", it might be worth his $27K asking price. I wouldn't own it if it were free.

 

[DNK]

Don't see it on the Bay

 

[60TR3A]

You have to search for "Triumph", not "TR3A". Here it is:
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1960-Triu...=item20b96769ea

 

[Guest]

First thing I noticed,but I saw a guy pay $25,000 for a total junk TR3A last summer on Ebay,sight unseen,with a master card.Nose could always be replaced with the correct one. Guess it's how bad some one wants it.

 

[PeterK]

I like that color combo. It's unique. Other thant the Union Jack screwed to the fender, it looks like a really nice car with o/d. It's bid up to $25K right now.

 

[sail]

I am not so pure. I will take it for free.

 

[DNK]

What's wrong with the nose.

 

[60TR3A]

Nothing's wrong with the nose if it were on an older car that was supposed to have a small mouth, but if he took such liberties with the car's appearance, I wonder what other secrets are hidden under that pretty paint? Probably had serious front end damage so he opted to replace the wide mouth with a small mouth. Personal preference, I guess, but it devalues the car, IMO.
I happen to like the British flag cloisonne emblems but they are located in a funky place since he placed the mirrors where the emblems should be, instead of placing the mirrors on the fenders. I'm sure his placement of the mirrors works better but again, I'm too much a purist to accept the creative license he took with this car. Nice color, though.

 

[60TR3A]

I am not so pure. I will take it for free.

The car is free so go get it. The title will cost you $27K, however.

 

[DNK]

Oh, it is a small mouth.
I thought small mouths had a recessed grill?

 

[sail]

I wouldn't own it if it were free.

I am not so pure. I will take it for free.

The car is free so go get it. The title will cost you $27K, however.

That wasn't the deal.

 

[60TR3A]

Oh, it is a small mouth.
I thought small mouths had a recessed grill?

There is nothing "correct" about the car. The seats are wrong, the boot shouldn't have full carpeting, it has the wrong badge on the nose, the nose lacks the lettering, etc. Who knows what other liberties he took if he so blatantly modified the car? It's not even worth $17K, much less $27K but apparently there are plenty of people willing to part with their money and will soon find out they bought lipstick on a pig.

 

[60TR3A]

I wouldn't own it if it were free.

I am not so pure. I will take it for free.

The car is free so go get it. The title will cost you $27K, however.

That wasn't the deal.

I agree: the deal was that I (not you) wouldn't take it if it were free! :-D

 

[sail]

Jez I give.

 

[justin_mercier]

Looks like a very tastefully done resto-mod to me *shrug* He's not trying to pass it off as original either.

Also, the only small mouths with a recessed grill were the TR2, the TR3 small mouth was the same front, but with the grill up front.

 

[DNK]

I like it too.
It has prolly everything I would do to it already done

 

[60TR3A]

Indeed, but hardly worth $27K.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Oh, it is a small mouth.
I thought small mouths had a recessed grill?

The small mouth with a recessed grill is a TR2. The TR3 has the same size grill opening, or at least very close, but the grill is flush with the front of the opening.
The TR3A is the “wide mouth” model and the TR3B, not an official factory label, was made for the US market using left over TR3A parts with TR4 transmissions and latter the TR4 motor was also used.

 

[60TR3A]

Oh, it is a small mouth.
I thought small mouths had a recessed grill?

The small mouth with a recessed grill is a TR2. The TR3 has the same size grill opening, or at least very close, but the grill is flush with the front of the opening.
The TR3A is the “wide mouth” model and the TR3B, not an official factory label, was made for the US market using left over TR3A parts with TR4 transmissions and latter the TR4 motor was also used.

Exactly. That's why this "resto-mod" isn't worth $27K, at least not to me. Who would go to such lengths unless they were replacing a bad apron? What else was bad about this car's body if the front end had to be replaced? New rockers, fenders, bonnet, etc.? Like I said earlier, lipstick on a pig.

 

[TR6BobNF]

Am I being too much of a purist because I think this car is hideous and way overpriced? If the restorer had put as much energy and expense into restoring the car instead of creating a "resto-mod", it might be worth his $27K asking price. I wouldn't own it if it were free.

Well, if being too much of a purist really means you think he shouldn't be allowed to do what he did to his car then Yes, that is a little over the top. The guy added a couple of cloisonne badges and substituted a different grille and I don't know what else. Maybe it originally had drum brakes up front? I hardly think it qualifies as a "resto-mod". It's a nice car though. As far as price goes, it's a free country. If he gets $27K well, Bully for him. You probably have a very nice 3A; enjoy it my friend.
Cheers,
Bob
1976 TR6