TR2/3/3A Any TR3s Built Without Tops?

[Mickey Richaud]

Hey, folks -

Been a while since I've fooled with TR3s; looking at one to help a widow sell her late husband's 3A. No top included, and she's not aware of an old one or even a frame lying about. There are a couple of homemade plexiglass side curtains, but there are no sockets on the door cards. The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate in his file lists only a tonneau cover as equipment included in the build. I have a copy of Bill Piggot's TR3 book, but it's in storage and can't get to it to see what he has to say. Any wisdom here?

Thanks,
Mickey

 

[CJD]

I think the top is standard, so not usually mentioned in the build sheet. Hard top or tonneau would be options that would be in the build order. That said, car manufacturers were much more open to adjusting what's on the car if you ordered it than they are today.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

That's what I thought as well, John. But if memory serves (long shot, that!) the Heritage certificate I received for the one I restored years ago mentioned a white top as equipment included. Thought that odd, as my car originally was beige with blue interior and a white top. When I sold mine I kept a copy of the certificate, but it's also in storage with my Piggot books so I can't verify that right now.

 

[NutmegCT]

Just wondering, but if your Heritage certificate shows white top, wouldn't that just mean the soft top folding hood was white, not black?

Also - take a look: https://www.britishcarforum.com/community/threads/tr3-hood-and-sidescreen-colors.125416/

TM

 

[TomMull]

Mickey, Perhaps the question in your case would be would adding a top and frame etc increase the value or make it easier to sell. I assume it has all the studs and perhaps Tonneau?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Mickey, Perhaps the question in your case would be would adding a top and frame etc increase the value or make it easier to sell. I assume it has all the studs and perhaps Tonneau?

Hey, Tom -

Was mainly curious whether any 3s were supplied without tops. Not sure she wants to buy a top and frame; would imagine that's going to be the better part of $1k. We're out of town for the week; when we get back I'm going to check back with her and do more investigating the car's condition.

 

[TomMull]

Yes, the price of tops and parts in general seems to be out pacing the price of the cars.

 

[LionelJrudd]

Back to the original question, Bill Piggott in the ".... Detail" book in the TR3 and Optional Extras section states "On cars delivered from factory with hardtops, the soft top and its frame were not supplied unless one paid extra!" Its possible a car could be imported with hardtop and then the hardtop being separated from the car, leaving a car with no top or frame. I guess a heritage certificate would clarify the situation.

 

[NutmegCT]

"On cars delivered from factory with hardtops, the soft top and its frame were not supplied unless one paid extra!"

If Piggott is the holy writ, then shouldn't the widow's car have a certificate mentioning the "optional" hard top?

Thanks for checking the Piggott. Seems that, and the Certificate, are the closest Mickey will get to the widow's car fitment.

TM

 

[Mickey Richaud]

"On cars delivered from factory with hardtops, the soft top and its frame were not supplied unless one paid extra!"

If Piggott is the holy writ, then shouldn't the widow's car have a certificate mentioning the "optional" hard top?

Thanks for checking the Piggott. Seems that, and the Certificate, are the closest Mickey will get to the widow's car fitment.

TM

As I mentioned above, the Heritage Cert. for the car lists only a tonneau cover; no mention of a hard top. We're back from our RV trip, so plans are to drop by her place one day this week and do some more digging.

 

[TRopic6]

As I mentioned above, the Heritage Cert. for the car lists only a tonneau cover; no mention of a hard top. We're back from our RV trip, so plans are to drop by her place one day this week and do some more digging.

Hi Mickey, Sometimes the Factory Build Record has options that are not on the Heritage certificate. My 3A came with a factory hard top as well as the convertible top and a tonneau cover. The Factory build record had "HT", which means hardtop, but the only reference on the Heritage certificate was "conversion kit", which I think is a convertible top & frame to 'convert' a hardtop car to a convertible. VTR can get the factory record here:

Trace Certificates – Triumph Club – Vintage Triumph Register

vintagetriumphregister.org

Jeff

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Hi Mickey, Sometimes the Factory Build Record has options that are not on the Heritage certificate. My 3A came with a factory hard top as well as the convertible top and a tonneau cover. The Factory build record had "HT", which means hardtop, but the only reference on the Heritage certificate was "conversion kit", which I think is a convertible top & frame to 'convert' a hardtop car to a convertible. VTR can get the factory record here:

Trace Certificates – Triumph Club – Vintage Triumph Register

vintagetriumphregister.org

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. Will check it out.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Back to the original question, Bill Piggott in the ".... Detail" book in the TR3 and Optional Extras section states "On cars delivered from factory with hardtops, the soft top and its frame were not supplied unless one paid extra!" Its possible a car could be imported with hardtop and then the hardtop being separated from the car, leaving a car with no top or frame. I guess a heritage certificate would clarify the situation.

Years ago, I knew of (and saw) one car, a very late 3A or 3B, that was built and delivered as a hardtop-equipped car with NO provision for a soft top, so it did happen on occasion.