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Off Topic Fifty Years Ago, Me & My TR3

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3798j

3798j

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I posted this video here about 5 years ago, but here it is again because next week is my 50th class reunion (talk about things in your rear view mirror).



Here's the repost:
It's a super 8 film converted to disc. It's only a little over a minute, but first it's me in the graduation gown. Then it's the TR3. Then lastly it's me and my oldest friend (we walked to 1st grade together and have been business partners for just over 41 years) driving off to our high school graduation. Look carefully and you'll note I had removed the front bumper - thought it looked good/cool without. Pretty grainy and overexposed, but take my word, it was one sharp TR3 and I was quite the proud owner.


 
Great clip!

Dustin Hoffman should have driven a 3 when he graduated too.

how long did you own her?
 
Cool and a nice memory for you. Thanks.
The Catholic High of Baton Rouge class of 1963 had it's 50th...A lot of those guys got old.
 
GTP1960 said:
Great clip!

Dustin Hoffman should have driven a 3 when he graduated too.

how long did you own her?
Click to expand...

I owned it just shy of three years...selling it so I could purchase a TR4A...I wanted to move up to roll up windows, two speed wipers, a folding top, and real heat.

CJD said:
Nice! You ever try to track it down?
Click to expand...
I sold it to a kid (his parents bought it for him). He rolled it 36 miles later.



A good friend purchased it, stripped it, had the big dents removed, put a roll bar in it, and we went autocrossing for the next two summers. He managed to bring it to its final end hitting a cement light standard after losing control at an autocross laid out too close to the light. From there it went to the junk yard.
 
CJD said:
Very cool story! Did you get it new?
Click to expand...
Thanks...but it's that sad side, it had been a really nice, good looking/driving TR3. Neither TR was new, although they were both low mileage well kept vehicles.
 
That reminds me a lot of the super8 movies my mother took. I remember the blinding light used by the camera. I remember watching those "clips" and how much we enjoyed it when my mother would reverse the film and we could see my brother ride his motorcycle backwards. But mostly I remember my mother 'filming' things that were stationary. She took a whole roll of my brothers Camero -after he rolled it, but nothing was moving but her and the camera. We have 'footage' of Easter flowers, Christmas trees and people around the kitchen table afraid to move in that blinding light. Ahhh motion pictures... thanks for those memories. -that was a nice looking car, and it held up to a roll pretty well.
 
I sold it to a kid (his parents bought it for him). He rolled it 36 miles later.
Click to expand...

How'd the kid fare?
TR3's don't have much protection.....especially upside down.
 
KVH said:
That was worthwhile watching. What did you do with that graduation degree?
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LOL,,,That was my high school graduation. I did go on to the community college, then to one of my state's colleges, and then became a retailer.

GTP1960 said:
How'd the kid fare?
TR3's don't have much protection.....especially upside down.
Click to expand...
Incredibly there were three in the vehicle. While they all were banged up, only he was taken to the hospital for a fractured forearm. He telephoned me from the hospital on Thanksgiving day to tell me the news.
 
And that's another reason I often mentally debate the prudence of adding seatbelts to these cars. In general belts are safer, but in a roll over staying in the seat may be a bad thing for your head. In the end I figure it's a luck thing, and with the TR2/3 about even odds. If the car rolls, better without belts, if it doesn't, better with!?! It is amazing 3 guys could fly out and not have the car land on them!
 
poolboy said:
Cool and a nice memory for you. Thanks.
The Catholic High of Baton Rouge class of 1963 had it's 50th...A lot of those guys got old.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think we went to different schools together. I noticed that about my class mates at the 50th too.
 
poolboy said:
The Catholic High of Baton Rouge class of 1963 had it's 50th...A lot of those guys got old.
Click to expand...

TomMull said:
Yes, I think we went to different schools together. I noticed that about my class mates at the 50th too.
Click to expand...

Because I still hang socially with a number of classmates and the fact that there are mirrors in our house, I've got no illusions as to what I think I'm about to see...good chance it's not going to be pretty.
 
Looking at this thread, makes me think back about my first TR3. Before we were married, my girl friend and I bought a new 1960 TR3 together. She traded in her 1957 Chev. conv. and we split the payments. This was in the fall of 1960. We got married in June of 61, and drove the TR to Colo. on our honeymoon. In June of 62, we drove it to Calif. Blew a bypass hose in Las Vegas, and could not find a replacement. I took it off and wrapped about a roll of black tape around it. Took off the next morning at 5:30 am to beat the desert heat. Set it on 110 mph all the way to the Calif. boarder. No speed limit in Nevada at that time. Ran like a top all the way.

Gary 1960-TR.jpg
 
parkerg1 said:
Looking at this thread, makes me think back about my first TR3. Before we were married, my girl friend and I bought a new 1960 TR3 together. She traded in her 1957 Chev. conv. and we split the payments. This was in the fall of 1960. We got married in June of 61, and drove the TR to Colo. on our honeymoon. In June of 62, we drove it to Calif. Blew a bypass hose in Las Vegas, and could not find a replacement. I took it off and wrapped about a roll of black tape around it. Took off the next morning at 5:30 am to beat the desert heat. Set it on 110 mph all the way to the Calif. boarder. No speed limit in Nevada at that time. Ran like a top all the way.

GaryView attachment 48976
Click to expand...

great story!
only a kid would duct tape a radiator hose & then set off across Nevada at top speed .
were you living in Nebraska at the he time?
 
GTP1960 said:
great story!
only a kid would duct tape a radiator hose & then set off across Nevada at top speed .
were you living in Nebraska at the he time?
Click to expand...

Well some times you have to do things out of necessity. There wasn't a replacement hose to be had, it was a bypass hose, not a radiator hose, and I did have a roll of black electrical tape. We were expected in Los Angeles the next day. I don't remember for sure, but I think we drove all the way home to Nebraska that way.

Gary
 
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