TR2/3/3A Nice TR3 for sale

[Brooklands]

This car is being offered by the dealer who sold me my TR3B. The owner of New England Classic Cars, Marc, was in my homeroom for seven years in the elementary and junior high school years, so I was confident buying from him. This 1960 TR3A is more than I had to spend, but might work out for someone...

 

[Twosheds]

Eligible for vintage racing without a roll bar? With what racing organization?

 

[aeronca65t]

Eligible for vintage racing without a roll bar? With what racing organization?

John: Both VRG and SVRA offer drivers a "Roll bar waiver form". Generally, this seems to be used on older pre-war cars (like Bugatti T35Bs) rather than newer cars (like a TR3). I would suppose it is intended to allow a car to remain "pure". Personally, I would not do it.

That *is* a nice TR3 by the way! I also know Marc and he seems like a fair guy to deal with.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

That *is* a nice TR3 by the way! I also know Marc and he seems like a fair guy to deal with.

Even so, $31.5K???

 

[sammyb]

While this is a very, very nice TR3, I do find a couple issues:

1)Generally, no vintage racing body will allow anyone to race a TR3 without a roll bar, unless the owner can prove the car is racing exactly in the same condition/livery as it raced point-in-time. As was just mentioned the standard roll bar waiver is generally for pre-war and early post-war cars which are too valuable or authentic to alter.

In addition, TR3s are generally not allowed to race with wire wheels, because of the bolt-on hubs. Someone might chime in if they know of a body that allows bolt-on hubs, but usually this causes tech directors to pass-out, because there's double the chance of losing a wheel. By the same token, no person in their right mind would race a TR3 on steel wheels, because of the likelihood of breaking a wheel right off, which has happened thousands of times to surprised drivers.

2)The car might be nice, but it is not a true authentic concours restoration. The TR3 never offered the red piping. While it might be considered better then new, the carpet and panels will get point deductions.

I personally think that even with the high quality of restoration, $30-plus is WAY too much for a non-OD car!

 

[NutmegCT]

As an aside, I read from Sam B. that TR3s don't usually race with wire wheels ... and that TR3s don't race on steel wheels.

As a guy with less than stellar original steel wheels on my TR3A - what wheels do TR3s use when racing?

I'm not even thinking of racing, but next year I have to buy new wheels.

Tom

 

[Harry_Ward]

You guys are missing the fine print disclaimer at the bottom, hehehehe. as Tony would say.

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The New England Classic Car Company is not responsible for typos or other technical or factual errors contained in these or any other advertisements. This includes, but is not limited to, quoted price, information on condition or specification, history, or other details.

Tom,

Never raced but I think either alloy or custom steel wheels fabricated especially for racing I believe. I am told that even these break at times.

 

[Twosheds]

You guys are missing the fine print disclaimer at the bottom, hehehehe. as Tony would say.

The New England Classic Car Company is not responsible for typos or other technical or factual errors contained in these or any other advertisements. This includes, but is not limited to, quoted price, information on condition or specification, history, or other details.

How silly of me.

 

[aeronca65t]

I've seen wire-wheel TRs racing with the standard bolt-on hub adapters. In VRG and VSCCA.
And about half the Turners I see have the bolt-on, wire wheel hub adapters (to run wire wheels) which many folks consider safer than the original Turner 15" steel wheels. Lots of them in the Pittsburgh VIntage this year.

I'm not crazy about the hub adapters myself, but if the steel wheels are too weak and you're trying to keep the car original, what are your options? There is no company that builds steel replica TR wheels (or Turner wheels) but you *can* get new, replica wire wheels.

The modern aluminum wheels we see now (like Minilites) were not available in the 50s, so they would not be "correct", and 50 year old, alloy race wheels might be worse than steel wheels. It's always a tough call with vintage racing, especially if they are running new, stickier tires.

Most of the Bugattis are racing with their original, alloy wheels with the integral brake drums. These wheels are almost 80 years old but are almost impossible to source....so they just keep inspecting them as careful as possible. That's the key to a lot of this.

Much of the mechanical decisions made when running in vintage involves judgement calls...if you replace *everything* than might break, you'd have to build a brand new car.

And I agree: that TR3 *is* overpriced. But it sure looks nice!

 

[Twosheds]

Here's my old TR3 being raced with 60-spoke wire wheels in a SOVREN event. Although SOVREN does not recommend wires, they allow them. The new owner has since changed to Panasports.