• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A TR2, 3, 3A

Share this page

I'm with Moseso on this one. I drive mine whenever I can (meaning no rain as I've got the aeroscreens and no top mechanism installed). I haven't found the ride to be particularly harsh. You are certainly vulnerable, and never going to win any battles with any car (except maybe a Berkley), but I used to ride bikes too and learned very quickly to be completely defensive when driving so I use the same technique when driving my 3. My wife's not big on the car because of the vulnerable feeling, but we have kids so if the family is going somewhere we have to take another car anyway. My daughter enjoys it.

Cars like this can produce different feelings in different people so I also agree with the idea of trying to get a ride in one first. I'm pretty sure my wife will never be comfortable. I wish that wasn't the case, but I can't force her to relax. It certainly makes my commute into work alot more fun!

Good luck!
 
Geo Hahn said:
The suggestion to drive one is a very good idea.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the real "bottom line" here. What you like visually may not be what you enjoy riding in or driving. You might even find that, while you truly enjoy the drive/ride otherwise, the seats and/or seating position don't work for you.

Granted, it's not as easy to find a sidescreen TR to test-drive as it is a new Toyota or Ford, but it's worth the effort to do so.
 
Trying to find a car between a junker and totally restored is difficult at best. You usually find something that runs well, average paint, but some rust issues in the doglegs, door sills etc. and an unfinished (rough) engine bay.
The problem here is that the bodywork is expensive unless done oneself and then painting is required.
A little visible rust usually leads to a great deal of hidden rust.
The mechanicals are easy to repair generally and much less expensive thatn bodywork so buy the best body/framed car you can find...I'd rather deal with a tired motor than rusted out body.
Actually, I'd advise buying the best car (restored) that you can, it is so much cheaper than doing it or having it done.
BTW, on the driving...think WW1 aircraft or motorcycle...just fantastic.
 
Mickey Richaud said:
You've an advantage: so many Spiders in your neck of the woods! Slim pickin's in Tennessee!
Click to expand...

They're pretty rare here too. I picked mine up in the 70's for $1500. Talked my dad into buying it. He passed it on to my brother, who neglected it and parked it at my parent's house for a decade. It sat outside the whole time and got very rusty. A little over a year ago, my mother wanted to get rid of it and wanted to GIVE IT AWAY. Though I didn't want another project car, I couldn't stand the idea of her giving it away and I didn't want to sell it as a non-runner when I knew it wouldn't take too much effort to get it running again.

So I unfroze the brakes, hired a flatbed and towed it to my house, where I could at least get it out of the weather until I could get around to restoring it. It's a very complete car, so the restoration should be reasonably painless.
 
deadair said:
So I unfroze the brakes, hired a flatbed and towed it to my house, where I could at least get it out of the weather until I could get around to restoring it. It's a very complete car, so the restoration should be reasonably painless.
Click to expand...

Well, if you don't find that "round-to-it" let me know! Janet has given the green light, if I find the right one.
 
prb51 said:
Actually, I'd advise buying the best car (restored) that you can, it is so much cheaper than doing it or having it done.
Click to expand...
Kind of depends on whether you want to do it yourself or not, IMO. I opted for a 'project' after my previous TR3A was wrecked, and I'm glad I did. Took a year or so of looking and making contacts with local people, but I eventually found one just a few miles from my home that had been disassembled for cosmetic restoration and then left in a garage for 30 years.

Besides, "Restored" doesn't always equate to "ready to drive", right Dale?
:devilgrin:
 
TR3driver said:
prb51 said:
Actually, I'd advise buying the best car (restored) that you can, it is so much cheaper than doing it or having it done.
Click to expand...
..."Restored" doesn't always equate to "ready to drive", right Dale?
:devilgrin:
Click to expand...
Got <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">that</span></span> right! In an ideal world, "restored" would equal "ready to drive"; however, unless one has actually seen the work being done, there's no way to know for sure if someone spent $3k on the engine at a machine shop or $3 at a FLAPS for a can of Dupli-Color black engine paint. :whistle:

Look thoroughly at anything, be it "original" or "project" or "restored"!
 
Moseso said:
I hope you derive as much enjoyment from a TR2/3 as I have!
Click to expand...
To amplify a little in response to some of what's been said: I got a great deal of enjoyment from restoring that car. I was one of the lucky ones who started with a basically sound, easily restorable body. It took about 3-1/2 years from beginning of tear-down to putting it back on the road. Now I know, A) I can fix <span style="font-style: italic">anything</span> on that car and B) how to do it. I also get to say, "I <span style="font-style: italic">built</span> this car!" HUGE fun! Almost as good as driving it...
 
Moseso said:
Moseso said:
I hope you derive as much enjoyment from a TR2/3 as I have!
Click to expand...
To amplify a little in response to some of what's been said: I got a great deal of enjoyment from restoring that car. I was one of the lucky ones who started with a basically sound, easily restorable body. It took about 3-1/2 years from beginning of tear-down to putting it back on the road. Now I know, A) I can fix <span style="font-style: italic">anything</span> on that car and B) how to do it. I also get to say, "I <span style="font-style: italic">built</span> this car!" HUGE fun! Almost as good as driving it...
Click to expand...

Everyone is different and some of us change. In my case, I too wanted a project car and bought a complete junker. After a complete body-off, ground up restoration, I've since lost my taste for huge projects.

I'm willing to take on more manageable cosmetic or mechanical projects, but I'll never do another body-off resto. A lot of people approach such projects with a lot of energy that dissipates as the years drag on. That's why SO many projects go unfinished.

If you ever watch that show Chasing Classic cars, Wayne Carini has the most realistic approach: Buy the best you can find, but be prepared to do some work on it.
 
Mickey Richaud said:
deadair said:
So I unfroze the brakes, hired a flatbed and towed it to my house, where I could at least get it out of the weather until I could get around to restoring it. It's a very complete car, so the restoration should be reasonably painless.
Click to expand...

Well, if you don't find that "round-to-it" let me know! Janet has given the green light, if I find the right one.
Click to expand...

You're half way there when the wifey gives you the thumbs up. I'll keep you in mind if I lose interest in the project. In either case, I'll be selling either the TR3 or the Alfa. If I decide to give up the Alfa, I'll let you know.
 
Good luck on finding a side screen car to test. Personally I would be more apt to loan you my tooth brush before I would loan the TR2. We drive about 3500 miles per year and there is nothing more thrilling than to pass an 18 wheeler and can't even see over its tires. I throughly enjoy playing in 80 MPH traffic with the 2.

Louisville has a British car club as does Mt. Sterling so I suggest you start there.

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
54 TR2LD
 
Thanks all...we like the "old" stuff so we'll keep our ears to the ground. In all actuality, it'll likely be awhile because of the $$$. Thanks again for all of the info.
 
In an ideal world, "restored" would equal "ready to drive"; however, unless one has actually seen the work being done, there's no way to know for sure if someone spent $3k on the engine at a machine shop or $3 at a FLAPS for a can of Dupli-Color black engine paint. :whistle:

Look thoroughly at anything, be it "original" or "project" or "restored"! [/quote]

That is true in any kind of deal...know what you are getting. If you have the skill to do most all of the work you can do it within a reasonable budget...if not it will be more expensive than buying a 'done' car.
I purchased my TR3 with a photo log of all work done and all receipts and queried the owner at length...no surprises and a very nice car.
I've restored cars and time/money rarely equals the same cars selling/purchase price.
However, if you enjoy building it the way you want then enjoy that journey
 
Definitely join your local club if there is one. I was at club events for at least a year before I had a LBC of my own. Good folks, and you may find someone willing to at least let you sit in their car, or maybe even take you for a ride.
 
deadair said:
You're half way there when the wifey gives you the thumbs up. I'll keep you in mind if I lose interest in the project. In either case, I'll be selling either the TR3 or the Alfa. If I decide to give up the Alfa, I'll let you know.
Click to expand...

Yep, Janet has been VERY understanding - long-suffering would be a good description!

By all means, if you do choose to let the Alfa go, I'll assure you I would treat it with kid gloves!

Mickey
 
Back
Top