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TR2/3/3A TR3 Help

tinkerman73

Freshman Member
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Hello. We are in the process of purchasing my wifes late step fathers house, wich will include this neet little TR3. Its com number is TS33001-L. The motor I can not read all of it, but it is TS41 something. It has the wider front grill and has the optional rear seat. I believe it was a powder blue with black interior, but appears to have been reapholstered in a red(other then the seats). It has a black top, cover and door window skins. The mans first wife from 20 years ago thought she remembered it being a 62. I am leaning towards that as well. If anyone can help me figure this out for sure so that when the process of obtaining the place is final, we can do the motor vehicle paper work on this so I can eventually register it once I get it going. Here are a couple of pictures of it. Thanks. Jody
002.jpg

HPIM2549.jpg

005.jpg

014.jpg

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Wow, lots of work there but looks like a fun project!

With that commission number, the car would have been made in mid-1958. Generally, back then, the paperwork was filled out with the year the car was first sold, so it might have been a year or two later (my 56 was registered as a 57), but it would be unlikely to be as late as 1962.

And BTW, welcome to the forum!
 
Morning, welcome to the forum!
Wow, quite a project but you are in the best forum for technical help, support, humor and first hand "been there done that" info around.
From what I can tell from the MOSS listing of commission numbers, what you have is a 1957 0r 58 TR3A. In October of 59 they changed over to the 60000 series of commission numbers and some significant changes in various parts of the car.
If you haven't already done so I suggest that you call Moss Motors at 800.722.9020 and request a catalog.
Again welcome to the forum, like your forum name.

Tinkerman
 
Tinkerman said:
...
Again welcome to the forum, like your forum name.

Tinkerman

Yeah, ain't that somethin'. Now we have Tinker<span style="font-weight: bold">men</span>... :laugh:

Bill Piggott's book lists TS32833 appearing in Jun 58, and TS33894 also in Jun 58...
 
Anyone else notice the decidedly nonstock steering wheel? Looks a bit like a Herald or early Spitfire wheel, except that the spokes are a bit lower and angled. It does make me wonder if that's an original steering column; regardless, there appears to be no evidence of the "control head" for horn and turn signals!
 
Definitely lots of work. More than likely the hood sticks (top frame) would have been body color the other thing you could do is remove door panel and see what color is under it. Another thing anyone notice that the cubby is missing? Cool to see that barn finds are still out there. You can also sent for birth certificate from the archives.
 
Nice score!

You can get a Build Record for the car by joining Triumph Register of America https://www.triumphregister.com/ and sending $20 and the Commission Number to Joel Rosen. It will tell you the original colors and options as the car left the factory.

I you're so inclined, you can get a certificate from BMIHT that has the same kind of info on it but costs a lot more.
 
Andrew Mace said:
Anyone else notice the decidedly nonstock steering wheel?
I took it to be a later Herald wheel, positioned "upside down", but that's just a guess. If you zoom in on the 3rd photo, the bit of column sticking out in the engine compartment looks to be a "split" TR3A column, but the commission number seems kind of early for that.

What I want to know is what is that gizmo strapped to the brake pedal box?
 

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Looks like the fuel pump is missing. Definitely a lot of work, but barn finds are cool.
 
And because no one has said it:

"It'll buff out!" :laugh:
 
I am thinking that it might be an excuse for a proper washer fluid bottle as it looks like it might have a hole in it for a pipe.....

Thats my guess! :smile:

Cheers,
M. Pied Lourd
 
Looks like the dash and the door panels got padded when they were turned red.
Check out the cool, ummm, battery in the battery tray.
Also, my opinion is that the mystery gizmo is attached to the wiper motor with that band clamp -- sort of just barely...
 
martx-5 said:
[
Bill Piggott's book lists TS32833 appearing in Jun 58, and TS33894 also in Jun 58...

Our's : Made 9 April 1958 is TS29694

So after that ...
 
Thank you guys on the heads up on Joe! Will save me some money! I will need all I can get to get the imagineering on this thing figured out! LOL. Once its properly in my name, Ill do the paperwork on it and get it on the registry hopefully as another lost diamond in the "ROUGH"! I too was wondering about the steering wheel. The box is gone. Hopefully the door is still there under its ragged cover. Dont know why they would ever choose red? There is a pic of one I found on the net that really has inspired me to keep this instead of junking the old scrap heap. I am glad I saw that pic too as now I know that this is not just some $200 heap of junk! The battery looks cool in it yes! Sure wish I could find the remote starter for the battery. LMBO! The bottle I assume was a Red kneck thing dreamed up in Connecticut before he bought it? He apparently bought it around maybe 20 years ago and never had it on the road. it was last on the road in 1974 in Connecticut, then found its way to New York. Unfortunately, being that long ago, theres no record of it in the archives from the DMV, so I have no luck in trying to replace the registration there. So I will have a big chore there and some money down perhaps before I could get it registered and on the road! Of course as we can all see, there plenty more to worry about before then! LOL. Did anyone notice the ignition switch hanging from the dash? LOL. Also, I never noted the lack of turn arms etc! Now I am currious? Perhaps I will have to cut someones arm off to aid me? LOL. Anyways, here is my inspirational photo I had found on the net!
TR3-HARDTOP-1-.jpg
 
tinkerman73 said:
Did anyone notice the ignition switch hanging from the dash?
Of course. Pretty standard for a "barn find" ... I've even driven cars like that! Wrong temp gauge, too.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Also, I never noted the lack of turn arms etc! Now I am currious?[/QUOTE]You mean for turn signals? None of that here, it should have flashing lamps just like "real" cars. As Andy mentioned, there is a funky head that goes in the center of the original steering wheel, with the switch for the turn signals and a horn button.

Here's a shot of the substitute that the previous owner dreamed up for my project TR3:
 

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Sprite steering wheel?
 
I had joined one forum and a week later, still nothing. Less then two days here and I am learning all kinds of stuff on this car already! WOW! You guys are great! For thext ten years I will need to learn much to do this car justice! I know I am in the right spot now!
 
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