Rare 1957 Small Mouth Triumph TR3 Overdrive, Factory Aero Screens, Tonneau Cover

1957 Triumph TR3 Additional Info:

Not all TR3s are born equal. Sometimes it's the year of manufacture that provides elegant details, sometimes it's the color combination that gives it a unique class, sometimes it's the restoration process, which kept as much originality as possible to retain some Wabi Sabi making the end result full of life and history. Whatever it is, some cars have it while others don't. In my humble opinion (yes, biased), this is the ultimate color combination for the ultimate year for a TR3. An elegant small mouth 1957 TR3 in Apple Green / Bisque, with original from factory red-painted Frame with period-correct painted (not ugly chrome) 48 spoke wheels.
This is my car. I am not a dealer. I have loved and cherished this car for many years but I have always known that it would be time to sell it someday. It has been driven very little but regularly. This is not a quick dealer restoration designed to turn a profit like you see so many on ebay.
The car won 3rd place at the Los Angeles Concour D'elengance in 2009 which was held at the Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena next to the Rose Bowl (see pictures with my daughter then 9, now 19 and attending Stanford). It was a grand event with some gorgeous cars. My TR3 is not a 100 point car but it is extremely nice and just perfect enough that it looks like a show car but without being afraid to drive it.
Not your average TR3, this is a rare 1957 Small Mouth TR3 with overdrive (and both original factory Aero Screens, which means that in about 5 minutes you can make it look like a bad ass race car). 1957 is the transition year from Small to Wide mouth. There are also a lot of other details that TR3 lovers will notice are still present from the early production TR3. No external door handles, no rear boot handle either, upholstered center instrument cluster, to name a few. The Small Mouth is far more desirable because it just look awesome. This car is still very reasonably priced in the market and looks as fabulous as any Jaguar, Austin Healy, or do I dare say Aston Martin etc... It's the last of the true roadster that a normal person can afford. And it's a blast to drive (0-60 in 10.8s and 105 mph top speed). I expect a lot of price appreciation over the next 5-10 years as all the other roadsters have become completely out of reach.
This car was born at the Triumph factory 62 year ago in Apple green and has retain its original color throughout the years, The car received a complete frame off restoration in 2009 but its colors were retained inside and out. You will notice that the frame is Red. It left the factory that way as it was not unusual for Triumph to paint the frames in whatever color they had on hand at that moment. It is by pure luck I believe that this Apple Green / Bisque car received the monumentally good looking red frame, as it could have easily been yellow, blue, or plain black.
The car come with everything needed to change to every possible configuration (except Hardtop which I do not have). SEE THE PICTURES OF THE VARIOUS POSSIBLE CONFIGURATIONS. That includes, the soft top (of course), side curtains, and frame cover. But it also includes the Tonneau cover and the ORIGINAL Triumphfactory AERO SCREENS (not the reproduction (Brooklands) that just don't look right). The Aero screens on their own can fetch over $1000 each. (converting to any configuration is an easy process)This car literally transformed from a very elegant week-end roadster to a pretty aggressive racing machine. Check out the pictures with the Aero screens, single seater tonneau cover and NO front bumper ! and compare with the fully decked out version with top and side curtains. Such a dramatic change of attitude in so little time.
I have the black "banjo"steering wheel somewhere in the garage but I replaced it with the fabulous custom made Teak wood version (made from a real banjo steering wheel). The teak wood in the hand is simply fabulous. You might see an aftermarket Moto Lita steering wheel on some pictures but that's not original and it's no longer on the car (Do not confuse the Teak Banjo Steering wheel with the Moto Lita wheel). I had that steering wheel on while I was waiting to receive the converted "Banjo" Teak steering wheel. For you purist, the black "Banjo" wheel comes with the car.
I also have a fully restored heater core ready to be installed which will be included in the sale. I just never got around on installing it as there was absolutely no need for it here in Los Angeles.
Please contact me to make arrangement to see the car. It's even nicer in person. It has a couple of small blemishes that I will be happy to point out when you come see the car, but they do not deter from the overall class and beauty of this true roadster.
Included here is also a picture of the undercarriage that was left completely uncleaned (photo taken has the car was lifted) so you can see the honest truth about the car. Expect the reserve price to be higher than your average restored TR3 on ebay. This car is for someone who appreciates elegance and originality, someone who prefers a leather strap on a 1960's Rolex Submariner 5513 or Daytona. Someone who is noticed without showing off.
Comes with tools, manuals, books etc...
Here is a video. Sorry, I shot this while driving !

1957 Small Mouth Triumph TR3 - YouTube

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