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Sean Mee
Tempe AZ USA

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1960 Triumph TR3A

According to the BMIHT, she was built in April of 1960. Dispatched to a Detroit-based import car dealer on April 26, 1960, her history is a mystery until I acquired the car from my high school chemistry lab partner here in Phoenix, Arizona, in November of 1973. Apparently, the car had spent some time in Arizona as there was virtually no rust on her. Purchased from my friend for the princely sum of $100, the car was not very attractive. At least three different paint jobs covered various parts of her. Early Mustang seats had been unsuccessfully shoe-horned in (the doors didn't close). My friends sole attempt at restoration was the purchase of a new gearshift knob - a point he kept coming back to during the purchase negotiations. Postitives included a straight frame, a healthy drivetrain, and all original instrumentation. My father and I did the first restoration on the car that winter. The lack of NOS or replacement parts necessitated frequent cannibalization runs to a local junkyard with four wrecked 3A's. Finished in Vette yellow and sporting black "Triumph" side stripes (it WAS 1974, you know), she came out pretty darn well for a first-attempt. Serving as my daily driver for the next six or seven years, the car always remained one-breakdown-ahead of me. Career (and a lack of patience) relegated her to infrequent drives over the next decade. The death of the master cylinder around 1992 led to garaging under a tarp. Approaching completion of my graduate degree in 1996, my wife offered the frame-off restoration of my beloved TR as a graduation present. What you see is the result of that 19-month endeavor. Completed in July of 1997, the TR was restored to a scheme found in some old photos from Goodwood circa 1961. She's BRG with a tan interior and black weather gear. She sports a full compliment of period tools and a variety of period sales literature. Very stock, she came with the 2100cc engine and a later conversion to HS6 carbs. Other than contemplating the installation of a front anti-sway bar, I'm very happy with the current status. The TR has since gone on to win a Triumphfest Funcours Gold in '97, Best TR2-3 at the 2000 Wheels of Britain show in Phoenix, and 2nd Place in a 2000 open-class local car show. Our car-friendly weather allows me to get her out on the open road for about nine months out of the year. Summers overcome the cooling system, so that's her R&R time.