Its very name implies victory and the Triumph is truly one of the most successful names in British sports cars. Begun as a bicycle manufacturer in 1887, Triumph produced a three-wheeled motorcar in 1903 and its first four-wheeled car 20 years later. In 1930, the company's name changed from the Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd. to the Triumph Motor Company and, within the next few years, Triumph was introducing Saloons (called sedans in the U.S.) with pillarless door construction, six-cylinder engines and Coventry-Climax engines, as well as sporty models - which foreshadowed the line for which Triumph would be renowned. In 1950, Triumph began experimenting with an aerodynamic sports car with retracting headlamps and hydraulic components. This evolved into the Triumph TR2, which was introduced in 1953, and ulitmately into the TR3A, which was introduced in 1956 and remained the mainstay of Triumph sports cars for the rest of the decade. The 1959 TR3A had a wider grille than its predecessors (giving it the nickname "wide-mouth"), outside door handles (new in 1958), and a 1991 cc engine which developed 100 horsepower and reached a claimed top speed of about 102 mph. Some TR3A models in 1959 were fitted with a larger 2138 cc engine. The 1959 Triumph TR3A was offered in nine seperate colours from Signal Red to Pearl Grey, although British Racing green seemed a particular favourite, and featured top and side curtains in either black, fawn or white. It is a British racing green 1959 Triumph TR3A that is re-created in a precision-engineered replica that possesses all the good looks and excitement of the original.

Engine: In-line, overhead valve, four cylinder 121.5 cubic inch (1991 cc)
Horsepower: 100 bhp @ 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual with overdrive available
Top Speed: about 102 mph
Weight: 2,016 pounds
Original Price: $2,675
Current Value: $15,000 (excellent condition)

(1997)

Scale: 1:43