boggie Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Back in the early '60s my Dad owned a Silverstone Grey TR3a. It was his first 'nice' car after being promoted at AVRO. He met my Mum, they got married and drove the TR to the Alps for their honeymoon. A couple of years later I came along and Dad had to trade in his beloved TR3a for a Ford Anglia... Since then every time I have bought a new sports car Dad would plant his tongue in his cheek and say "Nice car. I used to have a sports car once son, then you came along..." So for his 75th birthday I bought him a TR3a to shut him up. A road-legal car in need of TLC that he could use right away but that we could improve over time. Like most TRs she leaked quite a bit of oil, mostly around the Ferguson rope rear crank seal so we pulled the engine out to have the seal upgrade and while they were at it we got the unleaded work done and a full engine rebuild. The previous owner had been running the gearbox with no oil and I neglected to check before driving it home and destroying the box so that was binned and a restored syncro-box ordered. With the engine and box out we thought it would be silly not to strip and repaint the engine bay. One thing led to another and the result was a six year, ground-up restoration with everything either restored, replaced, rebuilt or re-engineered (fortunately Dad'a hobby is making steam engines so he has a fantastic workshop). Due to the fact that we are both engineers (and particularly in my Dad's case; perfectionists) there are further improvements to come (fitting hard top, hood, sidecreens and a number of tweaks to stuff we are not happy with) but on Saturday we drove her over for her first MOT since the rebuild. She passed without any advisories and the tester, a classic car enthusiast, said it was one of the best examples he has seen. Apologies, I don't usually blow my own trumpet (I can't quite reach) but that's not bad for a Bodger and old Codger. I just wanted to share this with those of you who understand what it means to personally take a car on the brink and restore it back to (and perhaps a little beyond) its former glory.... Cheers! Ian Edited September 22, 2014 by boggie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graeme Robinson Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Ian, your car looks absolutely superb,certainly beyond it's former glory and the panel gaps that your achieved are I'm sure better than when it left the factory. I love the colour as well, I've just bought a 1960 model that looks very similar, what is it? Mine is on steel wheels but having looked at your pictures, she looks great on wires so I'm not sure now! Well done to you & your Father, you should both feel suitably proud of what you've achieved and its great to see another of these great cars back on the road! Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks Graeme, The colour is Triumph Primrose Yellow, later renamed to Pale Yellow. Originally the car was Red but when she was first restored in the late 70s she got the primrose coat. We considered returning her to Red and briefly toyed with the idea of Silverstone grey but decided to keep her primrose. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR NIALL Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Super Job Ian,Dad and yourself must be very Proud and there should be some Happy TR Driving Days ahead,Enjoy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Nice. I note the car has a Guernsey Registration plate. Cheers GUY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 A lovely story and such a beautiful car. I shall look out for it around south Cheshire Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Nice car Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 It is a lovely story and great that so many widescreen cars are getting the love they need. I hope it brings lots of happiness to the family. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Nice. I note the car has a Guernsey Registration plate. Cheers GUY A bit of a Photoshop job. The car has a UK 4x number, 2x letter plate but for security I always either change or remove numberplates on public forums after a friend started receiving speeding and parking tickets for a city the other end of the country. Turned out that someone had cloned his plate and the Police told him the most likely source was from his pictures on the car forum (not this one). Apparently it is quite common. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Great looking car! I love that colour. The red lined doorpocket is a nice feature. And, the under-bonnet details look good as well! What's the relay next to the coil? Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LGFromage Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Six years well spent. Now is the time to enjoy your beautiful TR on the road - but no speeding mind. Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Hi Ian, you have done very well indeed. You must have had the biggest grin on your face driving it home after the MOT Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Great looking car! I love that colour. The red lined doorpocket is a nice feature. And, the under-bonnet details look good as well! What's the relay next to the coil? Menno Thanks Menno and well spotted! It is a fused relay for the Kenlow electric cooling fan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Hi Ian, you have done very well indeed. You must have had the biggest grin on your face driving it home after the MOT Roger That would be an understatement... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Hi Ian, Great story and that's a cracking job you've both done there - the 6 yrs have not been wasted! Enjoy the car and welcome to sidescreen motoring. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billy l Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Great looking car, I notice you have fitted a plastic in-line fuel filter and it's just above the exhaust manifold, please keep a watchful eye on it as it posssibly might become brittle being exposed to all that heat, perhaps re-locate it further away, as an ex-fireman I have seen too many cars destroyed by fire caused by fuel leaks and I would hate that to happen here. Again well done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Billy is absolutely right about the plastic filter - that happened to Lynda's TR4A. Fortunately not destroyed but plenty of damage and a terrifying experience. I've never fitted one there since. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Great looking car, I notice you have fitted a plastic in-line fuel filter and it's just above the exhaust manifold, please keep a watchful eye on it as it posssibly might become brittle being exposed to all that heat, perhaps re-locate it further away, as an ex-fireman I have seen too many cars destroyed by fire caused by fuel leaks and I would hate that to happen here. Again well done. No problem on the TR as it is a glass / chromed brass filter with a removable fine gauze for cleaning. Good point though: there is a disposable plastic filter on my vintage land rover. I will change it.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Graham Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Congratulations on the restoration. Great story. Enjoy the ride! Cheers, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Great looking car Ian, thanks for the pictures and the story behind the project. It is quite an accomplishment to stick with a project like this for 6 years and come out with such a great result. Was the omission of the stone guards a design decision or did you give up in frustration trying to get them to fit ?. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Great looking car Ian, thanks for the pictures and the story behind the project. It is quite an accomplishment to stick with a project like this for 6 years and come out with such a great result. Was the omission of the stone guards a design decision or did you give up in frustration trying to get them to fit ?. Stan Put the fight with poor Moss copies on hold whllst I try and find some restorable originals.... Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Ian Well done, lovely story and trust you will always treasure that time with your dad, as he will Enjoy Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Buitifull car - well done. Bob. Edited September 27, 2014 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Good looking ! Really like the color..! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boggie Posted September 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Thanks Chaps, much appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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