Chris Glasbey Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 A question which I have never thought about after 47 years of owning my 1959 TR3A , badged TR3. Excuse my ignorance but when did Triumph start badging cars TR3A. I have obviously not thought this to be interesting enough to find out earlier ?! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveB66 Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 Chris I think I'm right in saying that Triumph never used the TR3A name in their literature or indeed ever badged the car as TR3A. I'm sure that others will be along to explain better how the 'A' came to be added to the TR3 Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 Quite so, the cars were never badged 3A, only change was on the TRIUMPH emblem on the front changed from black & red to black & blue, & lost the "TRIUMPH" word. this was replaced with individual letters below it, & also on the rear. The car was always officialy a "TR3" Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 +1. However I'm not sure the Black and Red to Black and Blue enamel badge switch, coincided with the introduction of the 1958 TR3? The question then is who started calling the 1958 model TR3, the TR3A, and when? Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldBob Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 Just to add to the discussion, shall we include the 'TR3B' ........ or maybe not? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Teher Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 (edited) It seems that the first TR3A, TS 22014 which dates from September 1957 still has a red and black medallion and that the change for the blue and white one occurs on TS 41878 in January 1959 ... A TR3A is a TR3 and a TR3B is also a TR3… but a TR2 is a TR2 ! Edited December 3, 2021 by Teher Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Teher said: It seems that the first TR3A, TS 22014 which dates from September 1957 still has a red and black medallion and that the change for the blue and white one occurs on TS 41878 in January 1959 ... A TR3A is a TR3 and a TR3B is also a TR3… but a TR2 is a TR2 ! +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 +1 But who started the new description. The nomenclature has also been adopted by BMIHT, they refer to 1958 model year TR3’s as TR3a’s although the Factory traces do not. All 5 Works Apple green Cars for 1958 were built in November 57, all to Export speciation ( UK launch was January 58) all are referred to as Tr3’s on the factory build sheets. Earliest of these cars is TS23***. Most had the Black and Red front apron badge, one had the earlier version with “Triumph” in the badge from day one of its career. I’ll get my anorak now :-) Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 In the US theyre usually all referred to as TR3 apart from funnily enough the TR3B Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Glasbey Posted December 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 Thanks all. This all started from fake news received. I have A TR3 badge (blue/white) for my 1959 A Chris. NB come back Roger, if you are reading this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldBob Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 14 hours ago, Teher said: A TR3A is a TR3 and a TR3B is also a TR3… but a TR2 is a TR2 ! Unless the TR2 is a Francorchamps ! TR2F ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 1 hour ago, OldBob said: Unless the TR2 is a Francorchamps ! TR2F ? They are great cars. Never seen one in real life though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ralph Whitaker Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 I presume the "3a" designation was coined to differentiate the wide mouthed grill versions by someone, and it stuck. However Triumph themselves used the idea later on the 4A, when the considerable change to the rear suspension would have warranted upping to TR5. Also is a beam axled 4A still a 4A or just a 4. Ralph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 28 minutes ago, Ralph Whitaker said: I presume the "3a" designation was coined to differentiate the wide mouthed grill versions by someone, and it stuck. However Triumph themselves used the idea later on the 4A, when the considerable change to the rear suspension would have warranted upping to TR5. Also is a beam axled 4A still a 4A or just a 4. Ralph 4A as it has the chassis and front suspension change. Same chassis for IRS as the rigid axle TR4A. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 12 hours ago, Hamish said: They are great cars. Never seen one in real life though. Here you go. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Forest TR3A Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 (edited) On 12/2/2021 at 7:07 PM, iain said: +1. However I'm not sure the Black and Red to Black and Blue enamel badge switch, coincided with the introduction of the 1958 TR3? The question then is who started calling the 1958 model TR3, the TR3A, and when? Iain We had this discussion in the German TR Forum (tr-freun.de): The Triumph Guide, Dave Allen/Dick Strome, Modern Sports Car Series, New York 1959 (3. Printing 1960) speaks of a TR-3A (sic!) (page 71-73). And in 1962 (at the latest) the name TR3A came to England (P. Olyslager, Motor Manuals 18; see pic). Both books were written with support from Standard Triumph, so the A became officially approved obviously... Edited December 4, 2021 by Black Forest TR3A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 Interesting, many thanks. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted December 4, 2021 Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 8 hours ago, stuart said: Here you go. Stuart. You think that car looks good in a photo, Should've seen it in the flesh, breathtaking. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 5, 2021 Report Share Posted December 5, 2021 14 hours ago, John Morrison said: You think that car looks good in a photo, Should've seen it in the flesh, breathtaking. John. It is Ive seen it a few times, theres also this one not quite so good. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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