The history of Britain’s Triumph cars goes back to 1885 when they, like a lot of early automakers, were in the bicycle business.
The first Triumph car was built in 1923, and early on they manufactured pretty standard-looking sedans. The TR3 was produced from 1955 to 1962 by the Standard Motor Co. headquartered in Coventry, England. Before that, there had been a TR2, which the TR3 was an upgraded model of with more power and better braking.
The TR3 from 1955 to 1957 was the basic open two-seater most of us are familiar with but offered a rear seat (for very small people) and a bolt-on steel hardtop. From 1957 through 1962, further improvements were made, and those models were unofficially known as TR3A and included a new full-width front grille, exterior door handles, a lockable boot (trunk) and standard front disc brakes…