Triumph TR3 History

Introduced in 1955, the TR3 refined the TR2 formula with more power and an enlarged grille, and is frequently credited as the first British production car to offer front disc brakes as standard equipment, fitted from 1956. The popular TR3A facelift (1957/58 on) brought a full-width grille and exterior door handles.

Cheap, fast, and rugged, the TR3 family became a backbone export to the United States and a club-racing staple, with about 74,800 built across the run before the Michelotti-styled TR4 arrived. That total spans three phases treated here as one TR3 family: the original TR3 (1955–1957, roughly 13,400 cars) and the two later updates popularly — but unofficially — called the TR3A (1957–1962, about 58,200) and the US-only TR3B (1962, some 3,300).