There is definitely something special about a hand-built, British, 2-seater that does nothing better than put a smile on your face. During the heyday of British sports cars there were inexpensive cars for the everyman and wildly expensive one-off machines for the fabulously wealthy and everything in-between. And there are few enthusiasts today who haven’t experienced the joy of running a burly little roadster through the gears, the pavement whistling past so near that you can reach down and touch it, listening to the baritone wail of an engine fulfilling its destiny. Motoring distilled down to its purest essence, that’s the traditional British sports car. Nothing extra, no creature comforts, no insulation from the machine and the road. Making a huge impact after WWII, British sports cars dominated early SCCA competition and speed freaks across the U.S. were quick to fall for the lightweight roadsters from across the pond. The tradition of the Triumph continues today with this Primrose Yellow TR3A.

This 1958 Triumph TR3A delivers on every single one of the promises made by the legend. Triumph managed to find the ideal combination of style, performance, and price with the TR3. Starting in late 1957 with the introduction of the TR3A we find some small but significant upgrades such as exterior door handles and a locking handle on the boot along with the new wide front grille. The new TR3A saw 58,236 units being produced making it the third best-selling of the Triumph line after the TR6 and 7. The bodywork on this example is delightful, almost a ¾-scale Jaguar XK120 with swooping fender lines and proportions that cleverly disguise its diminutive size. Lovingly restored over several years by a well-versed enthusiast, this Primrose Yellow roadster is simply lovely to look at from any angle. Finish quality is very good, with a fantastic shine to the paint that is surely worlds better than new. Panel fit is quite good and if you expect these cars to feel flimsy, you’re in for a surprise because when you slam the doors on this one it feels rock solid. And, of course, there are all those wonderful details, like the mirrors way out there on the front “wings,” the strip of chrome separating the fenders from the bodywork, and, of course, the Lucas lighting that’s just right. This quaint example has the optional, dealer-installed luggage rack on the back adding to its charm. Everything terrific about British sports cars is neatly presented here in this striking TR3A.

Primrose is just the right variety of yellow for this Triumph and don’t let the photos trick you into thinking the top is black. It is actually a delicious dark chocolate that works perfectly with an interior that is the color of butterscotch. Body-hugging bucket seats with the added safety of lap belts, plush matching carpets, and a beautiful padded dash in that same butterscotch with contrasting black inlays behind the gauges all make it feel far more upscale and expensive than it is, which was surely the point. Besides, they didn’t know how to do it any other way back then, so you get a lot of car for your money. The factory Jaeger instruments are all in good working order. The big banjo steering wheel makes the steering feel light and agile in your hands. The stubby 4-speed shifter is inches away and falls to hand easily, snapping through the gears without much effort (watch the 1-2 shift until the synchros are warmed up). No radio, a marginal heater, but if you need those things then perhaps a British sports car isn’t for you. This car also includes a fully finished trunk and complete weather equipment, including top, correct side curtains, and a boot.

On paper, the 1991 cc inline-4 and its twin carburetors doesn’t seem formidable, especially with a rating of about 100 horsepower, but bear in mind that it only has to move about 1700 pounds of car. As with all British sports cars, it’s mostly about torque, and the burly little four moves this roadster with genuine gusto at almost any speed. Get it singing above about 3000 RPM and it’s downright enthusiastic. The engine was likely rebuilt at the time of restoration and we don’t know how many miles it has on it, but surely not a lot. It doesn’t smoke or make unkind noises and springs to life with surprising ease. The engine bay is clean and close to ready for show, although there are a few very minor signs of use. However the finned valve cover, twin air cleaners, and fresh ignition system components suggest that it’s been properly maintained throughout its life. It starts easily, idles with a bit of a racy lump to it, and there’s the most fantastic exhaust note when you’re really running it hard. Of note, it has been upgraded with a modern alternator, a familiar modification, but otherwise it seems pretty much as the factory intended and drives quite well.

“Car & Driver” magazine described shifting the TR3 back in their 1959 road test: “We changed gears by reaching out and taking hold of the rubber dust cover on the stick, and changed gear slots by moving just the thumb. It's as easy as that.” They’re not wrong, because once the gearbox is properly warmed up, shifting is a joy. The hydraulic clutch is smooth and progressive and the torquey engine doesn’t mind lugging around in 4th gear at 1500 RPM. But the real fun is in watching the tach needle spin around the dial and running it through each gear, listening to the exhaust note and feeling the rather strong push in the backside. It’s very nicely detailed and clean underneath, much like the engine bay, and we have recently serviced the brakes, which feature Girling discs up front for some added stopping power. The exhaust system is stainless steel and sounds spectacular, and uses two mufflers for just the right sound. Body-colored floors provide a great backdrop for the satin black hardware, and you can see that the restoration work was well done indeed. Painted wire wheels are the right look, as the let the bodywork do the talking and it isn’t over-done.

Extras include a full restoration photo album, restoration and maintenance receipts, a log book, and a tool kit.

That’s the joy of a car like this—you can explore its limits without endangering the countryside. It’s always willing and eager, the brakes are effective, and just working with the machine at a brisk pace connects you in a way that driving your modern Porsche on the track never will. That’s surely why these remain popular year after year and it’s why we find ourselves in love with this neat little yellow roadster. Every time we look at it, it gets better, and we’re delighted with the way it works. It comes from the collection of an owner who cherished it for decades, and now it’s your turn to experience what generations of auto enthusiasts already know: there’s still no better way to have fun in a car than a traditional British roadster. Call today!