Components of the car were manufactured about late December 1955. They were shipped to Australia as Completely Knocked Down [CKD]. It was probably assembled in Sydney or Melbourne. In about 1957/8 it was transferred to Western Australia [maybe Albany] and driven to Perth to the dealers Mortlocks and registered.

The car was owned by a Graham Little, registered as SW1678, before being sold to Andre John Vogel. Andre owned the car for about 2 years when he was about 18 in about 1966. The service history for the first year [Jan to Oct 1967], mileage 63,000 - 71110 miles, is shown below:

2 photos of service history here

In 2016 Andre provided additional photos:

Hi John,
Here are a few more photos of the TR3 - both registrations (SW 1678 an UXK 309) are shown - also with the hardtop. Not very clear I'm afraid but it's the best we could do.
The lady in the picture is my mother - she enjoyed a fast spin - especially with the top down. (Used to ride a motorbike when she was young...)
Cheers,
Andre 9/4/2016

At that stage, the car was a dark BRG with a black hardtop.

Because Andre was not a resident in the Shire of Swan it was registered as UXK 309 (11/4/67). It was sold to a Greek soldier named Pappadopolis about 1969 who reneged on part of the deal.

Presumably he sold it to Peter Thompson before I bought it on 22 Dec 1973. The car was white body work with a white fibreglass hardtop.

Portion of the TR shown here in white in front of the Thompson family Kingswood!

As I became more aware, I discovered there was a lot wrong with the car.  

• Chassis number was DTR 9606 indicating that it was an early TR3.
• It was fitted with a TR3A grille.
• There was corrosion in seat wells which had riveted patches and the rear apron was rusted.
• The front bumper [original TR3] had overriders missing.
• There was significant chassis damage at the rear cross members, cracked RHS front suspension mounting members, the hardtop had a rear rail  and front attachment brackets missing
• and evidence of a shunt on the front chassis was observed.

The poor car was parked out in the weather for some time until the garage was built.
The car had a front impact at the bottom of Kalamunda Rd. so had to have a front apron replaced. While doing that I resprayed the car in Mazda  Sunrise Red acrylic lacquer with aid of a Tuffy spray unit from work. I drove the car up the Kalbarri  for a short camping break and that was the longest trip the car ever made.

EARLY SERVICE RECORD by JMC

MILEAGE  DATE                             SERVICE

1976
05,200 Oct 1 1976       full grease. engine /filter change. brake adjustment front nearside shoes changed round to even wear. plugs/points replaced.
1977
?1,500 Aug 4 1977    new points
12,000 Aug 18 1977    full grease/brake adjustment
12,300 Sept 2 1977      fan bushes replaced
12430  Oct 1977         rebored liners, new pistins, valve springs, big ends, radiator, plugs, points
12830 Nov26 1977 sump removed and cleaned, engine g/box oil changed, filter replaced
1978
12860 Nov 28 1978 rear axle oil changed
16400 June 1978 grease, engine/filter changed, wheel bearing grease. brake adjust.
speedo clock stopped [16580] replaced master cyl rubber. engine oil change.
1979
March 1979 all round grease, brake adj. and repacked front wheel bearings
March 26 engine change
Sept 1 1979 engine oil change. g/box oil changed
Clutch trouble. g/box removed- clutch plate worn- renewed clutch cover due to severely worn release levers - removed release bearing and pin for release fork- shaft bearings v worn but not replaced- watch - clutch master cyl - hole x cleared - piston binding - no cause found.
21 Nov 1979engine oil change only
31 Dec coolant change, flush ang additive
1980
Jan 1980 full grease - brake adjust
Feb 22 1980 dynamo cover lost - made up another - bottom bolt 1/4 w fine - check tightness frequently - also check rear bottom nut and bolt. battery suspect - starter whirrs but no turn.
March 1 1980  new pts./cleaned plugs/cleanes air cleaner and pots. Front plugs 1,2 wet.
Mar 26 1980 New plugs - front carb mixture screwedup 4 flats - 31 mpg
Mar 28 1980 engine oil / filter changerd. Mid exh bracket rubber replaced - silencer seam cracked.
1980 full grease & wh bearings - all drums off & cleaned = lhs front near rivets - all adjusted [front ok]
?? 1980 OFF ROAD
1981
July 13 1981 new battery. Eng oil & filter changed / grease /fan belt & hoses changed/ new pts.
Oct 18 '81new pts - plugs cleaned/hs rear shockerchanged [existing defunct] - front end grease/ hubs greased
?? g/box & rear axle oils changed [ 80/90 grade]Ignition retarded to offset pinging?
??? engine oil changed new front shocks/front end grease/ cleaned pts & plugs
1982
Mar 12 '82  Engine oil/filter change, rear brake rods shortenedto tighten handbrake. Offside rear wheel oval?? - nearside looks OK. Points cleaned and set.
April 17 '82 New pts, plugs cleaned and reset.
May '82 Master cyl. resleeved - fr wheel cyls replaced.- new front shoes  and skimmed - greased front end.
June '82 New w/s [bonnet flew up Lesm rd?]
Aug 1 Pts & plugs cleaned and reset- clutch slave examined - rubber OK - readj OK
Aug 23 Oil press down to ca.35psi at ca.2000revs.when hot - replaced b/e shells - press up to 60-65psi hot at 2000revs. Oil filter & oil change change.
Aug 26 New dist cap.
Nov 7 '82 Greased front end / cleaned & set points
Dec 6 '82 New pts. & cleaned plugs
1983
Jan 31 '83 Centre track & bushes replaced- idler screwed up St. box adjusted. greased fr end
Feb 5 Oil filter & oil change
Feb 19 '83 New FWB / top w/b rubbers replaced/ greased fr. end
May 16 '83 Oil change
June  3 '83 Pinion flange oil seal replaced - s/h g/box mounting installed.
July 17'83 Pts & plugs cleaned
July 30 '83 Grease front end
Aug 20 '83 4 new CN36's & 240Z wheels
Sept 3 '83 Engine oil & filter
Dec 27 '83 RHS bottom w/bone rubbers replaced.
1984
Apr 1 '84 New plugs, pts, and leads & condenser.
April 7 Grease front end, adjust brakes.
April 14 '84 Engine & filter change.
-PART TIME USE-
1985
Sept'85 Full grease & brake adjust.
Sept 25 Engine and filter change.
1986
Jan 11 '86 Plugs and pts cleaned and set. Grease & brake adjust. Front & rear CN36's reversed.
April 18 Engine oil change GTX
Aug 23 '86 Generator brushes replaced & stop light switch.
Nov 14 '86 New Battery