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Lewis & Carol Gray QLD
TR3 - 1955 model DTR 8860
Possibly the first Australian Assembled TR

This photo was taken at the Echuca Concours 2013 where the car was placed 6th in the Concours Class
and Lewis was also presented with the Encouragement Award

The following photos are more recent ones of the car in use in Queensland.

Lewis says:
"The story that Gary Sexton wrote (below) is superb and should be left intact as part of the cars heritage with the Register, as should the photos.

However the story can be updated as follows....
I saw the car advertised in the TR register CLASSIFIEDS in July 2012. It had suffered some neglect, with a broken gearbox, inoperable overdrive, missing frost plug at the rear of the motor and humidity blisters across a lot of the body panels.

I corrected these plus reconditioned the motor again with parts supplied through the club, blinged it up from the Moss catalogue and attended our first Nationals at Echuca.
Have since attended the Noosa Nationals and have just booked to take "Buttercup" to Tasmania in 2017.

Shown above are some photos taken at local events in Hervey Bay. The local MG car club members love having "Buttercup" on their runs.

 

The material below is reproduced from the record of an earlier owner - Gary Sexton

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These pics were taken at the Bendigo Concours 2006
The interior trim is interesting. The right hand photo shows a piece of the original trim material that was preserved. Gary was able to produce a very good match of the original pattern

More Photos below.
This magazine shows the car when displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show. Photos display the original paterned cloth trim.
This how Gary describes his TR3:

Triumph TR3
Build circa 24th Oct 1955

This is thought to be the first Australian assembled TR
Commission No. DTR 8860

The car was found in a farm shed in Drouin Victoria. The pet Goat had been using it for butting practice for many years. After negotiating a price the vehicle was trucked home in 1992 and the work began. Quite a bit of rust was found in the body but the chassis being covered in oil, ( typically TR ) was protected and rust free. The car was completely dismantled by my son and I. Every panel, nut and bolt, engine, gearbox, diff, suspensions were removed. The engine was re-built to 2100cc, fully balanced with a mild cam, Commodore valves and springs. Vanguard fan hub short extension was fitted for easy fan belt removal and fitting. Commodore 16inch electric fan fitted in front of radiator keeps engine cool at all times.

3a starter motor, ring gear and bell housing were fitted. Gearbox and overdrive re-built. 3a diff assembly set up for competition. All new suspension and 4 new hubs. Ford Escort rack and pinion steering incorporating original steering wheel. Flasher switch and horn button moved under dash with easy access. Commodore alternator, complete re-wire with braided loom. Quartz Halogen tripod head lights. 10inch drum brakes all round with power booster. Ford Mustang rear drums slightly wider to accommodate 3a diff housing. Stops really good!!!

Chassis was sand blasted and zinc coated before getting a good coat of black 2pak enamel.
Body shell was sand blasted, all rust cut out, new front floor pans, boot floor pan and outer sill panels fitted. Inner sills were ok.
Front and rear guards repaired and re sectioned to remove rust.
Flashers fitted to original panel for safety reasons. 3a nose panel on the car was discarded and a TR3 panel was located and rebuilt
Factory steel hard top located and re-trimmed. Seats re-built and re-trimmed in leather. Door trims and dash re-trimmed in original Australian green and white check material, pattern photographed and screen printed on roll of material. Plush pile carpets. Soft top, tonneaux and hood stick cover in green vinyl. Paintwork 2Pak as close to original colour as possible
Restoration took me 7 years of painstaking work, and nearly a divorce. Has done about 6000 miles since completion
Car was used as a wedding car for my Daughter in 1999 and my Son in 2001.
Its a beautiful car and great to drive.

Gary Sexton

These pics were taken by Gary in 2003