Vehicle Make & Model: Triumph TR3A
Description: TRIUMPH TR3A
– Winner National Concours d’Elegance (Road Class) – 2025
– Winner National Concours d’Elegance (Road Class) – 2008
– 2nd place National Concours (Elegance) – 2019
– Winner, NSW Totally British Day (Ladies Choice – all makes) – 2020
– 3rd place National Concours (Excellence) – 2022
– Heritage Certificate
The ultimate driver’s car for TR enthusiasts.
Maintained regardless of cost. All recent work – (2024-2025). Engine rebuild (87mm kit with oversize exhaust valves). Custom built rear main seal by Terry Goodall. $3,500 rebuild of the overdrive by Kelly Racing. Rebuilt front suspension and tail shaft. Driving lights upgraded to period Lucas; upgraded starter and the list goes on – $20,000 spent recently.
History:
This is the renown ‘Otto Feenstra’ TR3A. Rebuilt by Otto with immense passion and regardless of cost between 2004 and 2007. The rebuild plan was to maintain the TR3A’s provenance but to greatly improve its performance, comfort, handling and reliability to deliver a fast, reliable and unquestionable TR3A that would stand out in the crowd.
The list of improvements is massive – things like the chassis rebuilt (Smithies, Batemans Bay) with the cruciform reinforced, improved adjustable upper wishbone fulcrum points with larger diameter roll bar. A panhard rod fitted – all to give unrivalled handling. Rack-and-pinion steering has a responsive feel in the hands of those who grip the 1950’s rally steering wheel – believed to have been used by Bob Holden.
Even the body internals were changed to give the seats (MX5) more travel – allowing 6 foot+ drivers ability to stretch out. And the shifting of the battery box by just a few cms to allow for a 230 long battery and the installed Laser KB master cylinder to look like it came straight out of the factory. Brakes are a pressure controlled split system with disc front Hi-Lux using TR4 mounts and a adjustable proportioning valve to the rear brake lines.
The steering shaft and boss is VK Holden – set up to enable the column to clear the extractors and still retain its “collapsable” status. The quality level of work is breathtaking and the current owner has maintained that philosophy which is confirmed by the trophy cabinet.
Electronic ignition with the twin SU’s fed through a TR4 inlet manifold (longer draw) which feed the engine (tractor crank) with ceramic extractors coupled. The ‘new’ engine is mated to the TR3A 4-speed transmission with electric overdrive – the overdrive switch is in the gear-lever knob. Reconditioning and realigning the exhaust is the latest work.
A massive amount of work was done to repair the original body. Completely stripped, all bog removed and panels that showed the slightest bit of rust or damage were replaced (have photos).
The body is finished in Harvest Moon Beige (LB1M) – a VW colour introduced with the VW convertible Beatle in 2001. Has external rear vision mirrors and Brooklands racing screens. A fitted tourneau, hood and interior trim in the cabin and boot are complementing chocolate ion colour. The combination is striking.
Speedo is in KPH and reads 52,192km at the time of writing.
Vehicle has been on Historic Club plates (not transferable) since 2008.
Final note:
The “Boyce Beeton Memorial Trophy” is awarded each year to the winner of “Road Class” at the TR-Register’s National Concours d’Elegance. Road Class attracts the highest number of entries, and the competition is extremely close.
This TR3A won the Boyce Beeton Trophy in 2008 (Otto Feenstra) and, 17 years later the SAME car won the Boyce Beeton Trophy again (2025). Testimony to the quality of its original build and the maintenance plan applied over the last 20 years considering everything is as it was when restored in 2004.
The TR has never been punted around a racetrack or driven in ‘anger’, but it did have a chance of some laps at “The Bend” in South Australia as part of the 2025 Concours.
Its performance was breathtaking and a surprise to the other TR’s on the track!
Sales Price: $67000
Location: East Jindabyne, NSW, 2627
