Description:

The perfect road/rally and race car. This is the real deal. This car has been raced and rallied for many years, has 3 log books (including the prestigious VSCCA, the first Triumph to be so registered). The car was built in 1959 thus qualifies for Historic, registered in 1960, shipped to CA. with hard top. Car went to Utah where Henry bought it and restored it, then to New Mexico. All 3 states are desert climate hence no rust. Henry sold "Bruce" in 1998 to my friend Jeff in Connecticut who put in a full interior, rebuilt gearbox and raced it at Lime Rock without a role bar (yes you read that correctly); VSCCA are I think the only club that allows historic cars to race without a role bar.I bought "Bruce" from Jeff in 2010 and have replaced the tired (needs rings and freshening) engine with a custom built (by Triumph guru Greg "Lunker" Hilyer) fast road/race engine that now has been run in a raced twice.


History

Triumph 1960 TR3, named Bruce. I started vintage racing in 1990 by paying the then owner of “Bruce” Henry Morrison a fee on the basis of, if you brake it you fix it. Fortunately the only time it did brake (a stud holding the rocker arm broke, fixed before the next race) Henry was driving. We did this for a couple of years until I bought my first vintage racer an Austin Healey Sprite, before graduating to a TR4 and Jag. XK150. Henry continued to race ‘Bruce’ (Henry’s history is attached) until he sold him to my good friend Jeff Schur in Connecticut. Jeff raced ‘Bruce’ at Limerock when he became the first ever Triumph to be accepted into the VSCCA club. Jeff sold ‘Bruce’ to me in 2010 and I have had him since then. Hence, he has 3 log books, RMVR, VSCCA and SWMS. I decided to have local race car guru, Greg Hilyer build me and engine at the same time he was building one for his TR4. Having raced against Greg, I wanted and engine that went like his, bloody fast. Of course the build went longer in time and money (don’t they all) but is now run in and raced twice. The thing about ‘Bruce’ is, he is the real deal. He is not some painted over rust bucket made to look pretty for unsuspecting eyes. His patina is real, a few nicks here and there but a fully functional road car (I was doing 6000 revs on the highway yesterday) as well as a very well sorted race car. He has lowered suspension, comp coils/shocks, 4.10 rear limited slip diff. finned rear drum brakes, original Kastner aluminium flywheel (resurfaced during rebuild) to mention a few. I think the photo’s and history will give you the full story. 19th October 2013. SWMS (South West Motor Sports) Miata Mania w/e race. I drove Bruce 4 times on the Sat. and improved my times to the point where I beat my previous best time set in my TR4 back in 2000 by 2.4 seconds. I would like to think that like good red wine I’m getting better with age BUT, self delusion apart, “it’s the engine stupid.” 17-18 May 2014. Kastner Cup, Eagle Canyon Raceway, Texas. I had one of the best races of my life in the all Triumph Kastner Cup race with Bob Blake who’s TR4 is a pure race car, with wide Hoosier race tires, no windshield, southwick back axle etc. versus my narrow Goodrich 185-65-15 street tires and full windshield. I beat his time by .326 or a third of a second. The car went like a swiss watch and I had so much fun that I’m tempted to renege’ on my previous position as stated to my wife of 44 years, to sell both Triumphs and race the Mini Cooper. Alas, it is time for ‘Bruce” to find a new home where he will be raced and cared for just like in the past. He is primed and ready, my sadness will be your joy. Sorry to get sentimental but at 71, life is becoming more about the past than the future. Rob.

Competition History

Many races in many places
Performance Data

• Vintage
  
• 2100 lbs
  

Engine

• Triumph
  
• TR3A
  
• Approx 130
  
• Twin SU Carbs
  
• Flowed
  
• Standard
  
• Shot peened/cryogenic/magnaflux
  
• Mahle 83 mm
  
• Flowed
  
• Comp
  
• Original Kastner Aluminium
  
• 800miles since rebut
  

Fuel System

• Fuel Tank
  
• 1960
  
• 16gals
  
• electric
  
• premium
  

Oil/Water System

• STD
  
• STD
  
• Yes
  

Electrical System

• Coil/distributor
  
• generator
  
• STD
  
• NO
  
• no
  

Transmission

• Triumph
  
• 4
  
• no
  
• Spare gearbox with rebuilt Overdrive
  

Rear End

• Triumph
  
• LIMITED SLIP
  
• no
  
• 4:10
  
• STD
  
• Live STD
  

Body

• Steel
  
• Red
  
• Very good
  

Chassis

• Ladder
  
• Triumph
  
• steel
  
• excellent
  
• Competition Coil over Koni telescopic; sway bar
  
• Live, leaf springs with Armstrong lever shocks
  
• Rears rebuilt in 99
  
• Front disc, rear drum
  
• STD
  
• 60 spoke (spare set of excellent 72spoke)
  
• 185-65-15
  

Interior

• Black
  
• vinyl
  
• Bottle
  
• Roll bar, 5 point harness
  
• All standard all working
  
• Standard
  
• Good
  

Spares

• Original engine
  
• Original Hardtop
  
• Reconditioned Overdrive gearbox
  
• Original Differential
  
• 4x 72 spoke wheels
  
• Misc. spares
  
• Brooklands windscreen