Triumph TR2, TR3, TR3A & TR3B (1953–62)
by Paul Hogan
This book presents a comprehensive variety of topics aimed at helping owners of all iterations of 1953 to 1962 TR 2s and 3s keep their cars on the road trouble-free. It is but one title in publisher Veloce’s Expert Guide series and it is author Paul Hogan’s third. His prior books covered TR6 and TR4/4A respectively. Over 40 years of enjoying TRs, Hogan has owned at least one of practically every model, rebuilding several, participating in competitions with some, or just enjoying touring.
Devote sufficient time (read years), acquire sufficient experiences, not to mention miles, and pretty soon you find people asking you to guide or advise them regarding their cars as you have gained the reputation of being an expert. That fits Paul Hogan to a tee. As this book shows, he is also a logical and clear communicator utilizing body copy along with well-captioned images to convey the information as he enumerates problems commonly encountered and describes best ways to remedy each in the 22 generously illustrated chapters.
Each chapter addresses a different aspect of these cars such as engine, gearbox, suspension, electrical, bodywork, and wheels/tires. Another discusses how to deal with or, better yet, avoid realities of what can occur with infrequent use of a Triumph.
On the left is the concluding page of the chapter covering “Bodywork” with facing page the opening of the “Infrequent use” chapter.
Reader, do note that there is another useful series that Veloce publishes under the heading of Essential Buyer’s Guides. Each, as with the Expert Series, is written by one who is recognized as being highly knowledgeable on the make or model being covered. As with the Expert Series, these too are generously illustrated and printed in a size convenient to carry out to the shop or take along when going to look over a vehicle being considered for purchase.
As seen in the image immediately below, there’s also a chapter to help a potential buyer understand the features of one Triumph model versus another. The image on the far right shows the location of the engine number noting that, “it should be clearly visible. While they [the numbers] are not an exact match for a car’s commission number . . . in today’s market, cars are often described as having ‘matching numbers’ showing it still has its original engine or gearbox fitted . . . [thus] can often attract a higher premium.”
The book concludes with a well-thought out and -presented six-page “Troubleshooting” chapter followed by one titled “TR derivatives” that includes brief descriptions and images of the TR2 Francorchamps, the Italia 2000 GT, and the Ferrari-inspired Swallow Doretti.
Hogan briefly mentions that the Doretti “was aimed at the American market and named after Dorothy Deen, a Californian Triumph dealer.” Your correspondent first met Deen in 1990, keeping in touch until her 2007 passing. You can read more about this vibrant lady who was not only a car dealer but also owned and operated an aircraft sales dealership, and had known Max Hoffman and other luminaries of the day in a feature piece in Automobile Quarterly’s Volume 34, No 2. And do avail yourself of the opportunity to check out the books covering various makes and models in Veloce’s Expert Guide and Essential Buyer’s Guide lines.
Copyright 2022 Helen V Hutchings, SAH (speedreaders.info)
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