[TR] Need some advice regards desirability & pricing

Mon Nov 9 08:49:41 MST 2015

I've been thinking about Wayne's question for about a week now.  Pricing
these old cars is pretty hit and miss.  As has been said many times, the
car is ultimately worth what a buyer is willing to pay, if you have a
buyer.

Another rule of thumb is that it can be cheaper to buy a fully restored
car, than building one yourself. More often than not, it costs more to
restore the car than the selling price value of it.

In the American hot rod world, a souped up '32 Ford is worth much more than
a stock '32 Ford.  But a hot rodded '57 t-bird might not be worth as much
as a restored stock one.  Both those cars have a wider popularity appeal
than our old Triumphs.  Definitely an apples to oranges comparison.

With that being said, I imagine that Wayne's very nice condition V8 TR3
could still be worth what a similar non-concourse TR3 would be worth.  Nada
lists '58 TR3 values at:

$12,000 low
$21,000 average
$50,000 high

ebay seems like a venue that would have the widest market reach.

I'm hesitant to even offer a value figure, because I could be way off.  If
I were to WAG, I would say maybe $15,000 plus or minus.  Am I too low?

paulw
Torrance, CA
1964 TR4
1956 TR3 V8

On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 10:43 AM, Wayne Brazinski <wbrazinski at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Folks,
> I have been on the Triumphs list for years and years, and while I don't
> post much, I still consider many of you my buddies in that strange
> internet/forum way.  I still miss Fred, for example, even though I never
> actually knew him well - although he was the prior maintainer of my TR and
> I did have the pleasure of meeting him once when I went to Maryland to buy
> it.
>
> The reason I have started my email this way is because I need some advice
> from you that I'm hoping will be given in the same vein as I mention above.
>
> I'm at a rather extreme part of my life with my Dad having recently
> survived a massive stroke (he is recovering very well), an airplane project
> halfway complete - I need to update the blog - but you can see it hear plus
> some pics of Dad and I  (
> http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/member-project-logs/20648-ch-750-cruzer-build-log.html),
> twins in the third year of College, and an income stream that is highly
> dependant on me selling software successfully which I have been able to do
> in the past but am now at a new employer with a much slower sales cycle.
> I'm also President of a local EAA Chapter, and fly recreationally.
>
> In short I have way too little time, and am spending far too much of it
> not generating income, and now am chronically lagging behind on not just
> one, but two projects (the plane and finishing the TR).  *Dad and I are
> building the plane as a Father/Son project and, for obvious reasons, I need
> to get it done fast and to to that I need more time, and money.*
>
> I think it might be time for find a home for the TR, and I'm hoping you
> folks could give me your honest opinion on the best way to do that, and
> what a fair price might be.  I'd REALLY like it to go to a good home since
> it's a special car that has received a lot of TLC over the years.  You can
> see a video of the car here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYk4eFVzY9I
> I have since added the glove box and tidied up a few things.
>
> Here's a brief run-down of the car, I'm sure I'm missing some stuff.
>
> *1958 V8 TR3 - all of the below are installed and functioning very well*
> Ford 302 V8 installed. Apparently rebuilt about 20,000 miles ago. Runs
> awesome, oil pressure is good .
> Brand new alternator, water pump, electric fuel pump
> Brand new Holly Carb, Edelbrock intake manifold, block hugger headers.
> Airfilter
> High efficiency electric radiator fan (I think it is 3,000 CFM with
> thermostat control)
> Hot Rod aluminum radiator - has not overheated through two Summers
> "Off the shelf", designed for the TR3 Mini, Cooper rack and pinion
> replaces the old steering box.
> "Off the shelf", designed for the TR3 sway bar (front)
> Borgeson stainless steering shaft, Borgeson U Joints for steering.
> I Didit Hotrod steering column, with flashers, emergency lights, and high
> beam built in.
> Dan Masters supplied TR 3 wiring harness - brand new
> Borg Warner T5 transmission
> Custom drive shaft to original TR 3 Rear end
> Aluminum Minilight style wheels with good Bridgestone tires
> Moto-Lita Steering wheel
> Auto Meter Carbon Fiber gauges
> Speedometer is driven by a GPS sensor from Autometer
> Custom Walnut burl dashboard
> Brakes/Clutch are Tilton Racing floor mounted and dual circuit for brakes.
> Zinc Dipped frame - ZERO rust.
> Body is basically RUST free
> All brake lines and brake cylinders are new (rear) or just professionally
> rebuilt (front)
> Windshield wiper motor moved inside the car and works just like it always
> did (it flips water around with it's tiny blades!)
>
>
>
> *Needs:*
> Installation of brand new Moss Motors interior kit (Honey Tan) - this is
> purchased and will come with the car.
> I have a new Black carpet set which needs to be adapted to the larger
> transmission tunnel and different firewall.  Or you could make your own set
> pretty easily.
> Paint touch up or ideally paint respray.  If I keep it I would respray it.
> Consider replacing the rear end with a Ford 8 or 9inch to better match the
> gear ratio of the Gearbox/Engine.  This is about $2,500 to do including
> drilling the brake drums to match the TR wheels and re-piping.
> Tidy up and wrap the wiring
> Tidy up other details (install the seat belts etc)
> Drive the heck out of it!
>
> Sorry for the long email, but I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
>
> Regards,
>
> Wayne
>
>
>
>
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