It was a pleasure to capture this beautiful green TR3A motoring in the lush green hills near Los Gatos, California. Steve Bonner's enthusiasm and passion is obvious as he tells the story of acquiring and owning this car.
Nice video, lovely TR! I remember riding in my uncle's TR3 when I was about 8. At age 18 I bought my first car - one year old 69 Spitfire. Now I have a 2001 Miata. You never forget how much fun these beautiful cars can be!
I've had a "thing" for British sports cars for over 50 years (I'm 72). In the early to mid 70's, I had a '69 Triumph TR6 that spent as much time in the shop as it did on the road. In 2020 I wisely bought a new Mazda Miata. No, it's not British but it's totally reliable and pretty quick too with a stock 181 HP in a 2200 lb. car. I had an aftermarket cat-back muffler setup installed and it now sounds amazing and I gained ~8 hp. by doing so. The coolest thing is that you can put the top up or down in about 5-7 seconds... no lie! As much as I'd like to get another British sports car something like this TR3A, I'm stickin' with my Miata. It's a total blast to drive and will be with me for many years to come. 😊
When I got out of the Navy, in 1965, a high school drop out, and started college. I bought a 1961 TR-3 for $360.00, almost every dime I possessed. The dealer who sold it to me, duped me with the clutch which I did not realize was about gone. Replacing it cost me. I drove it for four years through college at Mizzou and through my first year of law school. In the second year I sold it to a junk yard for $80 and bought a used VW that cost me $900, and it had no brakes. At 80 I have passed up buying another, not so much because it would cost me north of 20 grand, but I would be unable to drive it regularly about LA. No point. It was a great car. But it was time to move on.
Beautiful video. You have captured the essence of the experience. Fifty years ago, my first car was a $900 beater TR3. I'm on the cusp of acquiring another, although at a slightly elevated price. See you in the road!
I love the notion that the family of the original owner was looking for the right person to sell the car to. Someone who would cherish, enjoy and look after it as much as he had. That's a nice story.
Very nice. I bought a 1962 TR3A back in '75 and drove it throughout British Columbia and Alberta before heading east to Nova Scotia in the middle of winter (which was quite an adventure). That car was such a sweet ride and a replica of yours as mine was British Racing Green as well. My brother at that time had a '59 Tartan Red MGA (these days he drives a mint 1950 British Racing Green MGTD) and we have so many great memories of kicking around the maritime provinces in those two "babies". Cheers! :-)
This looks like the foothills in California where I live and I also own a 1962 TR3 b. I live between Placerville and Auburn. What a beauty you have there!
I confirm the driving experience is exceptional... It's perhaps even more fascinating than the first 911 (called 912), when u discover this first model to be such a balanced and safe road car, upon witch Porsche will built gens over gens. This Triumph is almost perfect from scratch : why... is a complete mystery...
