Every so often, a car comes through our doors that really peaks our interest. This 1959 Triumph Italia 2000 is just one of those cars. This vehicle belongs to a long-time friend of British Sports Cars and was a vehicle that we had heard about for over twenty years, yet we had never laid eyes on it. One day we got a call from our friend saying that the car was now owned by his daughter and she would like to have it restored. These are very cool cars that started life as TR3s but were sent to Italy and re-bodied by Vignale.
On arrival here at British Sports Cars, we found the Italia 2000 to be in very poor condition. The car had sat outside for many years and suffered from severe rust as well as body damage. The car was mostly complete, which was a good sign, as any new parts would have to be fabricated. When these cars were new, the owners were made to sign a waiver stating that parts would not be available due to such limited production of these vehicles.
Luckily the chassis and drive train on this vehicle was basically stock TR3, so getting mechanical parts was not a problem. When it came to repairing the body and making all those hard to find parts, we turned to our friends right next door to us, SLO Works Welding and Fabrication. Hank Van Gaale of SLO Works did an excellent job of fabricating everything we needed for this special vehicle.
The rest of the restoration proved to be pretty straightforward with just a few minor snags here and there, including tracking down the correct window moldings and rubber seals. Luckily, Re-Originals, a Texas-based parts supplier was able to source everything we needed. It did take some time but what we received was exactly like they used when new.
The car came out beautiful and we could not be happier with the restoration. The owner was very pleased the day she came to pick up the car and was even in tears at times. This car had been in her family for many years and was the car she had learned to drive in.
Nothing makes us happier than seeing a pleased client. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have or post your comments.
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Triumph italia 2000 sports car, do these cars come right hand drive or can it be converted? Do you have any it stock?
Very interested in obtaining one.
I do not believe they ever made these cars in right hand drive. I am sure it can be converted as it is just a stock Triumph TR3 chassis but it would be very expensive. A new dash board would have to be made as well as a new pedal box. These cars are very rare and only a hand full are known to exist today. The best think to do is keep an eye out on the internet for one to come up for sale.
Fantastic work you are doing on Italia’s. Can you let me know what the production numbers were on the cars you restored? I’m trying to build a file of all cars around.
Best,
Corwin
The Netherlands
Thank you Corwin! The car we are currently restoring is car number 301 but we do not have chassis numbers as the vin plate was not on the car and at some point the car has been updated with a TR4 chassis. The previous silver car that we restored we do not have the production number or chassis number for.
I hope this is helpful for you. There were at least four cars built on right-hand drive chassis. The #001 car, which appeared in period magazines, was converted to right-hand drive when it was sold on from Triumph.
Not sure that is is really a 1959 Triumph Italia because the petrol filler is located on the outside of the passenger read fender. This modification was only made to later models, north of the Number 200 in the production cycle. That would but it more like a 1961 or later model.
Don’t believe me…. check out the Registry and photos at http://www.trregistry.com/start/registry/html/TR2000/index.htm