1958 Devin TR3

Founded in the mid-1950s by Bill Devin, Devin Enterprises quickly became the world's largest manufacturer of aftermarket fiberglass car bodies. Their mould designs created numerous parts - as opposed to a single part - that could be assembled in a wide variety of ways, allowing them to conform to various chassis, applications, and uses. The bodies could cover many vehicles built in Europe and America. While most of the Devin bodies clothed pre-existing chassis, Bill Devin and his team later developed their own ladder chassis, allowing them to sell their own 'turn-key' cars. Most were constructed for the race track.

Fiberglass revolutionized the coachbuilder industry, allowing moulds to be formed from pre-existing designs, and was both lightweight and strong. The Devin TR3 used the chassis and mechanical components of the TR3, but instead of the factory-supplied steel coachwork, it received a fiberglass body. The 1,991cc Triumph four-cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors produced 95 horsepower and its performance was enhanced by the lightweight coachwork.

The 1958 TR3 had an 88-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 151 inches. Its four-speed manual transmission had synchromesh on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear. Disc brakes were at the front and drums were at the rear. The steel frame was suspended by unequal-length A-arms with coil springs at the front while the rear utilized a rigid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. The steering was via a cam and lever system.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023