The TR2 of 1953 was the first proper sports car Triumph had made since the WWII. The chassis was based on a Standard Nine but had independent front suspension. The engine was the classic wet-liner big four design from the Vanguard but with a four-speed gearbox.

In late 1955, TR2 became TR3 with a more powerful engine. Later, front disc brakes were adopted and in 1957 the definitive TR3A model with a new full-width grille appeared. These cars were tremendously successful in the USA where most of the production run of over 80,000 was sold. In 1961, the TR3A was replaced by the new TR4 model but a US only TR3B model continued in limited production into 1962.