Rare 1962 Triumph Italia 2000 Vignale Coupe

A rare red 1962 Triumph Italia 2000 arriving at and leaving Manhattan Beach Cars & Coffee at The Point in El Segundo. Introduced as a prototype at the 1958 Turin Motor Show, the Italia was based on the Triumph TR3 and featured bodywork by Giovanni Michelotti. 330 examples were built, less than 130 of which are known to survive. This car, a final-year example built on a TR3B chassis, retains its original engine and chassis and has undergone a complete restoration by British Sports Cars in San Luis Obispo.

I have a feeling the owner of this car intentionally chose to park right between a TR6 and an Alfa. After all, if you had to sum it up in just a few works, it's a Triumph with Italian design. The appropriately named Italia fuses the personality of a nimble British sports car with styling not unlike many of Italy's prestigious grand tourers of the same era. It doesn't demand attention like many specially bodied cars do, but it's certainly beautiful and elegant. I don't know why so few of the original 330 Italias have survived, but I'm glad this one now looks good as new and makes regular appearances at the monthly event.

Would you choose this rare Italia over a standard Triumph TR3? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!