"Italian bodywork at its best, British tradition in sports car engineering at its finest." So said the brochure for the Triumph Italia 2000 Coupe.

The idea was that an attractive Italian body for the TR3 could provide the best of both worlds: Continental eye appeal and the bulletproof mechanical reputation of the Triumph sports car.

The Triumph Italia 2000 was designed by Michelotti and built by Vignale in Italy on a TR3 rolling chassis.

The similarities to the later TR4 are unmistakable, and many consider this model to have been Michelotti's design prototype for that model.

About 329 examples were produced between 1959 and 1962.

The project was the brainchild of Signore Salvatore Ruffino, the managing director of CESAC, the company that distributed Standard and Triumph cars in Italy.

He approached Standard-Triumph about supplying TR3 chassis and other components, which the British firm was happy to do.

Giovanni Michelotti, who had done work for S-T since the update of the Stand...