To answer your question Tom, yes it should be easy. To add to what Laura
said, there is a chassis number (I think that is what it is called) it will
be located on the frame outrigger immediately infront of the firewall on the
drivers side (U.S. Spec, yours might be on the passenger). Your
differential does have a number that should be able to be tracked down, has
the body been changed? again there is a commission plate riveted to the
windshield pillar, and one in either the door jamb or under where the bonnet
latches are. Which of these is the most reliable. By looking at your car
it is obviously in the '73 to '78 range. If your seats are original (since
you have houndstooth) that indicates that it is a later model maybe '76 to
'78. Another very good indicator (since very few people have the want,
wish, or desire to change them) is the steering column. What does your
steering wheel look like. is your key on the column or under the dash
(under the dash on '76 and before) what about the stalks, are they simply
levers or are they integrated horn,windshield wipers, turn signals etc.
(again integrated would be '77 on, simple stalks for each is an indication
of '76 and before. Is there a seperate windshield wiper control on the
dash, if so '76 and before.
That should be enough to get you started. Let us know what you find
Patrick Bowen
-----Original Message-----
From: Laura.G@141.com [mailto:Laura.G@141.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 10:55 AM
To: Tom Harvey; spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Spitfire 1500 year?
Well this ought to be easy enough!
There should be commission plates and such on the car-and those numbers
while they won't say "02/02/74" or whatever, do have a definite order and
date the car. There's the plateon the engine and the plate on the body-
Also, I have a marveloous little book by Michael Cook that explains the sylt
differences between each year-and they don't change much-except that a Mk3
and an MkIV would be very different-MkIIIs having a round tail and MkIV a
sleeker line and a square tail-you can get find all sorts of information on
this at www.vtr.org/models.html as well as at our beloved Joe Currys
site-the International Triumph Spitfire Database at
http://home1.gte.net/spitlist/index.html
I would tell you where to find the comission plates myself, but I see that
you are in the U.K. and I think they were in different places from the U.S.
spec cars-mine are on the engine block-*I think* top left and in the drivers
side door jamb.
Hope this helps!
Laura G. and "Nigel"
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Harvey <tom@tomh.demon.co.uk>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 7:14 AM
Subject: Spitfire 1500 year?
>
> I am desperately trying to age my Triumph Spitfire 1500, as the
> documentation/ID has long been lost by previous owners, and the DVLA
> seem to think that it is a 1970 Mk3 (!!).
>
> I have used various sources (parts catalogues etc) to identify the age
> of various 'features' of the accessories and trim, and these in the main
> suggest that it is a 1977/8ish car, but am very aware that it has been
> heavily restored, and how easy most of these parts are to change. The
> more evidence I have of it's age the easier it will be to convince the
> powers that be!
>
> What I am now trying to do is find parts that have their actual
> manufacture date stamped on them in some way. I have now found that the
> Triplex windscreen was manufactured in February 19?7 which backs up my
> previous guestimates.
>
> Does anyone know of any other parts that were date marked on a UK 1500,
> and where the stamps can be found (N.B. engine/gearbox is not the
> original)?
>
> Can a differential number indicate year of manufacture?
>
> Oh, and there is a picture of it at
> http:\\www.tomh.demon.co.uk\spitfire.htm
> but I don't think it is detailed enough to help.
>
> All help gratefully received.
>
> --
> Tom Harvey________________________________________________________________
> http://www.tomh.demon.co.uk/ Home: tom@tomh.demon.co.uk
> http://www.tomh.demon.co.uk/jukebox/ Work: tharvey@meditel.co.uk
>
>
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