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Re: Spitfire Mk3 Commission Number

To: muntsb@HiWAAY.net
Subject: Re: Spitfire Mk3 Commission Number
From: Michael Burdick <mburdick@netserv.unmc.edu>
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 21:51:50 -0500 (CDT)
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net, Bernard Christian-Woodruff <Bernard.Christian-Woodruff@ping.be>
On Sat, 17 Aug 1996 muntsb@HiWAAY.net wrote (regarding Bernard's question 
about his new Mk3 Spit):

> My MkIII is FDU87317l and has a production date of April 30, 1970.  My Spit 
>has 
> the MkIV dash.  You will find other things that are MkIV such as some of the 
> wiring, makes that trouble shooting real interesting since none of the 
>diagrams 
> appear to be for your car.  I have always understood the "U" to mean USA.

Hi Bill,

I have FDU86843L in my garage - built a couple of weeks before yours.  
You are right about the dash etc... in these cars.  For the 1970 model 
year only, I have noted these differences from early Mk3 Spits:

   - Black vinyl dash with speedo and tach in front of driver.
   - Black bezels on guages instead of chrome
   - High back seats (which interfere with lowering the hood sticks)
   - TR-6 style steering wheel, but black spokes instead of silver
   - black plastic grille, instead of metal
   - "Bullseye" badge on the bonnet instead of "T-R-I-U-M-P-H" letters
   - Side marker lights at the four corners
   - Single ZS-carb instead of twin SUs
   - "TRIUMPH" badge on boot lid instead of "Spitfire Mk3" script
   - Single reverse light in place of old license plate light
      - Two small licence plate lights flanking reverse light
   - Amber turn signal lamps at rear, with red reflectors next to them
   - Unique to '70 lens for the tail/brake lights (I don't have these :-( )
   - Windscreen frame is painted satin black instead of body color
   - Zipper rear window added in hood
   - Unique to '70 hub caps (I don't have these either - my car came with 
K-Mart "aero-look" plastic 'caps.  Coooool!

Two things present on my car but I don't know if original:
   - Three point seat belts
   - Alternator instead of generator (Control box for generator was still 
        in the car though...)

There might be other differences but these are all that I can think of 
off of the top of my head.

Good luck with your car, Bernard.
Where are you located, Bill?

Cheers,
Mike
Omaha NE

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