On Sun, 27 Apr 1997 token1@ridgecrest.ca.us wrote:
> >IMS, Spitfires, like other Herald-based cars, were color painted once
> >"completely" assembled (less trim and mechanicals, of course). So, almost
> >without exception, the chassis frame is body color....
> And this is exactly what I found, except there were two layers of color
> on top of the black (white and then blue).
Which appears to be the original color of your Mk.3 -- white or blue?
Meanwhile, Peter Gillis raises an interesting point apropos of my "never
say never" statement when dealing with Triumphs. It is certainly possible
that locally assembled Triumphs (from CKD kits) would have been painted in
a different way than that done at the Coventry factory. Color of the
chassis frame might be a good example of variant possibilities here.
> The car has a Mk. 3 bonnet (although I like the looks of the Mk. 2
> front-end better) and the front of the chassis has been modified for
> the later bonnet pivots. This modification looks very well done and
> the holes are very exact in spacing, leading me to believe that the
> holes were not drilled with your average hand drill.
Perhaps the car was crashed many, many years ago and a good Mk.2 frame was
suitably and properly modified?
> Looking at this vehicle I am reasonably sure that the Comm plate has
> been replaced, there is no Trim Code or Paint Code stamped on it.
>
> Is there any way to tell if this Comm plate is one of those sold by
> TRF/Vicky Brit/Moss etc?
Depending on the year of the car, it's quite easy to tell in one way. If
the car is -- APPROXIMATELY -- a 1964 or later Triumph, it should have the
paint and trim code SPACES on the commission number plate and they should
be filled in with codes. This would certainly apply to most, if not ALL,
Spitfire Mk.2 and later vehicles and likely many later "Mk.1" Spitfires.
Also, some "repro" plates I've seen seem to have a slightly different font
from the original. That seems more common, though, with some "repro" TR2/3
Commission number plates I've seen.
--Andy
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