Around '93 or '94 this list had a long string on TR3A front aprons and
holes for lettering. During that time I ran a questionnaire through the
list asking nose shape, hole info and TS number.
Here are the conclusions from the poll:
The first TR3A tools had the smoothly rounded front above the mouth.
This tool was replaced by a newer tool that had the double curve, or lip
around TS74??? & before TS75???. Evidently, a large number of the early
rounded front valances were stamped and stocked as repair stock. These
did not have holes punched for the lettering.
So cars that received factory replacement parts from an accident, got one
of the round nose valences. Some body shops drilled holes & replaced the
lettering & some didn't. This accounts for early 3As with no holes in the
valance for lettering. Also, it looks like this repair stock was used to
build the TR3Bs as the polled 3Bs all had the earlier round front
valences. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any records left to
prove this so it remains only a theory based upon a poll of around 50
TR3A&Bs.
>Gentlefolk,
>
>On 3 February, Carl Musson was wondering when the front apron shape
>changed for TR3(A)s, from a pronounced lip to a flatter shape. As far as I
>am aware, there were no substantial changes made by the factory to the
>shape of the aprons. However, when the cars were new and got a punch in
>the nose, the panel butchers found that the double curve on the apron was
>somewhat hard to get right. As a result, many 3As now sport the flatter
>shape (it could be regarded as a badge of honour, to indicate that the car
>wasn't a wimp when it came to taking on other cars, or lamp posts or ??? ).
>
>John Pike
>TR3A TS 75053 O
>
TeriAnn Wakeman
Santa Cruz, California
NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS twakeman@cruzers.com
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