On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Andrew Mace wrote:
> > serial number is TS21214 which is under the TS22014 number for the TR3a.
> > My car has the larger grill and the locking doors but it has the
> > TR3 trunk lid....
> It is easy to envision several scenarios that would result in an
> "updated" front apron. As for the doors, one other possibility comes to
> mind. Is there any evidence that the car ever had (still has?) a factory
> hardtop? Exterior door handles could be an indication of the "GT" kit,
> which were part of the whole package with the hardtop, etc.
It also occurred to me, after I'd sent the initial message, that your
car's commission number is VERY close to the cutoff point between 3 and
3A. I don't think it is unreasonable to imagine that some cars before
22014 might have been built to a later specification, and vica versa.
Assuming the car has never been completely disassembled and restored
inside and out, it might be possible to determine original colors and
paint coatings on the insides or hidden areas of all panels. If deep
recesses inside the apron (and/or doors) match the original color
elsewhere, this could well have been a "factory" 3-3A.
Meanwhile, it's certainly likely that the car sat around just long enough
to have been titled a 1958 at first sale (very common practice back then).
Many other TR3s and 3As on either side of yours (number-wise) are listed
in our records as 1958 models, as well as 1957 models. Ultimately, the
year on the title shouldn't make any difference whatsoever in value, but a
search of the build records would determine exactly when the car was
assembled.
--Andy
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* Andrew Mace, President and *
* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
* Vintage Triumph Register <www.vtr.org> *
* amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
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