I can recall reading that there were "transitionary" cars, with the TR3
front end and the TR3A rear. I doubt that there were cars built by the
factory with the opposite (with the wide mouth grille with a single
center brake light), but it _could_ happen.
I would check the front inner fenders for dimples for the more recessed
headlight buckets. I have seen an early TR3 racer that had the wide
mouth grille. Only one inner fender was the later type (with headlight
recess). I assume this was what was available for repairs. We
concluded that the nose was replaced, probably due to racing damage.
Back then, the narrow mouth nose was rather hard to get, than was the
wide mouth.
Keith Edwards
Suffolk, VA
kedwards@norfolk.infi.net
http://members.tripod.com/~Keith_Edwards/
2 TR3Bs (one former SCCA race car)
2 TR4As
1 Healey
1 Princess
Andrew Mace wrote:
>
> 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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