TR4 For sale : CT 1328 LO - Identity Crisis ?

[TR 2100]

The last two threads relating to TR4s for sale have

attracted a fair bit of interest, so - there's this one:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-TR4-1962-project-restoration-classic-/151640091474?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234e742b52

 

I noticed it a few days ago. It looks good and straight

but definitely not enough detail in the photos to see

if it really is good - or just patched up to look reasonable.

 

The photos show a CT 1328 LO Commission plate but

there are so many features inconsistent with that, seems

to me likely there has been some sort of identity switch.

 

AlanR

[Tr4Tony]

Alan

 

It looks very much like a 'bitsa' to me. Far too many major later parts for it to be an original early car.

 

Regards

 

Tony

[RogerH]

Hi Alan,

I have a March 62' TR4 number 6272. I would have thought something as low as 1328 would have been sept/october 61'.

 

Roger

 

PS - for that comm # it should have the engine turned central gauge plate. The rad is a later model.

Edited April 5, 2015 by RogerH

[TR 2100]

Roger,

 

Although production started, supposedly, in August,

I suspect it was really September.

 

The total number produced before yours did not follow a

linear monthly progression.

 

I suspect CT 1328 would be early January. I'm sure there

iare references somewhere, but not conveniently to hand.

 

AlanR

[TorontoTim]

Re: date: Mine is CT217 and rolled off the production line on Oct 3rd 1961. However, even that is referred to as a "1962" over here (most of the time).

 

Otherwise, I tend to agree with the "bitsa" description. Still, that's fair enough after over 50 years.

[stuart]

CT 2470 is supposedly last one off the line in 61. This car is missing so many early bits it is slightly doubtful.

Stuart.

[TR 2100]

Tim,

 

As Stuart has commented, it's stretching the imagination

too much to suggest that the car started life as CT 1328

and all the parts that are inconsistent with a such an early

TR4 were changed later.

 

Possibly, could be a complete bitsa, a combination of two

cars or could even be a switched identity.

 

AlanR

Edited April 9, 2015 by TR 2100

[TorontoTim]

Fair comment, Alan. I wouldn't be surprised by that at all.

[Dave Ashworth]

TR4A Grill.

 

Dave

[Rex Wyer]

Interesting that the commission plate has an 0 on it which indicates overdrive, but the advert states its a non overdrive car

 

Rex.

[TR 2100]

Rex -

 

Quite right - just one of many items that could be changed

during the lifetime of a TR4.

 

But - if you were replacing an o/d box with a non o/d, would

you also remove the o/d switch and column bezel?!

 

AlanR

[MRG1965]

Looks like a very "staged" car, carpets look too clean, parts just pushed together (top hose) for appearance and what's going on with the speedo and the tacho, was it in an accident and this was the road and engine speed at point of impact? Buyer beware is screaming in my head.

[iain]

For all the critical appraisal it still seems to be attracting some good money!

[Tr4Tony]

Hi

 

The bodywork and chassis alone are worth more than the current price, so that's no surprise at all. If they are truly rust free and straight then in bits the car is worth a good chunk more to someone rebuilding a basket case.

 

The difficulty for me looking at it as a car is that it's clearly been put together from a variety of sources, many bearing no relation to the early identity. Building the car back up to its original position would therefore mean changing lots of bits. For someone who's not that bothered or wants to break it for bits it's probably not a bad car.

 

As usual horses and courses - so I wonder what it will finally fetch ?

 

Regards

 

Tony