TR3B Body number plates found on bulkhead

[RPW]

Im close to finishing the restoration of my TR3B but the body number plate was removed many years ago and I need to get one made, I have the number from the trace any suggestions where I may get one made?

[foster461]

Welcome to the forum. Pictures are mandatory in exchange for info.

 

See this thread and send Frank Angelini a PM. He made one up for me fairly recently.

 

http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/10415-update-body-shell-id-tags-success/?p=66911

 

Stan

[RPW]

Hi Stan,

 

I am very new to this so thank you and will find out how to post a picture and send a PM tomorrow.

 

Kind regards, Richard.

[Don H.]

There are a couple of plates on a TR3B, RPW. I'm assuming you do indeed mean the body number plate, like the ones shown below.

 

These have the format TSF/XXX for TSF-series commission numbers and (mostly) XXXX/TSF for TCF-series commission numbers -- although you'll see below an exception to this rule. I often say where TR3Bs are concerned, there are no rules. One can get reproductions of the body and build tags of the style when sidescreen cars were assembled on the line at Standard-Triumph. The tags for TR3B (only body -- not build) are different in format and I don't know of a source for that specific style. I'd probably go with a single plate riveted in place using the stamped brass style from the earlier cars. Check online for "TRTags" for references to a source.

 

My car: (click on photo to enlarge)

 

Other TR3Bs, TCF-series: (Note the red car and the powder blue car are unmolested original plates)

 

 

Edited January 16, 2018 by Don H.

[RPW]

Thank you Don, I have managed to post a picture of the car "as found" and I will post some more of its present condition.

I have two holes where the tag was in the centre of the bulkhead and the outline of the tag is again similar to that shown in your pictures.

 

I will check out your suggestion of TRTags on line and also see if I can send a PM to Frank Angelini as very kindly suggested by Stan.

[RPW]

I have now managed to add a fairly recent picture, the body is now being blasted prior to spraying so progress despite the weather!

 

Kind regards, Richard.

[foster461]

Tub is looking good Richard. Other than the battery box, what else have you needed to replace. Are those the original outer sills for example ?

 

Stan

[Don H.]

There's a surprisingly high TR3B survival rate. Perhaps at the end of the run people were figuring out what they had in the sidescreen cars.

 

What's the commission number of your car, Richard? TSF or TCF?

[RPW]

Good Morning Guys,

 

Stan,

 

The car was in pretty good shape, and the rust was mainly due to standing water so the floors, sills,battery box and a strip around 4 inches wide where the boot floor meets the back parcel shelf (in that dip) and of course the spare wheel carrier.

The sides of the shell were not very rusty at all just where they met the panels noted above. I think that despite being imported to New York it must have ended up in a dry State and the rusting took place after the car fell out of use and left to stand around in the 1980's.

 

Don,

 

She is a TCF chassis numbered car with a build date of August 14th 1962 and I agree there seem to be a good number of survivors and certainly in a much better raw state than many of the newly discovered UK market TR 3A's you see for sale. I will now try to post some more pictures.

 

Thank you both and kind regards, Richard.

[RPW]

 

Here you go, these were the main areas of repair

 

All the best, Richard.

[foster461]

IMG_2965.JPGIMG_3133.JPGIMG_3136.JPGIMG_3283.JPG

 

Here you go, these were the main areas of repair

 

All the best, Richard.

 

It seems to have rotted in all the usual places but you have made good progress. I spent a year just on the tub and another year just on the outer panel repairs but for me it was the most enjoyable and the most satisfying part of the project.

 

Stan

[Don H.]

Do you have your commission number plate, Richard? The ones on the TR3Bs are just slightly different -- somehow the car gained 50 kg in mass. I've not seen a reproduction of that plate, and in general I've not seen a reproduced/restamped commission number plate that's been close enough to original to be satisfying. I'm definitely in favor of saving the original irrespective of condition.

 

From my car:

 

From an earlier TR3A:

 

They're attached with closed-end blind rivets -- not uncommon, but not the kind one normally buys off the shelf at a big box store. I probably have a hundred or more -- let me know if you need a couple for when you get to that stage.

 

PS: The community on this forum gets to know each other pretty well in our common interest to "preserve the marque TR". If you had the chance to update your profile with where you live, I'm sure a number would appreciate it and start to get to know you better.

[RPW]

Hi Don,

 

The commission plate on the car shows 1120Kilo the same as on the picture of the red car but there is no spacing between the 20 and the TR3 so I suspect mine is a replacement and its condition is just too clean to be an original. You can imagine I was a little concerned until I received the trace and all the other numbers tied up...!

 

I will update my profile and thank you very much for the rivet offer that is most kind.

 

Best regards, Richard.

[Don H.]

There are a few TR3Bs in Britain, but not many, Richard. Mike Ellis, TR2-3B Registrar, may have them in his records.

 

Here are couple more TR3B commission number plates fyi, these from TCF-series cars. It's highly into the esoteric/anorak class now, but note the full stop at the end of TR3 in addition to the 1170 kg mass. Who knows why... TR3Bs...

 

Edited January 19, 2018 by Don H.

[RPW]

Thank you Don,

 

It is all very strange but I bet somewhere there is a sensible explanation, just a case of finding out who knows. I will see Mike Ellis at this years International weekend so I'll have a chat with him there.

 

Kind regards, Richard.

[RPW]

Afternoon All,

 

I received the body tag from Frank and it looks fine.

 

Thank you all for the advice and support.

 

Kind regards, Richard.

[Don H.]

No slash between number and letters as in the originals and a slightly different typeface size, but a nice job and one that will work just fine in your restoration. Note that TR3B plates were painted body color originally, although of course as a replacement you could leave it bright brass. I might do that, in fact, were it my car.

[RPW]

Hi Don,

 

I will wait and see on the tag colour, my instinct is to attach it painted as in the original however, I agree the bright brass adds something of a highlight.

 

Here is a little progress, the car is now in primer top and bottom and ready for flattening off...!

 

Kind regards, Richard.

[Don H.]

Tub's lookin' good, Richard.

[mjdearing]

Hi Richard may I ask what type of media blasting you chose and the primer used. Kind regards Martin.

[RPW]

Hi Martin,

 

The media was sand and the primer was U-pol epoxy primer, three coats and flattened off ready for any minor blemish filling, then prepared for undercoat.

 

I hope that helps, kind regards, Richard.