Tom Fremont Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Apparently this was available some time before being standardized ( 1965 model year? ). Does anyone know when the first ones were supplied on new cars? TIA, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 (edited) Tom, I think guys your side of the pond would have a better idea. I haven't seen anything official but it seems wood dashes were fitted to US-bound TR4s long before they became an option in the UK. I can only suggest you dig out some US brochures that may just list the wood dash as an option. My guess is late 1962 when the first ones were fitted. I suspect the factory fitted them to some cars to test opinion, without them being specified as an optional extra. I have seen quite a few factory Service Bulletins and I don't recall seeing anything mentioned, but there are many gaps in the records. AlanR Edited July 13, 2018 by TR 2100 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david ferry Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 I’ve knowledge of an early TR4 CT404LO. Built in 1961 and still very very original. This car has a ‘normal’ metal dashboard without the added wood. I agree with Alan in that wood dashes were not being fitted to US cars in 1961. For info, this car is going to be advertised for sale in the very near future by its current owner for whom I found the car a few years ago. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YankeeTR5 Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 I think Tom's interest was piqued by this auction: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-triumph-tr4-6/ In one of the photo's the Heritage certificate lists the wood dash as an optional fitment (implying in wasn't standard at that point), along with the O/D and Surrey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 By 63 the wood dash was pretty much a normal fitting for US cars as it seems most unrestored cars that appear for sale have them. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted July 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 I know of at least (1) conversion thereto of an early TR4 ( don't know the year, but has TR3 seats ). Beautiful restored car ( which provides more driving fun than the owner's E-type he says ) but the instrument lights couldn't be made to work with the wood dash, somehow. I can't remember seeing any early TR4s, prior to ' 65 anyway, which had original wood dashes. They all looked like aftermarket ones, and to my dismay invariably were less lovely than those TRIUMPH fitted to late 4s and 4A. Does anyone think the one Yankee TR5 cites is an original dash? Looks way too plain to me; this example looks more like it ( may not be original but a better facsimile if not, IMO ): https://www.ebay.com/itm/183320320675 Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 My old Dove reg GPH 359C (1965) had a wood dash, don't know if that was original though. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 I know of at least (1) conversion thereto of an early TR4 ( don't know the year, but has TR3 seats ). Beautiful restored car ( which provides more driving fun than the owner's E-type he says ) but the instrument lights couldn't be made to work with the wood dash, somehow. I can't remember seeing any early TR4s, prior to ' 65 anyway, which had original wood dashes. They all looked like aftermarket ones, and to my dismay invariably were less lovely than those TRIUMPH fitted to late 4s and 4A. Does anyone think the one Yankee TR5 cites is an original dash? Looks way too plain to me; this example looks more like it ( may not be original but a better facsimile if not, IMO ): https://www.ebay.com/itm/183320320675 Tom The Bring a trailer example has an original type of dash as they were a very plain finish. The Ebay one is definitely modern aftermarket and no original 4 or 4a dashes were ever produced in burr walnut., I have seen quite a few US market cars with wood dashes dating back to at least 63. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Bob's Dove above looks more like it to me ( original, Bob? ) and just like my '65 as I remember it. Much prettier than the BAT dash which also exhibits a texture not found on originals. Have to disagree with you Stuart w/r/t plainness of the 4/4A dashes. These made the 5/250/6 dashes look cheap by comparison. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 (edited) Here's another: https://books.google.com/books?id=Mnl_hWPEDqwC&pg=PA48&dq=original+TRIUMPH+TR4+dashboard&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3rqTH3qHcAhVm8IMKHe8NBJQQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=original%20TRIUMPH%20TR4%20dashboard&f=false Bill's claim of its originality works for me . He indicates autumn of 1964 as the debut of the wood dash offering for LHD cars. Tom Edited July 16, 2018 by Tom Fremont Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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