MilesA Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 As a 3A owner, I always look at other 3As and note all the little differences. Grilles I have noticed either bow out or bow in. Anyone know the 'correct' shape? Or should they be flat!? Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 Vertically mine is flat.....right or wrong, absolutely no idea:-) Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 I think supposed to be flat. But over the years the front “sags” either by being sat on or leaning on it in past years is my guess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deggers Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 +1. These production line pictures would certainly suggest they were flat originally. Cheers, Deggers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billy l Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 Red car on a red Chassis? looks like a 3B? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 Great pictures are they all left hand drive. I would think the white wall tyres would be more typical for US export ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 Are the headlamp 'Blankes' not for shipping? ...and they are great pictures. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony_C Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 No, the original grills were curved - I’m sure of that.. Originals were rare as hens teeth even by the late 1970’s, (if you didn’t crash them then the starting handle used to do the damage) ‘flat’ reproductions were obvious to see at the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 I have an original grill and it is flat. I bought it from a guy who had removed it and had it stored in his shed for years. I had to Jack the aperture to get it to fit. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 I like the red car in the picture. I notice that they are fitting the piping to the wing and have protected the paint with masking tape. I have done this a few times and until now I thought that the masking tape was my own idea. At least I am doing it right There also seem to two large lifting eyes. Where are they attached to the chassis? Richard & B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deggers Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 4 minutes ago, Richardtr3a said: There also seem to two large lifting eyes. Where are they attached to the chassis? Hi Richard, these were support brackets bolted to the top of the inner wing, for lowering the body shell onto the chassis. Conveniently seen here, in this Pathe news clip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted June 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 So, in the best traditions of TRs and the Forum, curved AND flat it is! Thanks all and thanks for the photos Deggers. Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 The grills were definitely flat Im afraid as illustrated by the factory pictures above. You cant get more original than that. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 Those factory images were taken by one of the participants in the 1958 American Triumph Rally of Europe. Not a 3B, I'm afraid. And I'm with Stuart. There's zero doubt the grilles were flat when new, IMHO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 So is the Red Car sitting on a 'Slave' chassis, as the newsreel shows body tubs being lowered onto, 'Fitted' chassis? also lot sof light coloured chassis in production. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 1 hour ago, John Morrison said: So is the Red Car sitting on a 'Slave' chassis, as the newsreel shows body tubs being lowered onto, 'Fitted' chassis? also lot sof light coloured chassis in production. John. Chassis were all sorts of colours Ive had red, blue, white and green ones as well as black over the years, factory used whatever paint was in the gun Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted June 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 3 hours ago, Don H. said: And I'm with Stuart. There's zero doubt the grilles were flat when new, IMHO. That's lucky as that is what I prefer. Of course, its not what I have... Another small project. Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 18 hours ago, Deggers said: +1. These production line pictures would certainly suggest they were flat originally. Cheers, Deggers Great photos. It looks like the second one shows some sort of tour going on for bigwigs at Triumph or Main Dealers maybe? Especially as the second TR3a has its rear wheel only loosely screwed on, and no production workers in sight in the foreground? I wonder does the TR Register make High Quality prints of these interesting photos available to purchase ? Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 These photos are on the internet. As Dons says a factory tour by purchasing US customers. There are quite a few in the series, not to my knowledge available through the Register. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 This would seem to be fairly definitive. A production line photo. https://images.app.goo.gl/jrimuRDR2X96NgeS6 Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 3 hours ago, iain said: This would seem to be fairly definitive. A production line photo. https://images.app.goo.gl/jrimuRDR2X96NgeS6 Iain Ian fantastic clarity and resolution for around 1958, and I wonder if this was taken on the same occasion, though in mono? In many ways I prefer analogue to the digital process. I know Leica and Kodak cameras were a big name then. I hadn't noticed Don's explanation, but these would make great prints. I believe Motor Graphs sell some of them, but I've not come across high res photos on the net of the TR4 or TR4a on the production line, TR6 yes. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted June 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2019 11 hours ago, iain said: This would seem to be fairly definitive. A production line photo. https://images.app.goo.gl/jrimuRDR2X96NgeS6 Iain Can't argue with that and also shows that the apertures in the grilles were bigger than the modern reproductions as often claimed. Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted June 25, 2019 Report Share Posted June 25, 2019 Factory Tour by prospective customers, think they could have swept the floor! John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted June 25, 2019 Report Share Posted June 25, 2019 For many years, Frank Callaby was S-T's in-house photographer, taking stills of everything inside the factory using a plate machine - hence the excellent definition. Frank was responsible, too, for the films of rallies - a difficult job with the heavy and bulky equipment available then. Graham (Hon Pres) told me that Frank didn't have sound recording equipment, so, for the rally films, sound was added later by recording a TR being driven in the UK - Graham drove while Frank recorded! Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted June 25, 2019 Report Share Posted June 25, 2019 7 hours ago, John Morrison said: Factory Tour by prospective customers, think they could have swept the floor! John. Not prospective customers -- rather a group of Americans who'd already bought and paid for their TR3As and were taking factory delivery for a tour of the continent. The S-T factory was the last stop back in Britain after several weeks of driving. Perhaps since they already had the money things like sweeping the floor were less important... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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