Interesting thoughts...
I found that many items that some had described as "Factory Accessories"
were indeed dealer options. My TR4A left England with steel disk wheels but
was sold by a San Francisco dealership with 8 Spoke magnesium rims (made by
American Racing, I believe). The walnut gearshift knob, center console,
white (Amco) floor mats, removable aluminum luggage rack and radio were all
installed by the dealer. I'm not sure if the white tonneau cover and black
hoodstick cover came over with the car or again were dealer accessories.
They are listed in a Factory parts book along with the Continental Touring
Kit I lust after.
My car is a very early TR4A - CTC 50497L - one of the first 500! It arrived
in San Francisco February 3, 1965. Three months before a road test appeared
in Road & Track!
I have always liked to think that mine was the showroom car for the dealer!
It sports a split match grain facia panel as well. I have seen very few of
them through the years.
I have a US printed accessory price list that shows the base car price and
then all the goodies you could add at the dealer.
No different than today when you think about it.
Cheers!
Brad
65 TR4A IRS (showroom car?!)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of David Rogers
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 11:58 PM
To: Triumph Digest List
Subject: The TR6 and Factory Air
Friends,
If I offended anyone with my somewhat satirical remark about creature
comforts and air conditioning in the TR6, then I most humbly apologise. From
the remarks my little bit generated, I obviously got a few members off side
and that was never my intention. I guess it comes down to terminology and
definitions, which seemed to have changed over the years. This is perhaps
yet another example of Australians and Americans being "separated by a
common language"!!! At least our admiration for the Triumph marque isn't
affected.
In my youth (the 50s and 60s), the term "factory air conditioning" was
generally accepted to mean it was fitted on the production line to
distinguish it
from either "after market" or "factory-approved" kits. I spent a number of
years in the US and as far as I can recall, the terminology had a similar
meaning. This was the basis on which I commented in the original post, ie,
that to the best of my knowledge (backed up by the plethora of publications
on the TR2-6) the TR6 was not fitted with air conditioning on the line in
Coventry. I was aware that Standard Triumph had given its blessing -so to
speak- on the fitment of such systems by dealers in the US prior to delivery
and that this was the case, especially in CA and FL. If I am wrong, Jonmac
will take me to task and I will rightly be humbled again.
So a light-hearted comment, spoken in what I took to be a common tongue
went awry! I shall go back to my den and forbid myself driving my TR for a
week as punishment. Pity, it's a beautiful sky clear day with the
temperature hovering about the 75 to 80 mark. Come and try it: it's only a
14 hour ride south-west of LA and your dollar goes much further than mine
does in the US (US$1=AUS$1.77).
Cheers,
Dave Rogers
Canberra, Australia
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