triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Color of Engine Block

To: <A.van.Zanten@inter.nl.net>
Subject: Re: Color of Engine Block
From: "jonmac" <jonmac@ndirect.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 00:04:15 -0000
Cc: "Triumphs List" <triumphs@autox.team.net>
As I understood the factory used remainders of paint to paint the
engines.
The most common colour is the orange/red shade you have on your
engine. My
TR3a also came in orange/red. I repainted my engine in orange/red. A
large
number of people however transfer to black. If you prefer originality
go for
orange/red!!

With the greatest respect, I think your first sentence is not
strictly in line with reality. I grant you the quality of engine
paint was never all that spectacular - but using remainders
(left-overs? - and from where?), I have to disagree.
Last July, I had a long meeting with the former chargehand of the
paintshop about 'happenings' as a whole and I gathered yet more
'politically incorrect' info from him. As far as engine paint and
body paint was concerned, STI had three key paint suppliers - ICI,
P&J and Dockers. These companies were continually under threat from
other minority suppliers on price and it is well known these
companies got an "in" by supplying engine paint. Because no specific
shade reference was (allegedly) given, all sorts of variations on a
colour theme were used. This certainly suggests that left-overs might
have been in use but I can assure listers that for 'remainders' you
should use an alternative term which is 'supplier colour variation.'

John Mac


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>