[TR] An *oops* day, and a question about Aprons.

[Wayne Lee]

Hi Dave,
     I couldn't help but include this informative bit of production dates 
that I received from Steve Ball last week. I would say your car had the 
largemouth grille, especially if it has the rest of the 3A features like 
door and trunk handles etc. Below is what I received.
Regards,
Wayne Lee
Douglas,MA
58 TR3
64 TR4
75 TR6

----- Original Message ----- 
"Hello Wayne,

I couldn't resist writing when I saw your message about your TR3, TS 25248L. 
About 10 years ago I sold what thought would be my last TR3A, TS 25236L...a 
very close cousin to your car.

We had that car for about 10 years before selling (a long story), but the 
car did generate a bit of interest, as yours probably does too, because it 
is one of a small number of 3A's built in 1957.  These were the earliest 
TR3A's, and although they didn't reach the US until '58, technically 
everybody thinks of them as '57 TR3A's.  There were only about 3600 A's 
built in '57, starting in September with TS 22014, to TS 25632.  Mine was 
commissioned in early-mid December (I think it was around the 12th, but I 
don't recall the exact date) and it's entirely possible yours was 
commissioned on the same day.

Ours was not a show car, just a driver, but we went to shows anyway, and 
many times people came up and said it was nice to see one of the 
"survivors", meaning the '57 TR3A's.

Have fun with it.  I'm restoring another one now, TS 68164L, a '60 3A which 
I acquired for "free".  That's a laugh....believe me, there is no such thing 
as a FREE car!
Steve Ball"


From: "David Ljung Madison" <team.net at daveola.com>
To: <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 5:38 PM
Subject: [TR] An *oops* day, and a question about Aprons.

>
> Anyways, I was looking into replacing the apron (I'm pretty sure
> mine can't be restored), and this brings up an interesting question
> for me regarding wide-mouth vs non-wide-mouth grill.
>
> Allegedly, the grill switched to wide-mouth for the TR3A, however
> I know that often these switches took some time and didn't always
> shift exactly with the first model of a new line.
>
> According to vtr.org:
>
>  In 1958, Triumph opened up the grill to increase air flow and the
>  TR3A "wide mouth" was born.
>
> However, the first TR3As (including mine) were actually built in 1957.
> I don't know if that's a mistake on vtr or not.  According to Bill
> Piggot the wide-mouth *did* occur with the first TR3A.
>
> My car is the 113th TR3A, built in Sept of 57, the first month
> that TR3As were built, so I'm considering the possibility that it
> was originally *not* a wide mouth car.
>
> I have no idea if this is the original apron from my car, so that's
> not much of an indicator.
>
> Anyways, I have a feeling there's no way to find out the truth,
> but does anyone have any thoughts on where to get more info?  Or
> if I should just trust Bill, perhaps?