[TR] Commission numbers

[John Macartney]

Don Hiscock wrote:The idea of originality is great.  Conservation classes at
concours events
is a welcome development in support of originality.  I don't
think TS1
would fit into that class, though...

But when it comes to
'originality' - especially on any cars up to about the first ten of a new
commission number, originality is highly subjective and questionable. This was
one of the issues in the rebuilds of TS1 and TS2 as at the time they were
built, there were certain components and techniques used which affected
appearance (if not function). This was confirmed to me by the man who rebuilt
TS1 when I met him and the car at Watkins Glen in 2008. These variances don't
just go for Standard-Triumph but pretty well any mass-produced post war
British car. 
At the moment, I know Joe Pawlak of ISOA in Illinois is finding
similar issues with LD2 - the first Stag imported into the USA and mostly a
car, like LD1 and 'x' number of others that were largely half built in the
Experimental Department and not, as popularly believed, on the assembly track.
he same goes for 312 VC, the 'first' Spitfire, 'first' GT6. Indded, the first
TR5 started life as a TR4A. Why? Because with the best will in the world of
forty plus years ago, it simply wasn't possible to co-ordinate all your
suppliers to get their piece of kit to the right place on the right day and
just in time to have it fitted. This is why initial deliveries were so slow
immediately after new model announcement.

Jonmac