[TR] TR3 Commission Numbers

[Randall]

> There is a car on ebay listed as a 1959 TR3 with  Commission Number
> EB31535 range. A Commission Number in that range suggests 1958 and
> earlier (my car is a 1958 TR3A with TS32093LO). The car has a small
> mouth front apron but later SUs with push on fittings rather than the
> banjo fittings found on '58 and earlier cars. Anyone know what the EB
> prefix means in the Commission Number? The owner says that the title
> does say 1959.
> 
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Triumph-TR3-
> /232305503875?hash=item36167cae83:g:By0AAOSwTuJYwJ51&vxp=mtr


The 'EB' means it is not a commission number at all, but the body number
assigned by Mulliners.  IIRC Piggott states there is basically no direct
correlation between body and commission numbers, and no record of which body
numbers went to which cars.  But like the engine numbers, they are usually
more or less in the same ballpark (ie within the same batch of bodies).

Of course it's quite possible that it got registered by the body number; my
TR3 was originally registered by its engine number.  The DMV folks aren't
always real savvy about which number is which.

The car itself appears to be a conglomeration of parts, I am reasonably
certain that the "small mouth" apron is not original (but kudos for having
the front bumper that goes with it).  Body looks like an early (pre-60K) 3A
(with door handles, Dzus side curtains, separate turn signals in the rear,
curved floors behind the seats, etc); so the EB31535 might be the right body
number.
But the wiring, control box, wiper motor and rear view mirror are post-60K.
Looks like the brake calipers are from a later car, too.

And while it's hard to be certain, it kind of looks like what should be the
commission number tag is both blank, and held on with (non-original) pop
rivets.  Possibly the EB numbers are there and someone just copied them from
the body number tag.  But I can't make out any signs that the EB tag is
where it should be, above the battery box.  Might all just be lost in the
digital noise though, my tools are nowhere good as those seen on CSI <G>

Odd that he has a new soft top, but no top bows to support it.  The doubled
LTD pegs seem odd, too.

Caveat Emptor.

-- Randall 
56 TR3 TS13571L daily driver
71 Stag LE1473 - awaiting engine rebuild
71-2-3 Stag - awaiting gearbox rebuild