TR2/3/3A original tr3 hood wrench

S

sp53

Yoda

Offline

• Apr 26, 2018

• #1

here is an original tr3 hood wrench if anyone is interested


https://www.ebay.com/itm/TRIUMPH-TR...OL-/202284325586?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

TomMull

Darth Vader

Silver

Offline

• Apr 26, 2018

• #2

Otherwise known as "coach key".
You might have a look at this before you get too excited about it's originality but it's certainly acceptable, none the less.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?109567-Original-Style-Coach-Key&highlight=coach
Tom

 

T

titanic

Jedi Warrior

Offline

• Apr 27, 2018

• #3

Here is a pic. of the coach key from my first TR3A-a 1960 purchase in 1962, from what I believe to be the original owner. It appears to be identical to the one in Steves' posting.
Berry

 

TomMull

Darth Vader

Silver

Offline

• Apr 28, 2018

• #4

titanic said:

Here is a pic. of the coach key from my first TR3A-a 1960 purchase in 1962, from what I believe to be the original owner. It appears to be identical to the one in Steves' posting.
Berry

Click to expand...

I'm sure yours is original but my point, which I thought was illustrated in the previous thread, was that there are several styles that qualify as original, and not one holy grail.
Tom

 

Marvin Gruber

Yoda

Offline

• Apr 28, 2018

• #5

I have at least four different styles I have picked up over the years. Pictured one is from the later TR3s.
Marv

 

T

titanic

Jedi Warrior

Offline

• Apr 28, 2018

• #6

I am sure that the designers/engineers from Triumph would be amused that 60 years later people are debating the style of the hood wrench.
I have also heard them referred to as "Fool's tool".
Berry

 

Marvin Gruber

Yoda

Offline

• May 2, 2018

• #7

Picture of coach key collection I have.
Marv

 

P

pdplot

Yoda

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• May 3, 2018

• #8

Back when these cars were new, we referred to them as "T-Keys".

 

B

bnw

Jedi Warrior

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• May 4, 2018

• #9

I always called it a church key?

 

Gordon_Dedrick

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #10

Church keys are for aluminum cans. Coach keys are for bonnets,,,,,,,and side curtains, spare tire doors, TR2 boots. A multipurpose tool

 

B

bnw

Jedi Warrior

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #11

Do you really think a 16 year old in 1964 with his first car, a $200 59 TR3 is going to call it a "coach key"? Besides, aluminum cans were only on the market for 5 years and mostly for beer. Coors was the first. It will always be a church key for me.

 

TomMull

Darth Vader

Silver

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #12

bnw said:

Do you really think a 16 year old in 1964 with his first car, a $200 59 TR3 is going to call it a "coach key"? Besides, aluminum cans were only on the market for 5 years and mostly for beer. Coors was the first. It will always be a church key for me.

Click to expand...

OK, you've got me there. I bought my first TR3 in 1964 but I was a bit older than 16 and I paid a bit more than $200 for it but you are right, I didn't hear the term "coach key" until recently. Recently for me could go back 20 t0 30 years.
After reading your comment, I tried to find the derivation or an explanation for the term, "coach Key" and came up short. Anybody have an idea where the term came from?
I was well acquainted with church keys at the time too.

Tom

 

T

titanic

Jedi Warrior

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #13

The blue owners manual uses the term "coach key" in the pic. of the tool kit.
Berry

 

M

mixdenny

Freshman Member

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #14

Heck when I bought my '57 in 1964 it came with the wrong key. It had a closed loop handle, like this one. I was told it was really for a VW but what part of a VW would it have fit? I know it was wrong because the previous owner had to file it a bit to fit in the lock.


Dennis

 

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Geo Hahn

Yoda

Offline

• May 4, 2018

• #15

"Coach' may have referred originally to buses or possibly rail cars.

Here is a site that supports vintage coaches, they list a Tee key for side compartments:

https://www.mhcoachworks.com/index.asp

https://www.mhcoachworks.com/product_details.asp?prod=172&name=BUS & COACH TEE-KEY

As for VWs - Transporters (Buses) used a similar key for the engine 'lid':

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGINE-LID...ash=item3d2b5cefcc:g:kGQAAOSw44BYK1~H&vxp=mtr

 

TomMull

Darth Vader

Silver

Offline

• May 5, 2018

• #16

I think you've nailed it. And for £2.25 rather than $25.
I have a VW type also but with the open handle offset to one side. I'll post a picture if I can find it.
Tom