Surrey production numbers

[TRMark]

With all the interest in the Surrey option, I am kind of curious how many Standard produced. Anybody know?

 

[Andrew Mace]

Interesting question, but I'm not sure there's any easy answer. A search of all build records might yield all the cars that were so equipped from the factory (and maybe someone in the TR Register has done that?), but that would not account for anyone who obtained the "kit" from a dealer after delivery of the car.

 

[MadRiver]

I have no idea whether there is a number floating around about total production. However, I have always been under the impression (perhaps mistaken) that there were no recors as to whether a particular car left the factory with a Surrey top. There was no indication of whether the car was so equipped in the commission number, so I always assumed that it was anyone's guess. Am I incorrect about that?

 

[roofman]

Was it even an option for TR6, or just tr4,250?

 

[MadRiver]

Just the 4, 4A and the 250. I've seen photos of owners who fit a surrey top to their 6, but it was never offered as an option on the 6 from the factory.

As an aside, in the five months I've owned my Lotus Elise (which has a Surrey top), I have never fit the hard top since removing it the week I brought the car home. I would imagine that if my 250 with a surrey, it would always run with the soft top, or no top at all.

 

[Guest]

I know where there is a real surrey top in about #1- condition. I can inquire if is for sale or not. I kinda doubt it but it doesn't hurt to ask. He has a concours 67 TR4A so he might want to use it. Or maybe not. Should I inquire, and what are they worth, so as not in insult him.

 

[TR4nut]

Bill-

Based on me watching the selling activities for about the last year, I'd say a restored one is anywhere from $2.5k-$4k. Unrestored by my guess is $1.5-$2.5k. Anything less is a great deal.

Randy

 

[Guest]

I'll throw him the bait and see if he nibbles.

Nothing in it for me.

 

[CinneaghTR]

We should see how many 4/4A/5/250 hardtops, uh, Surrey tops, are on the list.

I'll be number 1. ; )

BMIHT should hire an intern to create a searchable database of the build records. That would provide the an approximate count of the 4/4A/5/250 cars that left the factory with hardtops and any other option for that matter.

As for the kits, the owners with original black and white hardtops need to figure that out. The presence of tonneau snaps on the doors and dash might provide a clue.

Cheers and all that,
Jeremy

 

[MadRiver]

The presence of tonneau snaps on the doors and dash might provide a clue.

That's an excellent point, and one I hadn't thought of before. Of course, in the context of a resto, wee holes can be filled in quite skillfully. The flanks of my Tiger, for example, lack the characteristic chrome side trim (for now, anyway), and without a magnet, I cannot tell where the mounting holes were located.

Best,

B.

 

[jeff3113]

How about buying an aftermarket hardtop and simply cutting it? Sure some reinforcement would be necessary, but hey much less expensive than $2k.

I sold my aftermarket top on ebay 4 weeks ago for $160. If it hadn't sold, it was going to be a surrey.

Jeff

 

[Kirk_Fisher]

The presence of tonneau snaps on the doors and dash might provide a clue.

Not so sure, it seems that in production it would be cheaper to make them all the same rather than have doors with and without snaps.

 

[Andrew Mace]

The presence of tonneau snaps on the doors and dash might provide a clue.

Not so sure, it seems that in production it would be cheaper to make them all the same rather than have doors with and without snaps.

Probably not to Leyland accountants' way of thinking! Of course, I'm less familiar with big TRs, but most all Spitfires had "posts" on the dashtop for a tonneau cover, but NOT the snaps on the door unless a tonneau cover had been installed!

 

[CinneaghTR]

Take a look at Piggot's book. I'll doublecheck tonight, but I do not think any of the hardtop cars featured there have tonneau snaps on the doors.

A better reference point would be period photographs.

A quick roll call of the BCF "Surrey" top cars might bring some interesting information as well.

Yeah, I need to buy that TRA 4/4A Concours Guide to see what it says...