TR2/3/3A I've been wrong for 60+ years: it looks like it's NOT a 1959

[Suncoaster]

Ever since my dad bought the car (TS41347 L) in December of 1959, I thought it was a 1959 model because that's what the dealer told us and that's what the title said/says. The chart at http://www.nostalgicbritishcars.com/pdf/TR2-4A.pdf says 1959 began with TS41630 and Piggott shows TS41743 being built in January of 1959.

Are there other sources available for verifying the build date? I guess I could join to TRA to find out for sure.

Thanks in advance,

 

[NutmegCT]

One way is to get the original build record from British Motor Heritage Center:

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates

Remember tho' that "build date" is different from the USA concept of "model year".

Tom M.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Being that close to the end of the year I suppose it is whatever you want it to be.

My TR4 was registered as a 1965 but since I could prove (Piggott, build cert) that it was built in September 64 I was able to get the DMV to 'make' it a 64. I mattered to me because I wanted to use a year-of-manufacture plate and in Arizona 1964 was a plate year and 1965 was not (would have had to use a 64 plate with a 65 sticker).

 

[TR3driver]

I don't see the contradiction. Your dealer told you the "model year", which could very easily have actually been completed at the factory the year before. Even today, when such things are much more strictly regulated, you can buy next years model starting in September or October.

Triumph dealers were even known to change the model year on the paperwork, for cars sitting on their lot. If TR3s weren't selling well for that dealer, a car might well have paperwork claiming the model year as 2 years after it was completed by the factory.
For example, I briefly owned a Triumph Sports 6 that was registered as a 1965 model, but had been built in 1963. Sometimes (not always it seems), there was even a little tag attached to indicate the model year had been changed:

 

[Suncoaster]

Thanks, everyone! I think I'll just go ahead & keep calling her a '59. Old habits and so on....

 

[mrv8q]

Ever since my dad bought the car (TS41347 L) in December of 1959, I thought it was a 1959 model because that's what the dealer told us and that's what the title said/says. ,

Interesting. My ‘59 was also first sold in December 1959, the 26th to be exact. I have the original bill of sale. My commission number is 17,000 higher than your car.

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

I’ve got TS44836LO built on Feb 24th, 1959.

Cheers
Tush

 

[TR3driver]

Amusing thread on another forum:
https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1420163&sid=1093c1c8ab197630f576c89df17de9a8

 

[luke44]

Yup it’s build date vs title date. My 31577 was built in May of ‘58 and first titled as a ‘59. Nbd.