TR4/4A 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is it?

[Richard_Brown]

I just bought a 1966 TR4A and the vin number is CTC50035L
from what I can find on the net is that this looks to be a 1965 not a 66 like the title says?
anyone know? it also seems to be an early 65.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

I agree that it's definitely an early 1965 build and, in fact, one of the very first TR4As built (production started with CTC50001 in January 1965). Pretty cool that you happened across what's likely one of the earliest TR4As in existence! It would be interesting to check with TRA and VTR to see if any earlier cars are on record.

 

[Simon TR4a]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

My 1965 is CTC5572710 and when I replaced the upholstered padding at the tops of the doors a few years ago the one from the drivers side had a hand-written note in biro (ball point pen in English!) saying "May 1965", which I regard as my cars birthday, though the trim may have been made a few months before the car was built.
Simon.

 

[Richard_Brown]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

I was told by the seller that in his state the DMV would title new cars from the dealer when they were sold.
I wonder how many TR4A's they built in a month, My intention was to get one built in Feb of 65, if they built 30 in January, this car might fall withing a few days of my birthday.

 

[Alan_Myers]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

Hi,

You can order a build certificate from British Motor Industry Heritage Trust to get specific detail about your car. The certificate I got for my TR4 shows the month of manufacture, but not the exact day, but many others have acquired certificates with the exact day.

Check out BMIHT web site here.

Yes, it's a very early 4A, as mentioned. Pretty cool!

Regarding notations in the car, I found a tag inside the seat cushion of my car that says "Zest", which was the code name for the TR4 while it was in development. Now, the car is 2nd year of manufacture, but as noted the trim was likely put together in another facility in advance (like engines, gearboxes and bodies, at the time, which is why TR #'s don't all match).

It was quite common amoung British cars in the 1960s for them to be registered in a different year than actually built. My TR4 was built in November 1962, but is registered a 1964. If you wish, in some states you can use the BMIHT certificate to request the DMV issue a "corrected" title.

Cheers!

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L

 

[Richard_Brown]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

The strange thiung is on the other side of the engine compartment I have a red plate that says Triumph
STC-1966 ?
I have not had a stamped plate like this on my other TR's that I knew of.
what would this be?

 

[Geo Hahn]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

I believe that additional plate was added when they sold a car as a 'model year' other than what the commission number would indicate... e.g. my September 1964 (build) TR4 has a 'TRIUMPH STC-65' plate (metallic lime green in my case). Plate is just attached with screws and far from the commission plate.

Nevertheless, I got my DMV to accept that it was a 1964 and let me register it as such. In my opinion you should consider doing the same (register yours as a 65) since it is such a very early example.

 

[Richard_Brown]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

Yes that is my intention, I almost thought of pulling that plate just so they don't see that.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Re: 1965-1966 TR4A commission number? what year is

[ QUOTE ]
... you should consider [registering yours as a 65] since it is such a very early example.

[/ QUOTE ]In 1990 or 1991 I would have understood that, since many states and many insurance companies required that most cars be at least 25 years old to qualify for collector plates or special insurance. But I kinda like maintaining the individual history of a car.

In 1970, I bought a "1962" Herald sedan to use for parts, since I'd just crashed my '64 1200 convertible and needed front end sheetmetal. At that time, I didn't know very much about Heralds, but I quickly learned that a: the "parts car" was actually somewhat older than the paperwork indicated, and b: there were minor, yet significant differences between the two cars. Some years later, I finally determined that the sedan might have been as early as a 1960-built car, and I confirmed that when I finally got a BMIHT build certificate that explained everything. Turns out that the car was a Personal Export Delivery car built in early April 1960 and picked up by the first owner not long after.

Near as I can tell, that first owner spent a fair amount of time in England with the car, which explained why the car, LH steering and otherwise equipped as a North American-spec model would be, had (and still has) UK-spec lighting all around, down to the "right hand drive" Lucas 700 headlamps! Further, it appears that the car was not "brought home" until 1962 and then registered here in the US. Exactly how a car nearly two years old got to be titled as a "new" 1962 car here in the US isn't completely clear, but I've long since learned to accept this all as part of the history of the car.

Besides, you've got the "STC" plate to establish the background on the paperwork, while you've got the early commission number so that those of us who care will know it's an early 4A! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif