Body Number

[ecutr6]

Below is information obtained from my TR6:

January 1973
Body Style: 2 Seat convertible
Engine: 2498cc (152 cu in)
Commission #: CF 4634 U

Body #:
T 4697 CF
4681 CF

Paint Code: 126 - French Blue
Trim Code: 11 – Black
Engine #: CF 4911 UE
Transmission: 4 speed manual

As you can see, there are two body numbers, and each appears to be original. Can anyone esplain why there are two numbers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Yellowdog]

I am assuming that the 'body numbers' you are referencing were found on those two small aluminum tags mounted on the engine side of the firewall above the passengers footwell?

I have heard many good discussions on these tags over the years yet never heard a truly authoritative answer. Most tend towards the painted one being the body number and the unpainted being the frame number.

What I do know for sure, is that one was installed prior to painting so it is the original body color, in your case, french blue. The second tag was/is unpainted so it was obviously installed after painting. There was quite a discussion about this on another board. Apparently one or both of these tags have been removed from several cars or simply painted over. Several owners even got 'tag envy' as theirs were missing!

So, to answer your question, no, I cannot explain these numbers, but I am sure someone can.

 

[Andrew Mace]

As I recall with the earlier (sidescreen) cars, the one number refers to the (literally) bare bodyshell, while the other refers to a completely painted and trimmed bodyshell. I suspect it's pretty much the same with the TR6.

 

[Trevor Triumph]

I was reading in one of the Graham Robson books, I think, that one of the body numbers was an inventory number for the company that manufactured the bodies for Tiumph. I think the number tag welded to the body was the inventory number. The other number is on a riveted piece of sheet metal. My '64 for Spitfire has two numbers and so does our '66 Austin. One comapny used a firm called "'something Pressed Steel" and other used a firm called Overton-Man. I think. T.T.

 

[ecutr6]

I will look on the passenger side firewall and see they are both riveted, or if one is riveted and the other welded. I will also post a photo. Both are French Blue due to a repaint. If I carefully remove the paint, what color should one or both be?

Thank you for your comments.

 

[Yellowdog]

On the TR6 both were riveted. On the '74 & '75 the top one was plain aluminum with the lower being painted in the body color. The firewall behind the plain tag was body colored while the space behind the painted one was just primer - or BL's excuse for it. As my wife bought the '75 new and her brother bought the '74 new, I can guarantee that neither of these cars have been altered in this area.

If you are going to remove the paint, be careful, the metal is very soft.

 

[ecutr6]

Thanks for the update. I will save your posts, and use them at painting time. My plan was to use a stripper like I am doing on the rest of the car. Nothing mechanical.