Code Underneath the Commission Plate

[Mark_Gibson]

I just took the comm plate off my TR-2 and underneath is some writing that I'm sure came from the factory. It's in a yellow marker and it reads the following:

82
2MX
HTR
USA

I know that solves the heater in the car mystery, but any ideas what the 1st two lines mean? Anyone else find anything like this dismantling their cars? Pic attached. Just curious..thanks..

 

[Banjo]

Way cool! I've got no idea but, Way cool!
I hope I find some stuff like that.

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I found a printed tag inside the seat of my car that read "Zest", which was the code name of the TR4 while it was in development. I suspect the seats were assembled elsewhere and likely stockpiled in advance. By '62, when my car was built, the code name was long gone and the TR4 name well-known.

Oh, and I found some S&H Green Stamps during disassembly, too. Maybe I should sell them on eBay.

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17620L

 

[Geo Hahn]

I suspect the 82 is the color.

On this site (Triumph Sports Six Club) they list touch-up paint available for 'Carmine - code 82'. I don't recall that Carmine was a standard TR2 color but of course you could order them in any color you wanted.

https://www.tssc.org.uk/catalog.asp?catalog=sitemap

Maybe '2MX' referred to the tires to be fitted -- they used several brands but Michelin X's were a favorite.

Just guessin' of course.

Others have also reported finding notations under the commission plate and of course the engine blocks often had notation on the side just above the starter -- nothing too revealing, my TR4 says 'TR4'.

Best thing I found were 2 cigarette butts in the ashtray... brand was "Triumph".

 

[waltesefalcon]

Congratulations, Mark your car was a customers special order. The 82 is indeed the colour code for Carmine Red. While trying to decide on what colour to paint my spitfire, I went through my bosses old Standard Triumph book at work, and all the colours have a numerical code like that. I'm not sure what the 2MX is sorry. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm willing to bet the HTR means it has a heater, and the USA meant it was for a customer in the states. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

 

[Mark_Gibson]

Walter,

Thats as good an explanation as any. The heritage certificate I just got in the mail says Signal Red, with a stone leather interior. So now I'm a bit confused, as the car right now looks like a signal red car, under the dash and everywhere else!

Thanks,

 

[waltesefalcon]

I wouldn't be that confused by it Mark, my bosses Triumph book is from I think 76 when he became the Triumph/MG shop here. I would think it would be standard procedure to have some minor changes in the colour codes over the span of some years.

 

[Yellowdog]

Alan,

Take a look at Russ Austin's post on the second page of the "Mystery Car" post. (I would have put the link here but I am computer challenged today) He has a picture attached of the '63 Zest prototype. Even though it was built in '63 it sure has a strong resemblance to the TR4 and of course, the -6.

 

[Andrew Mace]

[ QUOTE ]
Congratulations, Mark your car was a customers special order. The 82 is indeed the colour code for Carmine Red. While trying to decide on what colour to paint my spitfire, I went through my bosses old Standard Triumph book at work, and all the colours have a numerical code like that.

[/ QUOTE ]
An interesting theory; however, Triumph didn't start using those color code numbers until around 1964 (at least that's when they first started appearing on commission number plates). Carmine Red, meanwhile, is a 1970s color.

Somewhere I have seen mention of the sort of coding found under commission number plates. If I find the reference, I'll pass it along!

 

[Hayfever]

Could the 8 be a 3? 32 is Signal Red on the newer comm. number plates, and they could have used the numbers internally before putting them on plates.

 

[Mark_Gibson]

The 8 is faded enough, it just might be a 3..let me know if y'all find anything else out about these numbers..I might give Dave a call at TRF and see if he knows anything about them.

Thanks,

 

[Mark_Gibson]

Dave passed me to Don Elliott from the TRA. I'm going to email him and see if he has any ideas.

Thanks,

 

[kindofblue]

"Old English Ghosts" as Peter Egan called them.

Too cool, I wouldn't erase them