Gas cap

[SteveT]

OK, which side does the gas cap open? From the driver's side, passenger side or from behind? On a 1976 TR6.

Thanks -- Steve

 

[roofman]

Behind.

 

[Guest]

Actually from the driver's side. There was a recall for the TR6 that told the dealers to cant it 45* to the rear.

 

[Geo Hahn]

FWIW -- I believe on TR2s 3s & 4s it is the drivers side regardless of whether the car is LHD or RHD. Makes sense when you think of it since it is most convenient to pump gas from the drivers side so you'd want the cap to flip away from you.

On some cars a rearward orientation can actually foul the boot lid producing a small dent. Many TR4s 4As and 250s have a little mark from this happening (mine included).

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Mine (a 73) opened on the passenger side, 45 degrees to the rear. But who knows, it may have been changed years ago, or long ago in another life, when I made my wife pump the gas...

 

[tomshobby]

My 76 has the hinge on the passenger side and the latch on the drivers side. Mine must not have gotten the recall notice.

Bill, any idea why the 45 degree change?

 

[Guest]

I saw the bulletin some time back, written back in the 70s. Something about a tendency for the cap to fly open accidentally. Perhaps in an accident. Very simple to do, just loosen and rotate.

 

[DougF]

I looked at Triumph TR6 1969-1976, Brookland Books. It's a compilation of road tests from all the magazines of the day.
I did not see any caps mounted at angles or with the hinge to the rear. I did see them open from the drivers side, passenger side and rear to front. Rear to front was from a 1969 article.
These would all be cars that went directly from the dealer to the media. I can't imagine they were altered in any way.
From this, it looks like you can take your pick.

 

[TRopic6]

I remember seeing a picture of a canted gas cap in the 1975 TR6 brochure. I thought it looked odd and I keep my cap parallel to open on the driver's side.

My copy is back on the mainland - does anybody have one to post a pix from? I'd like to hear the official explanation of why it was safer...

Jeff
'74 TR6 CF13816U

 

[roofman]

Over the years I have owned 2 1969's, 1 1975, and now a 1972 TR6 and all my caps were hinged the same with the cap hinge just behind the passenger compartment, not from side to side at any angle.

 

[John_Mc]

FWIW- I'm at 45 like in TR6oldtimer's pic. That's how I got it.

 

[DNK]

Your suppose to put gas in them?

 

[Brosky]

Mine has been opening from the drivers side for the last 33 years and that's the way it will probably stay for the next 33.

 

[TRopic6]

Lo and behold, an original 1975 TR6 sales brochure came up on eBay. I tried to copy the page with the rearward-canted gas cap from the eBay ad, but it won't paste. Anyway, I put a link to it and here's the auction number: 320115759445. It shows each page in the brochure, so it's a useful reference for late TR6s.

Scroll down to the next to-last page (no pausing on the pages with pictures of the girl) and check out picture 9 (yep, right next to picture 8, which is the girl...) There is the rear-angled gas cap, just like the one sort of visible in the second picture.

Not sure why they twisted the cap, but the sales brochure is pretty cool. They apparently have a box of them.

Jeff
74 CF13816U
TR6 Brochure Auction

 

[SteveT]

Great stuff on the gas cap. I guess it should go the way "you like it."

Thanks - Steve