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TR2/3/3A Odd Commission number

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CJD

CJD

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Came across a TR3 for sale locally that has a photo of the Commission plate with a number of:

TCF 1804 L

It's advertised as a 1959. Anyone know what TCF means and why the number would be so low for a '59?
 
TCF is the prefix for the 2nd run of TR3B, in 1962. Hard telling why they called it a 59, but shouldn't be too hard to see some of the body differences to decide whether the car is actually a 59 or a 62. 59 would not have the raised plinths for the hood and trunk hinges, and square corners on the back of the doors. A 59 would also have wood in the scuttle above the dashboard and in the top edge of the doors (though you can't see it without removing the trim).

A 59 would also have screw terminal connections on the fuse block, control box and so on; rather than the later 1/4" disconnects (aka Lucar connectors).
 
You should also ask for the number on the engine. A TCF car will also have a TCF engine number. A 1959 would have a TS engine prefix. Just looking at the engine, the TR3B will have the oil filler hole at the rear unlike the TR3's which had it at the front of the engine.
Charley
 
While cars registered a year or two after the build date are common, the reverse situation, as you have, is not. Could be some shady stuff going on. Any documents show 59? Could also be POs guessing at the year, I suppose.
Tom
 
What makes it even more odd (and likely suggests the seller doesn't understand) is that a late TR3B often commands a price premium compared to a '59 3A.
 
My plate is full, so I don't plan to go look at it. I was just curious, as I have never seen that format for the commission number. From your responses, I have to assume it's a TR3B, and the guy selling it just guessed at the year. It does have the rear oil vent cap. Here's the craigslisting for anyone interested...

https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/5554844619.html

Marv...this does look like your kinda' thing! I'll go check it out for you if you're interested...
 
John,
it does look interesting. As others have said, TR3b. Guy has wrong year. If you don't mind, look it over. I have room for one more.

thx, Marv
 
Looks like a bargain for someone, even if the commission number doesn't match the car. Not a 59 though (has the Lucar connectors & sideways control box), so most likely seller is just mistaken about year.
 
No doubt about it: that's a "second-series" TR3B. It's actually more likely it would've first been registered and titled as a 1963 model, as this car likely was built very late summer or early fall of 1962. And the valve cover configuration looks right for a TCF engine (rear oil filler and that brass plug in the center). I agree with others on that potentially being a very good deal, especially if the engine is a correct TCF!
 
With no title he is undoubtedly guessing at the year. It looks like the bottom of the battery box is rusted out. So one may find real problems with more rust. But still likely a good buy at that price.
Charley
 
2liter4cyl said:
I suspect they call 1959 the model year because it says so on commission plate!!! This is not DOM. Le
Click to expand...
Good eye! Nothing like that on my 3A. Not only that, the date, if it is a date, is wrong. ST did put build dates on the commission plates of some of their later cars, but I've never noticed one on a sidescreen.
Tom
 
TomMull said:
Good eye! Nothing like that on my 3A. Not only that, the date, if it is a date, is wrong. ST did put build dates on the commission plates of some of their later cars, but I've never noticed one on a sidescreen.
Tom
Click to expand...
I dug out my Piggott, and it has a photo of that plate with the (1959), identifying it as a TR3B plate.

No idea why, unless it had something to do with Standard Motor Co. being renamed in 1959. IIRC, SMC got renamed as Standard-Triumph International and a subsidiary named Standard Motor Co Ltd was created; all just before Leyland bought them in 1960. So the (1959) may have been part of the legal company name or something like that.
 
TR3driver said:
I dug out my Piggott, and it has a photo of that plate with the (1959), identifying it as a TR3B plate.

No idea why, unless it had something to do with Standard Motor Co. being renamed in 1959. IIRC, SMC got renamed as Standard-Triumph International and a subsidiary named Standard Motor Co Ltd was created; all just before Leyland bought them in 1960. So the (1959) may have been part of the legal company name or something like that.
Click to expand...

Sounds very plausible but why wait until 62 to put it on the plate?
Tom
 
The (1959) is a part of the legal name of the manufacturer. It is not on my '58 tag, but is on my two '60s, since that legal name is forever valid until stock is used up or other change is made to the tags. Le
 
2liter4cyl said:
The (1959) is a part of the legal name of the manufacturer. It is not on my '58 tag, but is on my two '60s, since that legal name is forever valid until stock is used up or other change is made to the tags. Le
Click to expand...
At the risk of belaboring this issue (which has never bothered me anyway), I see little consistency with any dates on the commission plates. E.G. my 1960 TR3, TS73117 has no date, while both of yours does. In addition the two TR4s I looked at had no dates either. I'm sure you are correct with the date as part of the legal name but how and why it got onto some commission plates and no others remains a mystery, to me at least. I guess the simple answer might be that Standard Triumph never put a high priority on consistency.
Tom
 
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