Overdrive switch on '59???

[Afrodesia]

So my '59 just arrived and all's relatively well. There are a few issues I was not aware of but hopefully that will get resolved. I am a little confused however, I notice an overdrive switch to the left of the steering wheel. I do not remember this on my dad's 59 and only know of overdrive coming in on later year. Did I just get a switcheroo?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

You're lucky to get one with overdrive! They were available from the beginning of the series.

 

[TR3driver]

Just so. OD was a relatively rare (but very desirable IMO) option in the USA. Always available (TS1 and TS2 both had factory OD), although the OD details changed a bit over the years.

 

[Afrodesia]

Whew! Thanks y'all. I am kinda new again to this (though I was the best tool kid & coffee fetcher back in the day) so my memory can be hazy. Well, is hazy.

I'm Very happy to have the OD but now I need to locate a trunk lid which I wasn't anticipating. And I need to figure out why car will only run when I'm spraying carb cleaner in the carbs. I'm hoping the 19-year-old kid that had it just didn't put gas in it but I'm expecting it to be a bigger problem. Usually is.

Thanks again! You'll be seeing me often from now on.

 

[TR3driver]

You probably know this already, but there is a fairly active British car club in the Sacramento area : https://www.ubscc.org/

Looks like they are having a "show and shine" next week at the fair. Good place to make some contacts, even if your car isn't running. https://www.ubscc.org/clubevents.htm

 

[martx-5]

... Always available (TS1 and TS2 both had factory OD)...

TS1 is LHD, and TS2 is RHD. A curious thing I read is that TS1 was built with engine TS3E, and TS2 was built with engine TS1E. Can anyone confirm that?? And where did engine TS2E go??

 

[Mickey Richaud]

TS1 is LHD, and TS2 is RHD. A curious thing I read is that TS1 was built with engine TS3E, and TS2 was built with engine TS1E. Can anyone confirm that?? And where did engine TS2E go??

Kinda like Basil being member # 2 on the BCF here! :laugh:

 

[Number_6]

Did I just get a switcheroo?

You can check the Serial No. to see if the overdrive is original equipment. if the SN ends with 'OL' the overdrive was installed at the factory as original equipment, the 'O' in the SN is for 'Overdrive. If the SN just ends with a 'L' then the overdrive was added sometime later.

 

[Don Elliott]

My overdrive switch was installed with O/D option in the factory in Feb 1958. I took delivery of my TR3A in May, 1958 and the switch has always been (and still is) located as shown.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Did I just get a switcheroo?

You can check the Serial No. to see if the overdrive is original equipment. if the SN ends with 'OL' the overdrive was installed at the factory as original equipment, the 'O' in the SN is for 'Overdrive.

Actually, it's the other way 'round: If overdrive is fitted at the factory, the "O" is the very last character in the commission number, i.e., TS1LO.

 

[TR3driver]

If the SN just ends with a 'L' then the overdrive was added sometime later.

But, "sometime later" may have been before it left the dealers lot. And I understand there were at least a few ---O cars that had lost their OD by the time they got delivered (if, for example, the customer didn't want OD and that was the only TR they had in stock).

Andy is also exactly right about the "LO". My 59 was TS39781LO. The 'L' indicates LHD, so it might be missing on a car that was built as RHD.

 

[TFB]

I just purchased a '58 TR3a and the commission tag on my vehicle ends in "LO" and the car does have overdrive (love it). But, I just received a British Heritage Certificate and it shows a commission number ending in just "L" (no "0") and it does not list Overdrive as a factory installed option. Help with this mystery?

Is the vin tag possibly a restamped replacement or original?
Tom

 

[charleyf]

Scott,
Here in California the commission tag is your car serial number. If you ever get into a "situation" with CHP or DMV having that "0" on the end of that tag is going to be a problem. That is unless your title shows the added "0". And it should not. The authorities do not seem to use common sense or good intentions as a determining factor in these cases.
Just having one digit off on the title cost me time at DMV and then a trip to the local CHP office for an inspection of the vehicle. This mistake was apparently the fault of Arizona DMV transcribing the numbers from a Calif. title to a AZ title. Then when I tried to bring it back to Calif. --problems.
Charley