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Targo purple? Anyone?

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TR4nut

TR4nut

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Just received my heritage certificate today for my 3A. Pretty sure now the tub on my car is original. What I confused for gray primer behind the cowl I believe is now "Silverstone Grey" according to the certificate. Engine/body numbers match so all seems well.

But the surprise for me was the interior - not the current black but originally Targo Purple leather. Does anyone have a picture of such a beast? I did a web search and came up with nothing. Next stop is one of Piggott's books but I don't remember seeing it before.

If it doesn't exist anymore I'm thinking it wasn't all that popular of an option!

Randy
 
Hey, Randy -

Targo Purple is mentioned in Piggott's book on TR3's, but I don't believe there are any pictures in it.

The certificate for the TR3 that I had listed beige paint, which was correct, but it also listed blue leather interior, and that was not what mine had. Mine was stone vinyl, and it was pretty obviously the same general age as the car; appropriately dry rotted. One explanation that's been offered is that the dealers sometimes changed interiors out to suit buyers' wants. Could have been what happened with yours, if the black seems to be "original".

I've never seen even a picture of the Targo Purple; would be interesting to see.

Mickey
 
Mickey-

The interior I have is definitely not original - looks more like a complete Amco switchout of the door panels/seats for sure.


Randy
 
Sadly, I've no pictures, but a member of our local Triumph club had a BRG 3A that had been equipped ex-factory with Targo Purple interior (supposedly one of only five or maybe nineteen total cars built with that combination). I don't recall his being able to save much -- if any -- of the original interior when he restored it, but he did take great pains to find what I believe was a somewhat close match. If you like purple, it was very nice, and it actually didn't look all that bad with the BRG!

The car likely is still out there somewhere. It was in the greater Albany, NY, area for years, but I believe it may have been sold on eBay several years ago....

Oddly enough, Targo Purple was used as both an interior and a paint color on the early Heralds. As it happens, I own the remnants of such a Herald. Unfortunately (for you, anyway), the body was repainted black eons ago, and the interior vinyl faded to a medium blue after years of sun. There are a few "hidden" spots that still look purply, but my digital camera's down for the count right now; sorry!
 
Andy-

I'm curious - if the car was trimmed in Targo Purple, was it completely trimmed out that way? For a 3A, I was thinking maybe dash and cappings might still be black, and only seats/door cards are perhaps purple? What about the carpet?

My wife's favorite color is purple, so I think I'm in trouble.

Randy
 
Randy you may try MOSS UK as they have sample's of most interior's color's made for sidescreens. I bet the combo of Silverstone Gray and Tango Purple was very striking.
 
I know I've gotten impatient in this age of the internet, but I'm really surprised I couldn't turn up an example either here or in the UK so far (2 hours or so since I asked!) - it might be a rare combination, but one UK friend just sent me a note that wasn't very flattering on the color combination. Could be very few survivors because no one liked it.

Randy
 
What a neat color combinatin. I would definitly redo the car as original. Almost one of a kind. Are you sure they did not dye the leather? Did you look behind the dash to see if any of the original material remains. Please post anything that you find, I would love to see it.
 
TR4nut said:
Andy-

I'm curious - if the car was trimmed in Targo Purple, was it completely trimmed out that way? For a 3A, I was thinking maybe dash and cappings might still be black, and only seats/door cards are perhaps purple? What about the carpet?
Click to expand...
Piggott and others seem to indicate that interiors would be the same color throughout, with capping and dash matching the rest of the upholstery, and carpet usually matching as well (except for late sidescreen cars). So...

TR4nut said:
My wife's favorite color is purple, so I think I'm in trouble.
Click to expand...
Yeah...you probably <span style="font-style: italic">are</span> in trouble. :laugh:
 
A unique original combo, I'd go with it as it does sound interesting.
Contact all of the registry's (Brit/US) and I'll bet you'll find an example
 
A quote from Moss Europe

" Although Moss Europe have been the major body panel supplier for the TR2 to TR4A range of cars since the days of Cox & Buckles (1975), we never gave a prime focus or commitment to a similar development of the trimrange, particularly for the TR2/3/3A. Until now.The reason for this apparent lack of commitment is the unfortunate range of diverse and difficult to obtain colours offered as standard by Triumph when they were building the cars. There is a plethora of information concerning the different options of body colour and interior trim colour(and also complementary sidescreen colours), but unfortunately, Triumph were like all manufactures using material of a specification that was easily available at the time of the building the cars. As the years have gone on, the availability of material has diminished considerably.There is usually a horrendous manufacturing minimum which precludemaking the odd set of seat covers or trim kit, as you would be left with a rather large amount of Targo Purple in stock after you had built your oneseat cover set and trim kit. Incidentally we have sold Targo Purple pieces obtained from a Triumph salvage specialist and the colour is absolutely appaling. We actually have, still in our possession to this day, Targo Purple draught excluder, and, we have certainly sold a large number of glove boxlids trimmed in this less than wonderful colour"
I guess you might contact them. I would like to see it.
Paul
 
apbos said:
A quote from Moss Europe

" ..Incidentally we have sold Targo Purple pieces obtained from a Triumph salvage specialist and the colour is<span style="font-weight: bold"> absolutely appaling</span>. We actually have, still in our possession to this day, Targo Purple draught excluder, and, we have certainly sold a large number of glove boxlids trimmed in this <span style="font-weight: bold">less than wonderful colour</span>"..
Click to expand...

Gee Paul- With an endorsement like that, how can I resist! :sick:
 
Randy, one other factor to consider: Restore your car in its original Silverstone Grey / Targo Purple livery, and it WILL be remembered...and it WILL stand out! Sure, there may be some less than favorable comments about it, but everyone who sees it will talk about it for years to come. At the very worst, it will stand out in the inevitable sea of Signal Red and BRG Triumphs at any show.

(Of course, this advice is coming from someone who truly likes Geranium and Ice Blue TR2s, and Coffee and Alpine Mauve early Heralds.... :wink: )
 
Andrew Mace said:
Randy, one other factor to consider: Restore your car in its original Silverstone Grey / Targo Purple livery, and it WILL be remembered...and it WILL stand out! Sure, there may be some less than favorable comments about it, but everyone who sees it will talk about it for years to come. At the very worst, it will stand out in the inevitable sea of Signal Red and BRG Triumphs at any show.

(Of course, this advice is coming from someone who truly likes Geranium and Ice Blue TR2s, and Coffee and Alpine Mauve early Heralds.... :wink: )
Click to expand...

:iagree:

Had I received the BMHIT certificate before deciding on color combo on my TR3, I would have done it according to the records. Beige paint, blue leather, and white weather equipment sounds like a strange mix, but definitely would have been a standout!
 
Andy-

I'm a geranium fan myself, but the information I've received so far is less than enticing. On the TR register forum, the color was described as "a bit insipid really"

A friend also sent me a color chart which RAL 4009 identified as being close:
Color chart

possibletargocolors.jpg


I can tell you right now, I'm not going to trim my car in that 4009 color! On the other hand, that same person thought he remembered colors 4006 or 4008 as being closer - now those I can get interested in. Yeah baby, groovy!

Randy
 
TR4nut said:
A friend also sent me a color chart which RAL 4009 identified as being close:
Color chart

I can tell you right now, I'm not going to trim my car in that color! On the other hand, that same person thought he remembered colors 4006 or 4008 as being closer - now those I can get interested in. Yeah baby, groovy!

Randy
Click to expand...
Well, silly me. I forgot about the color charts on the VTR web site. This one shows Targo Purple as a paint color, but the upholstery version was very similar. Faded chips and variations in scanning and monitor settings all conspire to change shades and hues, but you might get some idea from this chart as to what Targo Purple looked like. To me, it looks like a darker shade of RAL 4009, but....
 
Thanks Andy-

A little more internet sleuthing along those lines turned up this Triumph brochure showing the trim color:
color_6.2.jpg


Color is probably off a little, but I'm getting the idea I think - and right now my idea is to stick with cream exterior - tan interior!

Randy
 
A nice Wisteria Pink exterior and a Targo Purple interior would look Sweet
 
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