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TR2/3/3A TR3 apron badges

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TexasKnucklehead

Jedi Knight
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I recently found out about the blue/white/black apron badge on the early 59's. I knew about the red/black with and without "Triumph" across the bottom -though not to enough detail to say when either is "right". But I recently noticed that there are two different red/black on different cars. One has the red on the right, and the other has the red on the left. Both have TR3, and neither have "TRIUMPH" across the bottom.

I looked through all the pictures I have collected, and see about an equal amount of either. I noticed it while looking at the one on ebay right now, and saw it's opposite of mine.

What gives?
 
Nor have I. Since neither has TRIUMPH across the bottom, presumably both were intended for a TR3A with the separate chrome letters. I vaguely remember hearing a number of years ago that some reproduction badges had been made with colors reversed; possibly that would explain what you've seen.

Of course, I do NOT advocate prising badges off aprons and flipping them over to see if they have original J. Fray manufacturer's markings on them, but if you happen to get the opportunity.... :smile:
 
All TR2 to early TR3As has the black/red badge. With the TR3A, they dropped the wording on the badges. The US sales and customers wanted the word TRIUMPH to be easier to read. I suppose too many strangers were asking, "What kind of car is that?". Or they were stating, "I love your MG!". At some point in the early TR3A production Standard - Triumph changed their legal name and that's when the made the change to blue/white.

I bought a repro black/red badge for mine about 1992 from a supplier in UK and it was not black/red, but it was red/black. As Andy says, there were a bunch of wrong badges made like this. I returned mine and got one from another supplier in PA. If you need a new one, check with your suppliers first to save having to send back a wrong one.

The photo is my correct badge on my TR3A - TS 27489 LO.
 

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The first blue and white apron badge was introduced in January 1959 on TR3A TS41878.

I have seen just one of little known blue/white/black apron badges (black "U" across the bottom) on a January 1959 car, but it's left our state, so I can't check its commission number. Perhaps a few were fitted as a stop gap between the changoever from the red to the blue badges.

Yet another TR oddity.

Regards,

Viv.
 
Viv - There was a TR3A at VTR last July near Philadelphia with one of these. I did not know they existed and thought that it must have been another repro foul-up. But someone else told me that they really existed. Maybe they made some of them like this at the start and then preferred the final version which was then adopted.
 

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Hi Viv,

My TS29xxxL April 58 has the blue/white/black badge. I always thought that it had been replaced sometime during its almost 50 year life. Probably has.

But with Triumph, you never know. Perhaps mine was grabbed and installed because the red/black bin was empty and they already had the early 59 badges in a bin handy.

I probably just keep it this was as it's always a goood topic of conversation at shows.
 
Peter - They were not changed with the introduction of the new model year. The blue/white badge was adopted when S-T changed the legal name and this was sometime during the model mid-year.
 
That's a scoop pic Don. I had not remembered the "TR3" lettering was also black on the mystery apron badge.

Your theory on the first and second version is also very feasible, as I saw the tricolour badge on a BRG car and it looked OK, but it's a bit jarring on the red car. Perhaps it was a corporate image change with the new name, or even just cheaper to produce a badge with two colours?. Wonder if anyone out there has the true facts?.

PeterK, secure your apron badge from beneath...you have a genuine TR curiosity, irrespective of when it was fitted.

Regards,

Viv.
 
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