TR2/3/3A TR3 Engine Bay Color

[GBRandy]

I have seen several TR3's for sale that have the engine bay of the car painted black. Most of the well restored cars all have the engine bay the same color as the car.

Why are some black and others not?

Randy

 

[Mickey Richaud]

They should be body color. Careful: the black may be hiding something...

 

[TR3driver]

Both of mine are black, basically for the reasons Mickey implies. It's much easier to touch up if it gets damaged, and doesn't show dirt as well.

Damage from a leaking MC is especially common, and a quick session with a rattle can is one way to deal with it. That's probably why the previous owner of my current project painted it black.

Also you don't have to pull the engine if you decide to change the car's color

 

[Andrew Mace]

IIRC, the very first "off-tools" TR2s (TS1LO and TS2) had black engine bays. But both of these were virtually hand-built production cars destined for Auto Shows (Canada, Ireland, respectively). I don't know offhand how quickly Standard-Triumph went to body-colored inner fenders, etc. Lou? anyone else?

Otherwise, I agree with all of the above. It's a: a "look"; b: expedient when "freshening" a car or just easier to maintain; and/or c: covering up something. :wink:

 

[Don Elliott]

The black may be paint, but it might also be a tarry undercoating to cover a botched patch job or holes. Mine is black, but my 1958 TR3A is black. The engine compartment was painted black when I bought the car new.

It should be body colour.

 

[GBRandy]

Thanks guys. My search continues for a car....and the number of black engine bays I have found had my wondering what was up. I thought that it was a non-stock adjustment, but seeing so many had me wondering.