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TR2/3/3A TR3 Questions
- Thread starter GBRandy
- Start date
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Hey, Randy -
Can't help you with the addition to the dash, other than it may be a replacement push-botton for the starter. Whatever it is, it doesn't belong there.
The other does look like bondo...
Are you comfortable with saying where the car is and seeing if someone here can check it out for you?
Mickey
Can't help you with the addition to the dash, other than it may be a replacement push-botton for the starter. Whatever it is, it doesn't belong there.
The other does look like bondo...
Are you comfortable with saying where the car is and seeing if someone here can check it out for you?
Mickey
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At least there is a Triumph club in that general area: TYEE Triumphs.
Nowadays, any halfway-decent 3 on four wheels is worth a look. It's tough to tell from the one picture: could be a "bitsa" car (bitsa this car, bitsa that car....), or maybe it's a legitimate late 3 with possibly a later 3A bonnet (can't tell if it's a raised platform under the hinge or a shadow line).
If that fender only has some filler in that one spot, I wouldn't worry all that much, especially considering what "new" fenders cost and how difficult they tend to be to fit to a car.
Lots of other little details stray from original, such as what appears to be a completely painted dash rather than vinyl-covered. I'd not want to buy any car on pictures alone, but a half-dozen or more additional pictures from various angles would help a bit!
Nowadays, any halfway-decent 3 on four wheels is worth a look. It's tough to tell from the one picture: could be a "bitsa" car (bitsa this car, bitsa that car....), or maybe it's a legitimate late 3 with possibly a later 3A bonnet (can't tell if it's a raised platform under the hinge or a shadow line).
If that fender only has some filler in that one spot, I wouldn't worry all that much, especially considering what "new" fenders cost and how difficult they tend to be to fit to a car.
Lots of other little details stray from original, such as what appears to be a completely painted dash rather than vinyl-covered. I'd not want to buy any car on pictures alone, but a half-dozen or more additional pictures from various angles would help a bit!
Russ Austin
Jedi Warrior
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I belive it's a cigarette lighter. I have numerous cars with the lighter there.
CraigLandrum
Jedi Hopeful
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Actually, the "what's that?" is likely to be the manual pump for the windshield washers. Here's some links to a couple of photos showing the pump mounted in this position:
https://www.classicsportscars.eu/tr3/PICTURES/triumph-tr3-interior.JPG
... and a post by Jeff of his TR3 dash showing his pump in the same position:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/u...info#Post524453
https://www.classicsportscars.eu/tr3/PICTURES/triumph-tr3-interior.JPG
... and a post by Jeff of his TR3 dash showing his pump in the same position:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/u...info#Post524453
TR3driver
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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I'll go with non-original cigarette lighter. Looks like a metal knob designed to pull, and I once owned a T-bird with lighters like that for the back seat. Certainly that's the same spot where the manual washer pump was frequently installed (on cars so equipped), but they had a straight shaft with a black plastic knob. What I see in the photo is not straight.
Not sure about the rear fender, but my guess is that it's just somewhat mangled. The damage at the lower edge looks like mangled metal instead of Bondo, to me.
Several other DPO-isms visible, like the wrong rear view mirror (given the toilet seats on the trunk lid) and the paint on the instrument panel & glove box lid. Seems like the trim around the "vent pull" knob is missing, possibly so is the knob. Wrong temp gauge, others look strange but might be OK. Extra "lift the dot" stud on the body, one missing on the door.
Door handle looks wrong to me too, like maybe a TR4 handle. The door handles also don't match the toilet seats on the trunk, so maybe it's the trunk that is wrong. Unless perhaps this car was once fitted with the ultra-rare GT option and then converted back to a ragtop ... Nah, I don't believe that either.
Not sure about the rear fender, but my guess is that it's just somewhat mangled. The damage at the lower edge looks like mangled metal instead of Bondo, to me.
Several other DPO-isms visible, like the wrong rear view mirror (given the toilet seats on the trunk lid) and the paint on the instrument panel & glove box lid. Seems like the trim around the "vent pull" knob is missing, possibly so is the knob. Wrong temp gauge, others look strange but might be OK. Extra "lift the dot" stud on the body, one missing on the door.
Door handle looks wrong to me too, like maybe a TR4 handle. The door handles also don't match the toilet seats on the trunk, so maybe it's the trunk that is wrong. Unless perhaps this car was once fitted with the ultra-rare GT option and then converted back to a ragtop ... Nah, I don't believe that either.
OP
GBRandy
Jedi Knight
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Thanks guys. I have about 6 more pics I'll post later in the day for your opinion. I hate the fact that it is so far away, but the price is such that even with $800 in shipping fees it is better than what I have found around here.
The wheels will be the fist thing to go....they look like old Fiat fake wire wheel covers
I am betting it is a lighter. I can see on the full res image a wire under the dash heading in that direction. That will have to go when I recover the dash.
BTW....what is the little cap on the trunk lid....rear, right hand side?
The wheels will be the fist thing to go....they look like old Fiat fake wire wheel covers
I am betting it is a lighter. I can see on the full res image a wire under the dash heading in that direction. That will have to go when I recover the dash.
BTW....what is the little cap on the trunk lid....rear, right hand side?
martx-5
Yoda
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GBRandy said:
That's one of the "toilet seats". There's a matching one on the left. They are called "budget locks" by Triumph and are used to close the boot lid. They use the same key as for the spare tire lid and bonnet. The budget locks were used on the earlier cars before the center-located handle.
Twosheds
Darth Vader
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GBRandy said:
It's a "toilet lid" budget lock cover used on the TR2s and smallmouth TR3s. The budget locks are in both rear corners of the boot lid and hold it closed. This is in addition to the key lock in the center rear. They work similar to the spare tire cover locks. They were removed on widemouth (TR3A) cars when the single center boot lid handle was installed, but a few early widemouth cars had the budget locks. The smallmouth cars had "fig leaf" covers, but I think the widemouth cars that came with budget locks used the "toilet lid" style covers. My old widemouth racecar TS 22312 is like that.
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Agreed; they do look rather silly. OTOH, they look to be in good shape, so hopefully someone will pay you big $$$ to take them off your hands! :wink:GBRandy said:The wheels will be the fist thing to go....they look like old Fiat fake wire wheel covers
Or, set the car up for negative ground (if it isn't already), and use it as a power outlet to charge your cell phone or plug in your GPS/Navigation System, etc.!GBRandy said:
Has the seller given you a commission number or any other numbers on the car? Those always help.
GBRandy said:
I agree 100%. I've done this with motorcycles in the past and it has saved me quite a lot of time and money. I've found $50 is a good sum to offer if the person lives in the same city. Frankly, I've had a lot of people offer to do it for free as they enjoy it, but I figure the $50 helps cover their time and travel costs.
See if anything comes up on this list, and try any local Triumph forums. Seattle's a big enough city I'll bet you'll turn up someone. Another alternative is to place an ad on the Seattle Craigslist looking for a "Triumph Owner to Provide Buying Assistance."
Good luck.
Mark
angelfj1
Yoda
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GB: if you are really interested, you need to examine the car or arrange to have someone who is knowledgeable to do this for you. There are firms who specialize in this sort of thing, but I would begin with a friendly BCF'er or someone who belongs to TRA or VTR. There is no other (acceptable0 way. Good luck!
Don Elliott
Obi Wan
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If that's a bit of Bondo on the rear fender arch, why wasn't it sanded smooth. It would be so easy to do before painting. This makes me suspect that there may be lots of other small places with a bit of rough Bondo. And maybe some big areas as well.