TR4/4A TR4A Under Hood Grease Pencil Markings

[Stinger]

While cleaning up under the hood on our TR4A we noticed what looked like factory grease pencil markings. If these are factory markings does anyone know what they mean?? Thanks

 

[CinneaghTR]

Good stuff. What are the lower five characters? Without knowing the history of your car, could that be salvage yard markings? The _one_ car that I have seen that had some sort of factory markings had them under the paint. It was that lime green TR4 on eBay a few months back.

I am interesting in hearing what the more learned folks on the forum have to say about this.

Also, I would like a copy of that decal. Never seen one.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Also, I would like a copy of that decal. Never seen one.

Here's one vendor who sells that decal, albeit apparently only as part of a set. That one decal might be available separately elsewhere?

 

[bob67bgt]

Looks like 4 sets of numbers. Maybe from a compression check sometime over the last 40 years? Bob

 

[PeterK]

That's the Standard Triumph Patent label, shown as fitting TR250-TR6. Neither of my TR4A's have one. Might be a 250 hood on your car. Available for $5 part no 145313 from TRF.

Compression check #'s sound right on.

Never heard of TR using grease pencil. My lower control arms on the 3A were marked with yellow and green paint for some reason though - maybe to keep the arms sorted.

 

[Stinger]

It appears to be the original hood and not a 250 hood. We can not make out the complete markings but it looks like:
150
???
65 (or a backwards 25)
115
It may very well be whats left of a mechanics compression check if no one else has any markings like this. We do have some paperwork that came with the car and in 1992 a shop did some work on it and one of the things that was done was a compression check. At that time the numbers were 125 110 110 125. The decal also appears original. Does anyone else out there have one of these decals on their TR4A?? Thanks

 

[CinneaghTR]

The "T-R-I-U-M-P-H" and the world badge should pretty much show that it is a 4A hood.

Okay, okay, I'll actually look for something before asking about it...

 

[HerronScott]

The decal also appears original. Does anyone else out there have one of these decals on their TR4A?? Thanks

Stinger,

I finally made it out to my 1967 TR4A (which still has the original paint) and it also has this decal so I would say this was original for at least the 1967 models. Unfortunately my 1966 TR4A wasn't original enough when I got it to be able to tell if it ever had one.

Scott

 

[Stinger]

Scott, Thanks for the response. At least we know two 67 TR4A's came with the decal. JD

 

[angelfj1]

No, sorry, but TR4A's never had those decals (applied by the factory). That practice began with the TR250 during the summer of 1967. In my opinion you have a TR250 bonnet. The grease pencil markings (that I have seen) are often used by used parts companies to identify inventory.

 

[HerronScott]

Frank,

Not sure if you saw my post above, but my 1967 TR4A which is unrestored with original paint also has this sticker and it is definitely not a TR250 hood.

Here's a picture of the one on my hood.

Stinger,

I'm curious what your commission number is. My 1967 TR4A is CTC72159LO for comparison.

Scott

 

[angelfj1]

perhaps these are very late TR4A's, like during a transition period as they phased in the TR250.

BTW, except for the location of the badging, what is the physical difference between the 4A and 250 bonnet?

 

[HerronScott]

Frank,

I think the only difference is the badging as CinneaghTR indicated above. You would have to patch the 3 TR250 badge holes and then drill 16 new holes for the TRIUMPH letters and TR4A world badge to use a TR250 hood on a TR4A.

I was thinking something similar regarding perhaps a change/requirement for late TR4As. My 1967 is about 6500 from the last of the TR4As produced but in looking at production numbers it would have been built in late 1966 and probably only 3 or 4 months after my 1966.

TR4A TR250
1965 13,735
1966 11,097
1967 3,621 2,357
1968 12 6,127

Roadster Factory has this decal listed as being applied to some 1969 TR6's as well - TRF decal.

Scott

 

[Stinger]

Scott, Our TR4A had three previous owners and all the under hood paint is original and the hood is a TR4A hood. In comparison our commission number is CTC74806L. Thanks JD

 

[JohnnyMead]

Back to the grease pencil markings: I took the carpeting out of my 3A and found what looks like a check mark on the tunnel (behind the gearbox cover part) in that same yellow shade.

I know this becomes like crop circles, but I like finding these tell-tale markings on old cars.

John