Writing a blurb

[TRMark]

Putting the 4 in a car show on Sat. so I was going to write some info about it. It is a Surrey, does anyone know how many Surrey options were built in 63? Can't seem to find the info on the internet or in any of the books I have.

 

[HerronScott]

Mark,

I don't think I've seen that information anywhere but it would be very interesting to know how many original Surrey top cars were produced.

Is your hardtop section aluminum or steel? I picked up 2 Surrey tops years and years ago when they were much much less expensive than today and 1 has an aluminum hardtop top section and 1 has a steel hardtop section.

Scott

 

[chappy444]

i was at a car show a few years back and i was reading the window tags talking about the cars.
one of the questions on the form was "best feature"
the best response to that question that i saw all day was "It's Mine!"

sorry i can help you with the production numbers.

 

[sail]

How about:
"This is the only Surrey top known to be in existence North of the Crow Indian Nation, South of the Musselshell, East of Halfbreed Lake and West of Little Big Horn... today."
Na

 

[Andrew Mace]

Apologies in advance for sounding pedantic, but "Surrey" technically refers only to the vinyl-and-framework top put in place when you're out on the road and unable to carry the metal center roof section with you!

 

[mtlman8]

I'm a bit confused.if a surrey top is aluminum or steel then what is that full fiberglass top that came with my car?

 

[TR4nut]

I'm a bit confused.if a surrey top is aluminum or steel then what is that full fiberglass top that came with my car?

Sounds like you have an aftermarket hardtop, maybe made by someone like Parrish Plastics or some other manufacturer.

 

[Andrew Mace]

There were several aftermarket hardtops made for the TR4, including one with small rear quarter windows offered through Triumph dealers. You can see a picture on page four of the June 1964 TSOA Newsletter.

 

[angelfj1]

Mark: When the TR4 was introduced in 1961, two basic models were offered, convertible (roadster) and hardtop (coupe). The convertible needs no explaination. But what we now refer to as a "Surrey Top", was offered only in the coupe model. In addition, the removeable soft top was optional. You did not get this or the tubular frame for it unless you ordered it separately.

The following , referring to the coupe model, is from Triumph Sports Owners Association (TSOA) newsletter of September 1961:

"<span style="font-style: italic">A full wrap-around rear window is a feature. The top itself is a most refreshing new design idea of the year. The forward section is easily removable, giving a draft-free open-car effect. An easily erected soft-top is available for sudden showers.</span>"

 

[TRMark]

How about:
"This is the only Surrey top known to be in existence North of the Crow Indian Nation, South of the Musselshell, East of Halfbreed Lake and West of Little Big Horn... today."
Na

Good one, I may just use it. You know something about the area, you from here? Not only is it the only Surrey to inhabit this locale, I haven't seen another TR4 in years.

The hard top section on my car is steel, it is hanging in a large heavy bag (made by my wife) on the wall of my garage.

I am very aware of the vocabulary minutia that describes what is generally known as a Surrey. If I use the car with the Surrey cover and frame, be it in the boot or installed, I refer to it as a Surrey. When I install the hard top I call it a coupe, that allows me to wear complete competition belts for autocross.

I've owned the car for over 40 years. The hard top was especially useful when the TR was my only car and I drove it in winter.

What I don't like it called is a Targa or hearing someone who thinks he knows something tell me it was copied from Porsche.

 

[ArcticOne]

I was just reading about the Surrey top and I thought that there was some production numbers listed. For the life of me I can not recall where, but will try and come up with the source.

jb

 

[sail]

you from here?

Nope, just got back from Columbia Falls last night and Montana map was still in the computer bag. I cheated.

Like yer car.

 

[HerronScott]

I'm a bit confused.if a surrey top is aluminum or steel then what is that full fiberglass top that came with my car?

As Frank's pictures show, the factory hardtop for the TR4 and TR4A consisted of an alumininum backglass section with a glass window and a removable hardtop section. I believe that the first 500 hardtop sections were made of aluminum while the rest were made of steel. Since Mark's TR4 is a 1963, it might have been early enough to have an aluminum hardtop section which is why I was asking.

I agree with Randy that you must have one of the aftermarket hardtops. I've also got a Parrish Plastics full hardtop that I had bought before I found the Surrey tops (and Andy is correct that just the soft top section is the Surrey top, but the hardtops are generally called Surrey tops in the vernacular. )

Scott

 

[HerronScott]

The hard top section on my car is steel, it is hanging in a large heavy bag (made by my wife) on the wall of my garage.

Mark,

As your TR4 is a 1963, I thought it might have been early enough to have one of the aluminum hardtop sections.

Scott