Triumph TR2-TR3B Piping Colors
|
Macy's Garage, Ltd. America's BEST Triumph Shop! |
Obtaining the correct piping color for a TR2 is easy, it matches the upholstery color. Late TR3A/B and TR4/4A are easy as well, because all piping is white. But much confusion exists regarding correct piping colors for the TR3 and early TR3A’s, and none of the usual suppliers offer many correct combinations. My Moss sales rep admitted to me that because it’s confusing, and to simplify inventory, they just “picked” something and assumed that they are “as correct as anyone else”!
After reading conflicting information on originality from Moss, V-B, and TRF, I was confused myself, so I started researching ‘The Piping Question’ several years go. Once I started looking, it wasn’t that tough to fill in most of the ‘holes’ and document this information, so my guess is that “inventory simplification” (as with color shades) is a big part of why “correct” color combinations are not readily available from all sources. I supplied all of my documentation to Moss, and they were going to align their color offerings more closely with the originals, but that was several years ago so it's obviously not a priority for them.
“Contrasting
piping” was introduced “for some colors” with the arrival of the TR3. This
“contrasting” piping was either white or cream (up to Sept. 1958, approx.
TS37000). The cream (off white) is the most prevalent on these early cars, but
it is not available from any of the usual places. All contrasting piping after
TS37000 (approx.) was white, and at some time between TS37000 and TS50000 the
last of the colors with non-contrasting piping were eliminated (exception: Targa
Purple). The chart below lists all of the known variations and approximate
change points. TS8637 is the first TR3, TS22014 is the first TR3A.
| Trim Color | Piping Color | Start @ Comm # | Ending Comm # |
| Light Gray | Light Gray | TS3 | TS37000 |
| Silverstone Gray | White | TS37000 | TS77000 |
| Stone | Stone | TS1201 | TS22013 |
| Beige | Beige | TS22014 | TS37000 |
| Brown (tan) | Cream | TS8637 | TS37000 |
| Brown (tan) | White | TS37000 | |
| Red (dark) | Cream | TS8637 | TS22013 |
| Red (tomato) | Cream | TS22014 | TS37000 |
| Red (tomato) | White | TS37000 | |
| Blue | Cream | TS8637 | TS22013 |
| Blue | White | TS22014 | |
| Vermillion | Cream | TS8637 | TS22013 |
| Targo Purple | Targo Purple | TS37000 | TS77000 |
| Black | White | TS10801* |
* I cannot find any "official" evidence that Black interior trim was available for TR2’s or the earliest TR3’s, but a TR2 owner in Europe has informed me that his BMIHT Heritage Certificate lists Black as the original trim color (so anything is possible).
The table above was compiled from The Triumph Register of America's (TRA) Judging Standards and Restoration Guidelines, "Original Triumph TR2/3/3A" by Bill Piggott, and from information printed in the TRA National Newsletter Vol. 12, No. 1 (January 1988).
UPDATE April 27, 2007
| A question came up on the Triumph List as to which pieces of piping were white (or cream as noted above), and if any of the piping on TR3A/B and early TR4 seats was the same as the seat color. The answer to this question is YES! One picture is worth 1000 words, so please refer to the photo on the right of an ORIGINAL TR3A seat that I keep around just to answer questions such as this. As with all pictures on my site, click on the thumbnail for a larger view. |
|
