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[ranger_blackhat]

I am a newbie to the forum.

I took delivery of my wonderful 1954 TR-2, commission number TS-2183-O.  Really excited.  Noticed that there is a note in the car section that the center license light is the brake light for this car.

Question:  does this mean that the two rear tail-lamps are not also brake lights?

thanks...Marc

[TomMull]

Marc,
I believe that the center plate light/brake light unit was the only brake light on all of the TR2's as well as some early TR3's. This center lamp also served as a third tail lamp. The tail lamps on the rear corners served as indicators but not stop lamps. I might suggest that you find a copy of Bill Piggott's book "Original Triumph Tr2/3/3A" to go along with your wonderful car. It answers this and lots of other questions. Congrats on the find. Tom Mulligan

[ranger_blackhat]

Tom, thanks for the suggestion and quick response.  I am looking for the long journey in learning as much as I can for this car.

Marc

[Lou Metelko]

Marc:
Be sure to register your 2183 with Bill Lynn.  Bill is the membership chair for VTR but his passion is the TR2 and is the official / unofficial TR2 survivor list administrator.  To date, Bill has found over 1600 surviving TR2s worldwide; an astounding 20%.  Also go to VTR's web site and read what Bill has written about originality for the 2's.  You can find Bill at the e-mail address of TR2SURVIVOR@aol.com

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
54 TR2LD  TS981L 

[tr3bGeorge]

Marc, first, congratulations on your beautiful long-door TR2!  And, second, welcome to the forum. 

Yes, Bill Piggott and Graham Robson books are great to have, but you need to start out with StanParts "Spare Parts Catalogue, Triumph TR2 & TR3," Part No. 501653.  This book gives the complete evolution of your TR2, by part number, within 99% accuracy.

I will be buried with mine.  I hope my sills don't rust.

[noskcire001]

It appears that you were told correctly about your break lights. May I add that my 1957 TR3 (TS16100-L) had the turn indicators where all TR3's had them, but they were "bolt on" and not stamped into the body shell. The wiring was the same as later TR3's and not modified TR2 wiring. I would like to know if any other TR people have seen any other TR3's with "bolt on" turn indicators.

There is one other major issue with my TS16100-L, IT WAS STOLDEN. It was reported stolen out of West Sacramento, CA. I came across a "report" stolen TR page on the VTR web site(I think that was where I found it), but I could not figure out how to post to that page. Can anyone help me with posting in an effort to try and regain my most beloved TR.

Mark A. Erickson

[TR3driver]

I would like to know if any other TR people have seen any other TR3's with "bolt on" turn indicators.

Yes, there were a few "cross over" cars made with the old rear apron pressing, but the addtional "beehive" turn signal lamps mounted on separate plinths.  This appears to be only on US-spec cars between TS15601 (when the lamps were introduced "USA only") and TS16473 when the apron pressing changed.

Can anyone help me with posting in an effort to try and regain my most beloved TR.

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the page (and could not find it just now).  However, if you drop an email to webmaster@vtr.org , I'm reasonably confident that someone will be able to help you.

[TR3driver]

Question:  does this mean that the two rear tail-lamps are not also brake lights?

Yup.

FWIW, I have added some circuitry to TS13571L that allows the corner lamps to do double-duty as both turn signals and brake lights.  This was done with NO permanent modifications to the car or the original wiring harness; and the relays are hidden up under the dash.  The only visible changes are two additional harnesses in the engine compartment, one to the area near the LH horn and the other to the brake light switch.  (Actually, I later abandoned the original hydraulic switch and added a mechanically operated switch also under the dash, so I removed the wire to the original brake light switch.)  I'm quite pleased with the result (even though it likely offends the purists <G>).