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Identification
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Copyright ©2000
by Eric Kieboom
All Rights Reserved
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Triumph Spitfires can be identified by a number of different distinguishing marks: commission (chassis) numbers, engine numbers, trim and paint codes. And to some extent even by the engraving on the windscreen.
The car's commission (chassis) number can be found on an aluminium plate riveted on the left hand bulkhead panel (non-USA models) or on a plate attached inside the left hand doorframe (USA models). Note: cars originally imported into the Netherlands have the commission number also stamped on the right hand chassis outrigger, just ahead of the bulkhead.
The number stamped on the little body colour plate riveted below the commission number plate on European cars is the body serial number. This is never the same as the commission number.
| Triumph Spitfire commission numbers
|
| Spitfire MkIV - November 1970 to December 1974
|
| Model Year |
All markets except USA |
USA |
| 1971 |
FH3 |
FK1 |
| 1972 |
FH25001 |
FK25001
to FK28000 |
| 1973 |
FH50001 |
FM1 |
| 1974 |
FH60000
to FH64995 |
FM10001
to FM28000 |
| Spitfire 1500 - December 1974 to August 1980 |
| Model Year |
All markets except USA |
USA |
| 1975 |
FH75001 |
FM28001 |
| 1976 |
FH80001 |
FM40001 |
| 1977 |
FH100020 |
FM60006 |
| 1978 |
FH105734 |
FM70001 |
| 1979 |
FH133501 |
FM110001 |
Spitfires produced after October 1979 did not have commission numbers, but standardised VIN's. VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number. These were composed of five letters, one digit, two letters and another six digits. The meaning of all this is as follows:
| First letter |
Always 'T' for Triumph |
| Second letter |
Always 'F' for Spitfire |
| Third letter |
'A' for European market
'L' for Canadian market
'V' for US federal market
'Z' for US Californian market |
| Fourth letter |
Always 'D' for Drophead - even if supplied with a hardtop |
| Fifth letter |
Always 'W' for 1,493cc engine
|
| Number |
'1' for RHD without overdrive
'2' for LHD without overdrive
'5' for RHD with overdrive
'6' for LHD with overdrive
|
| Letter |
'A' for 1979 and 1980 models |
| Letter |
Always 'T' - assembled at Canley |
| Six digits |
Production number, last one being 009898 |
The VIN can be found on the commission number plate. In addition to this, the very last cars had them stamped in the right hand boot gutter.
|
| Commission number prefix and suffix codes |
| Prefix |
Suffix |
FH- All markets, except USA & Sweden
FK- USA 1300cc models
FM- USA 1500cc models
FL- Sweden only |
C- USA (complies with Californian legislation)
U- USA (complies with Federal US legislation)
L- Left Hand Drive
O- Overdrive fitted |
On a standard Spitfire engine, you will find the engine number stamped on the top left hand side of the engine block, just below the Nr.4 sparkplug.
To be sure it's the proper engine (but not necessarily the original engine that was installed when the car was produced), the engine number in a Euro-spec Spit 1500 should always have the prefix '
FM'. If it says 'FH', it's a 1300cc MkIV engine. If it's a MkIV you're looking at, that'll be fine.
Over the years, many (early) cars have been fitted with non-original engines from other Triumph models. The following information may be helpful in determining what a replacement engine really is.
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Engine Number Identification Chart
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|
Prefix
|
Engine Size
|
Car
|
| G |
948cc |
Herald Saloon |
| Y |
948cc |
Herald Saloon TC (Twin Carb) |
| GA |
1147cc |
1200 Herald |
| GD |
1147cc |
1200, 12/50 Herald |
| FC |
1147cc |
Spitfire 4, MkII |
| GE |
1296cc |
Herald 13/60 |
| GK |
1296cc |
Late Herald 13/60 |
| FD |
1296cc |
Spitfire Mk3 |
| FE |
1296cc |
Spitfire Mk3 USA |
| FH |
1296cc |
Spitfire IV |
| FK |
1296cc |
Spitfire IV - USA |
| FL |
1296cc |
Spitfire IV - Sweden |
| FM |
1492cc |
Spitfire 1500 |
| FM with suffix UE |
1492cc |
Spitfire 1500 - USA |
| FM with suffix UCE |
1492cc |
Spitfire 1500 - California |
| HB |
1596cc |
Vitesse 6 |
| HC |
1996cc |
Vitesse 2 litre (MkI, MkII) |
| KC |
1996cc |
GT6 MkI, MkII |
| KD |
1996cc |
GT6 MkI, MkII - USA |
| KE |
1998cc |
GT6 MkIII |
| KF |
1998cc |
GT6 MkIII - USA |
| DG |
1296cc |
1300 Toledo |
| DH |
1296cc |
1300 Dolomite |
| RD or RF |
1296cc |
1300 Front Wheel Drive |
| WB |
1492cc |
1500 Front Wheel Drive |
| YC |
1492cc |
1500 Rear Drive/Dolomite |
| FP |
1492cc |
1500 MG Midget |
| MB |
1996cc |
2000 MkI Saloon |
| ME or ML |
1996cc |
2000 MkII Saloon |
CR, CP, MG,
MM, or MN |
|
2500 Saloon or TR6 |
The original colour and trim the car was delivered with can be determined from the paint code and interior trim code stamped on the commission number plate.
| Interior trim colours
|
| Trim colour
|
Code up to March 1977
|
Code after March 1977
|
| Black
|
11
|
PAA
|
| Matador red
|
12
|
-
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| New tan
|
33
|
-
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| Chestnut
|
63
|
-
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| Beige
|
74
|
AAA
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| Shadow blue
|
27
|
-
|
| Grey
|
78
|
-
|
| Black & white "Houndstooth cloth"
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-
|
RAC
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| Beige & white "Houndstooth cloth"
|
-
|
C74
|
| Body paint colours
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| Paint colour
|
Paint code
|
Years used
|
| Signal red
|
32
|
71-72
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| Pimento red
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72
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71-75
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| Magenta
|
92
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73-74
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| Carmine red
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82/CAA
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from 73
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| Flamenco red
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CAD
|
76-78
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| Vermillion
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CAE
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from 78
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| Sienna brown
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23
|
71-74
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| Maple brown
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83
|
75
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| Russet brown
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93/AAE
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from 76
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| Saffron yellow
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54
|
71-74
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| Mimosa yellow
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64
|
73-75
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| Topaz yellow
|
84
|
75-76
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| Inca yellow
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94/FAB
|
from 76
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| Laurel green
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55
|
71-72
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| Emerald green
|
65
|
71-74
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| British racing green
|
75
|
76-76
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| Java green
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85/HAB
|
75-78
|
| Brooklands green
|
HAE
|
from 76
|
| Wedgewood blue
|
26
|
71-72
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| Valencia blue
|
66
|
71-72
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| Ice blue
|
116
|
71-72
|
| Mallard blue
|
106
|
71-74
|
| Saphire blue
|
96
|
71-74
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| French blue
|
126
|
73-76
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| Delft blue
|
136
|
75-76
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| Tahiti blue
|
146/JAE
|
75-78
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| Pageant blue
|
JAG/JNA
|
from 78
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| Damson maroon
|
17
|
71-74
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| Slate grey
|
68
|
71-72
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| White
|
19/NAB
|
71-78
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| Leyland white
|
NAF
|
from 78
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Here's an obscure little trick to determine the approximate production date of a Spitfire, or at least its windscreen.
Find the etched logo on the windscreen, most probably in one of the bottom corners, that says 'Triplex Toughened' or 'Triplex Laminated'. Firstly, determine the year of manufacture by checking which letter in the printed logo on the glass has a dot under it. (You need to know the decade as this can't be determined):
Toughened or Laminated
.......... ..........
1234567890 1234567890
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next find the month of manufacture by looking at the dots over word 'Triplex':
. : .
Jan TRIPLEX (dot over the T) Jul TRIPLEX
. : .
Feb TRIPLEX (dot over the R) Aug TRIPLEX
. . :
Mar TRIPLEX Sep TRIPLEX
. . :
Apr TRIPLEX Oct TRIPLEX
: .:
May TRIPLEX (double dot over T) Nov TRIPLEX
:. :
Jun TRIPLEX Dec TRIPLEX
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Thus, a Spitfire with a windscreen marked
indicates that the glass was produced in September 1974 (because it couldn't be 1964 or 1984).
The windscreen on my own car shows:
So the glass in my car was produced in September 1976.
Note:
this is not a reliable way of determining a car's age, since the windscreen may have been replaced at some time.
If you think I've got my numbers wrong, please let me know!
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