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Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 22 Jul 2017 18:24
by jmdugas
My TR7 is registered as a 1980 car. It is a 2 liters, 5 speed convertible with the speedometer in kms only. The plate on the door reports the following:

Built date: June 1979
Ident #: TCT 110207 UMF
Paint: HAE
Trim: CAAA

So, from what I can gather:

T = Canley built
C = TR7 /8
T = North American Convertible

The 6 numbers are the body number

U = North American Specs
M = ????
F = 5 speeds

Paint HAE = Brooklands Green
Trim CAAA = Beige cloth interior.

My questions are:

1. Why is the meaning of the "M" in the VIN number?

2. Is Brooklands Green like an off white green color?

3. Is the speedometer in kms only means that the car was built especially for the Canadian market ?

Thanks.

Re: Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 04:29
by mmi16
With me being in the US and my VIN number ending in UF, I suspect the M may stand for Canadian - just a guess.

Re: Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 12:49
by jmdugas
mmi16 wrote:With me being in the US and my VIN number ending in UF, I suspect the M may stand for Canadian - just a guess.


I think you may be right.

Re: Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 01 Aug 2017 14:54
by FI Spyder
Do a search on this site or google search. The letters are all explained. It's also in Bill Piggott's The Original TR7 TR8 book.

Re: Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 01 Aug 2017 16:42
by jmdugas
FI Spyder wrote:Do a search on this site or google search. The letters are all explained. It's also in Bill Piggott's The Original TR7 TR8 book.


I did and the "M" was the only one I could not find.

Re: Decoding the built plate information.

Posted: 01 Aug 2017 19:17
by saabfast
From TR7 VIN decoder M is indeed Canadian Spec for 1975-78 Speke built cars. However, it does not seem to be there for the 78-80 Canley built cars. TCT is North American spec:

http://trdrivers.com/tr7___tr8_vin_numbers.htm

I had always assumed Brooklands Green (HAE) was a dark Green (much like BRG), like this:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxhist=0