Engine & Frame Dating Information
Engine & Frame Dating Information
To enable you to purchase the correct parts for your machine you will need to know the Part reference numbers. These are found in the Parts catalogue for your machine.
If you are unsure of the year of the machine, below are the Triumph Frame & Triumph engine numbers to enable you to date it and thereby purchase the correct parts catalogue.
1937 to 1949
The year and model were used as a prefix to the engine number
From 1937 to 1939 the final digit ( 7, 8 or 9 ) was used.
From 1946 to 1949 the final two figures ( 46, 47, 48 or 49.)
The model numbers were T or 5T for the Speed Twin, T100 for Tiger 100, 3T for 350 twin & TR5 for Trophy.
Typical numbers were thus:
- 8-T-1234 ( 1938 Speed Twin )
- 47-5T-23456 ( 1947 Speed Twin )
- 9-T100-45678 ( 1939 Tiger 100 )
Pre-war frames ( 1937 / 39 ) used the prefix TH for the 500cc models ( 5T & T90 ) and TF for the Tiger 100.
Triumph Engine numbers commenced at:
- 1946 – 72000
- 1947 – 79046
- 1948 – 88782
- 1949 – 100762
1950 to 1962 Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc
Engine numbers had a prefix indicating the model type along the lines above such as 3T, 5T, 6T, T100, T110, 3TA, 5TA etc. This was followed by a number from the list below.
YEAR – Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc
- 1950 – From 100N
- 1951 – 101NA to 15808NA
- 1952 – 15809NA to 25000NA then 25000 to 32302
- 1953 – 32303 to 44134
- 1954 – 44135 to 56699
- 1955 – 56700 to 70929
- 1956 – 70930 to 82799 then 0100 to 0944
- 1957 – 0945 to 011115
- 1958 – 011116 to 020075
- 1959 – 020076 to 029363
- 1960 – 029364 to 030424 then D101 to D7726
- 1961 – D7727 to D15788
- 1962 – D15789 on
- 1946 – 72000
- 1947 – 79046
- 1948 – 88782
- 1949 – 100762
1963 to 1968 Unit 650cc
- 1963 – DU101 to DU5824
- 1964 – DU5825 to DU13374
- 1965 – DU13375 to DU24874
- 1966 – DU24875 to DU44393
- 1967 – DU44394 to DU66245
- 1968 – DU66246 to DU90282
- Rigid – 5T, T100, 6T, TR5 = TF
- Swing Arm – all pre-unit = S
- Swing Arm – ’21’ = H
1969 onwards
Note: The triumph engine number is located on the left side of the engine immediately below the cylinder barrel flange. The number is stamped onto the raised pad.
The triumph frame number is stamped on the left side of the frame, on the front engine mounting lug.
The first letter indicates the month of manufacture as follows:-
- A – January
- B – February
- C – March
- D – April
- E – May
- G – June
- H – July
- J – August
- K – September
- N – October
- P – November
- X – December
The second letter indicates the season year of manufacture as follows :-
- C – 1969
- D – 1970
- E – 1971
- G – 1972
- H – 1973
- J – 1974
- K – 1975
- N – 1976
- P – 1977
- X – 1978
- A – 1979
- B – 1980
The third section is a numerical block of five figures which commence with engine number 00100.
The fourth section indicates the model.
Example: NC00100T120R – N=Month C=Year, Number, T120R=Model.
Frame number prefix :
- Rigid – 3T = TC
- Rigid – 5T, T100, 6T, TR5 = TF
- Swing Arm – all pre-unit = S
- Swing Arm – ’21’ = H
