1977 Triumph VIN Number Quandary, I Need Help!!!

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RedDirtFarmer

Member
Here's the scenario. About 25 years ago I found a rolling frame and engine in a chicken house and bought it. After I got it home I realized that the engine was a 1971 and the frame is a 1977. I got it together and running, not without some modifications, since the engine is right hand shift and they changed to left hand shift in 1975, but it runs great and now I'm ready to title it. My problem is that somewhere along the line, Triumph decided to drop the model numbers (such as T140V) on the frame and just put the date and serial number on the frame. All that is on the frame is EP83068. Since I have no idea what model the original engine was, I don't know what to prefix the VIN# with. I can use the T120RV from the engine but am a little hesitant. I'd rather use whatever the original prefix was. I've seen bikes listed that have similar codes so I know it's a legitimate thing that Triumph did but that doesn't help me much. I have had no luck trying to look up a partial VIN. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Here's a pic halfway through the project. I don't have a current pic of 99% finished.
 

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RedDirtFarmer said:
somewhere along the line, Triumph decided to drop the model numbers (such as T140V) on the frame and just put the date and serial number on the frame. All that is on the frame is EP83068. Since I have no idea what model the original engine was, I don't know what to prefix the VIN# with.
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Contact either the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Library or the Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club Dating Service. British vehicles makers originally supplied records to the Science Museum. Some years ago, because the Museum could not make the documentation available to researchers, it passed it to various organisations - the VMCC for motorcycle makers' records. In turn, the VMCC made copies available to various marque owners' clubs.

If you read the two webpages, much of it will probably be gobbledegook to anyone outside the UK. That is the reason I suggest "Contact", advising whichever club you just want to know which engine (T140V or TR7RV?) was your frame originally. Either Club is still likely to charge you a fee, hopefully not the same as supplying someone in the UK with all the information detailed on those webpages.
 
Rudie said:
Contact either the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Library or the Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club Dating Service. British vehicles makers originally supplied records to the Science Museum. Some years ago, because the Museum could not make the documentation available to researchers, it passed it to various organisations - the VMCC for motorcycle makers' records. In turn, the VMCC made copies available to various marque owners' clubs.

If you read the two webpages, much of it will probably be gobbledegook to anyone outside the UK. That is the reason I suggest "Contact", advising whichever club you just want to know which engine (T140V or TR7RV?) was your frame originally. Either Club is still likely to charge you a fee, hopefully not the same as supplying someone in the UK with all the information detailed on those webpages.
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I contacted the vintage motorcycle club library and didn't get a response. I can try again. I haven't contacted the TOMCC but will give it a try.
 
Rudie said:
Contact either the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Library or the Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club Dating Service. British vehicles makers originally supplied records to the Science Museum. Some years ago, because the Museum could not make the documentation available to researchers, it passed it to various organisations - the VMCC for motorcycle makers' records. In turn, the VMCC made copies available to various marque owners' clubs.

If you read the two webpages, much of it will probably be gobbledegook to anyone outside the UK. That is the reason I suggest "Contact", advising whichever club you just want to know which engine (T140V or TR7RV?) was your frame originally. Either Club is still likely to charge you a fee, hopefully not the same as supplying someone in the UK with all the information detailed on those webpages.
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I joined the TOMCC and am waiting on my credentials to come. I'll let you know if they come through with any help.
 
RedDirtFarmer said:
I contacted the vintage motorcycle club library and didn't get a response.
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How long since you contacted them? I know a lot of the research was done by volunteers, who tend to be retired; it is possible since Covid either there are fewer volunteers or there cannot be so many people in the VMCC's library.

Similarly, the guy who runs the TOMCC Dating Service is just one volunteer.
 
Rudie said:
How long since you contacted them? I know a lot of the research was done by volunteers, who tend to be retired; it is possible since Covid either there are fewer volunteers or there cannot be so many people in the VMCC's library.

Similarly, the guy who runs the TOMCC Dating Service is just one volunteer.
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It's probably been close to a year. I offered to pay whatever they requested for the information. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try again.
 
Rudie said:
How long since you contacted them?
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RedDirtFarmer said:
probably been close to a year.
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I was assuming you had followed up my suggestion last week! Definitely contact them again; a year ago, the UK was in the midst of Covid lockdowns and similar; at best, possibly just one or two people were working in the Library ... could be someone just deleted all the email RFI that did not have second or third follow ups?
 
Rudie said:
I was assuming you had followed up my suggestion last week! Definitely contact them again; a year ago, the UK was in the midst of Covid lockdowns and similar; at best, possibly just one or two people were working in the Library ... could be someone just deleted all the email RFI that did not have second or third follow ups?
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I have contacted them again. We'll see how it goes.
 
I contacted the VMCC again but no reply. I joined the TOMCC and I can get some sort of certificate as soon as I figure out how to send them a check. I have to see if my bank knows how to convert dollars to pounds and send them a check. I've done some research and it's pretty confusing.
 
grandpaul said:
I think you can send a regular check and they'll cash it over there, converting it to pounds. google the conversion rate, so you don't short them.
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grandpaul said:
I think you can send a regular check and they'll cash it over there, converting it to pounds. google the conversion rate, so you don't short them.
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I considered that but in researching found that the banks over there charge a hefty fee for cashing foreign checks. I wouldn't mind adding the fee to the check but I have no way of knowing how much it would be. I'm going to see if my bank knows the best way to do it but considering the usual luck I have with customer service I don't expect a lot of help, but I'll give it a shot.
 
Greyfell said:
Will TOMMC accept payment through Paypal? Paypal is able to do the conversion immediately.
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Here's where I am at the moment. TOMCC doesn't take Paypal but they did send me the information to direct deposit into their account. Now I have to get to the bank to see if they can do the transfer, which may take a while since covid is running rampant in our area. Hopefully I can do it soon.
 

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