Triumph veteran, vintage, classic motorcycle engine & frame numbers 1905 – 1988.
I’ve been collecting Triumph motorcycles for years. Each time I buy a bike, I check the engine and frame numbers. While I’m not fanatical about the numbers matching, it’s always nice when they do. In fact, they didn’t match in the early years and matched from 1950. It’s always worth spending a few minutes double-checking the authenticity of the seller’s claims about the year of the model. Check the stated year of the frame and engine against any online information that you can gather about models of that year.
To do this, you need a reliable source of information on Triumph engine and frame numbers. There are quite a few tables out there. In most cases, they seem to not quite line up, which makes it difficult to read, so I have created my own tables. My primary source of information is a trusted publisher of Triumph information, David Gaylin. So, if you’re after more information on your particular model, maybe buy one of his many books.
Side-Valve Singles, 1905 – 1914
| Year(s) | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1906 / 1906 | from 001 followed by day and month of manufacture (25-1 translates to January 25th) |
from 001 followed by day and month of manufacture (25-1 translates to January 25th) |
| 1907 | end at 2200 | end at 126700 |
| 1908 | 2201 to 4212 | 126701 to 138890 |
| 1909 | 4213 to 7822 | 138891 to 151800 |
| 1910 | 7823 to 11415 | 151801 to 155374 |
| 1911 | 11416 to 6852 | 155375 to 190327 |
| 1912 | 16853 to 22913 | 190328 to 196100 |
| 1913 | 22914 to 29348 | 211408 to 219430 |
| 1914 | 29349 to 37666 | 219431 to 262338 |
Triumph Model H, Military issue and Civilian bikes, 1915 – 1923
| Year(s) | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | 37667 to 41560 | 262339 to 266200 |
| 1916 | 41561 to 47140 | 266201 to 274600 |
| 1917 | 47141 to 52980 | 274601 to 280540 |
| 1918 | 52981 to 59300 | 280541 to 286950 |
| 1919 | 59301 to 67150 | 286951 to 306470 |
| 1920 | 67151 to 74244 | 306471 to 313732 |
| 1921 | 74245 to 80067 | 313733 to 319672 |
| 1922 | 80068 to 84673 | 319673 to 324136 |
| 1923 | 84674 to 95000 | 324137 to 335000 |
Notes on Triumph engine and frame numbers, 1915 to 1923.
1. Civilian frames begin at 301978
2. From 1915 to 1923 some engine numbers were followed by a three letter code.
These relate to a dating code by which the month and year of manufacture can be identified.
This code does not apply after 1923. The code is as follows:
| Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To 1911 | T | R | I | U | M | P | H | C | O | D | E | X |
| To 1920 | T | R | I | U | M | P | H | C | O | D | E | Y |
| From 1920 | T | R | I | U | M | P | H | C | O | X | E | Y |
Example: A ‘UTP’ prefix (or suffix) would translate as 4/16 or April 1916.
Triumph Junior, 2-stroke models, 1913 – 1923
| Year(s) | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 01 to 109 | 194877 to 194883 |
| 1914 | 110 to 790 | 256191 to 256876 |
| 1915 | 791 to 1885 | 256879 to 257970 |
| 1916 | 1886 to 2487 | 257971 to 258534 |
| 1917-18 | 2488 to 2620 | 258535 to 258726 |
| 1919 | 2621 to 3660 | 258727 to 259534 |
| 1920 | 3661 to 5928 | 259535 to 600475 |
| 1921 | 5929 to 7896 | 600476 to 603029 |
| 1922 | 7897 to 8364 | 602562 to 603029 |
| 1923 | 8365 to 10550 | 603030 to 651000 |
Note: 250cc begins at #8501
Single cylinder models, 1924 – 1928
| Year(s) | Engine numbers | Model | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 91704 to 99745 | 328223 to 340888 | |
| 1924 | 201 to 1078 | LS Models | 536016 to 536610 |
| 1925 | 99746 to 104288 | 340889 to 341883 | |
| 1925 | 1079 to 1664 | LS Models | 536611 to 537357 |
| 1926 | 104289 to 106763 | 341834 to 346315 | |
| 1926 | from 1665 | 537358 to 537502 | |
| 1926 | 225295 to 248755 | P&Q Models | 922939 to 944001 |
| 1927 | 106764 to 109500 | 346316 to 347500 | |
| 1927 | 248756 to 256000 | P&Q Models | 944002 to 970000 |
| 1927 | from 100001 | N, Q, A Models | 944002 to 970000 |
| 1927 | from 120001 | TT Model | from 700001 |
| 1927 | from 400001 | W Model | from 610001 |
| 1928 | from 500001 | N Deluxe | from 200001 |
| 1928 | from 300001 | NSD Model | from 200001 |
Single cylinder models, 1929 – 1933
| Model | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Model NT | F1001 | E1001 |
| Model ND | E1001 | E1001 |
| Model NM | A1001 | E1001 |
| Model WO | B1001 | B1001 |
| Model WL | C1001 | B1001 |
| Model CSD | from 600001 | from 800001 |
| Model CN | from 700001 | from 800001 |
| Model CO | from 800001 | from 800001 |
| Model NSD | from 91001 | from 91001 |
| Model CA | from CA1001 | |
| Model CD | from CD1001 | |
| Scout A | from L1001 | from K1001 |
| Scout B | from K1001 | from K1001 |
| Scout BS | from KS1 001 | from K1001 |
| Model X (1931-32) | Engine prefix X | frame prefix X |
| Model Z (1932) | Engine prefix Z | frame prefix X |
| Model XO | XO as prefix or suffix to engine number |
Single cylinder models, 1934
| Model | Prefix |
|---|---|
| 2/1 (250cc) | prefix 1R4 |
| 2/5 (250cc) | prefix 5R4 |
| 3/1 (350cc) | prefix IT4 |
| 3/2 (350cc) | prefix 2T4 |
| 3/5 (350cc) | prefix 5T4 |
| 5/1 (500cc) | prefix 1S4 |
| 5/2 (500cc) | prefix 2S4 |
| 5/3 (500cc) | prefix 3S4 |
| 5/4 (500cc) | prefix 4S4 |
| 5/5 (500cc) | prefix 5S4 |
| 5/10 (500cc) | prefix 1 OS4 |
| 6/1 (650cc) | prefix 1 V4 |
| Model XO5 (150cc) | XO as prefix or suffix to engine numbers |
| Model XO7 (175cc) | XO7 as prefix or suffix to engine numbers |
Single cylinder models, 1935 and 1936
| Year(s) | Models | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Model U2/1 | Engine prefix IL5 | frame L |
| 1936 | Tiger-70 | Engine prefix T-1 L6 | frame SI |
| 1936 | Tiger-80 | Engine prefix T-2T6 | frame SI |
| 1936 | Tiger-90 | Engine prefix T-5S6 | frame SII |
Note: 1935 and 1936 Models same as 1934, only final number or prefix changes to ‘5’ for 1935 and ‘6’ for 1936
Pre-unit Twin cylinder models, 1937 to 1939
| Speed Twin, 5T, T100 |
|---|
| Year and model shown as prefix to engine number. For example 8-T-33445 is a 1938 Speed Twin (later identified as “5T” instead of just “T”. Frame prefixes were-TH”for early Speed Twin. ‘TF’ for the TI00 and later 39/40 Speed Twin. |
Pre-unit Twin cylinder models, 1940 to 1949.
Speed Twin, T100, 5T, TR5
| Year(s) | Engine numbers | Frame numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | from 72000 | prefixed as before |
| 1947 | from 79046 | prefixed as before |
| 1948 | 88864 to 102235 | TFI 5001 to TF2500 |
| 1949 | 102236 to 113386 | TF25001 to TF33615 |
Notes:
Year is shown in the engine number prefix with two figures.
For example 40-5T-26445 is a 1940 Speed Twin.
This practice was followed religiously and some single prefixes may appear on postwar models.
Frame prefixes were ‘TL” for the 3T up to 1948 and TC for 1949. TR5 for 1949 was TC followed by a ‘T” after the actual number. All other frames were TF. TR5 models did not have separate number series but ran concurrently with all other models. I.E. 112671 was last ’49 TR5 and I1 3386 the last ’49 5T.
All Grand Prix T-100’s have letter ‘R” suffix following engine and frame numbers.
TR5 models had separate number series; engines from 101001 to 106424, frames from TC11001-T to TC13107-T.
By 1950 frame and engine numbers were matching.
Military Singles 3HW, 3SW, 5SW, 1939 to 1945
| Wartime Singles |
|---|
| undated but identified by 3HW, 3SW, or 5SW prefix |
Military 500cc Side Valve Twin TRW, 1950 to 1964
| Year(s) | Engine numbers |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 14401N-14459N |
| 1951 | 6044NA – 1432ONA |
| 1952 | 22001NA – 22838NA |
| 1953 | 22839NA – 23273NA |
| 1954 | 23274NA – 23322NA |
| 1955 | 23323NA – 23597NA |
| 1956 | 23598NA – 25447NA |
| 1957 | 25448NA – 27127MA |
| 1958 | 27128NA – 27175NA |
| 1959 | 27176NA – 27346NA |
| 1960 | 27347NA – 27645NA |
| 1961 | 27646NA – 28185NA |
| 1962 | 28186NA – 28464NA |
| 1963 | 28465NA – 28827NA |
| 1964 | 28828NA – 29605NA |
Unit & Pre-unit Triumph models including Terrier, Tiger Cub, Twenty One, T100, T90, 3TA, 5TA, T110, Bonneville, TR5, TR6 & Others, 1950 on.
| Year(s) | T15 Terrier / T20 Cub | Unit 350/500cc | Pre-unit 500/650cc | Unit 500/650cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1001N to 1616ON | |||
| 1951 | 101NA to 15808NA | |||
| 1952 | 15809NA to 25000NA (then) 25000 to 32303 (no suffix) | |||
| 1953 | 32304 to 44821 (no suffix) | |||
| 1954 | 101 to 8517 | 44822 to 56699 ( no suffix) | ||
| 1955 | 8518 to 17388 | 56700 to 70929 (no suffix) | ||
| 1956 | 17389 to 26275 | 70930 to 82797 (then)0101 to 0944 | ||
| 1957 | 26276 to 35846 | H101 to H760 | 0945 to 011165 | |
| 1958 | 35847 to 45311 | H761 to H5484 | 011166 to 020075 | |
| 1959 | 45312 to 59359 | H5485 to HI 1511 | 020076 to 029633 | |
| 1960 | 59360 to 69516 | H11512 to H18611 | 029634 to 030424 (Twin down tube frame) | |
| 1960 | (then) D101 to D7726 | |||
| 1961 | 69517 to 81889 | H18612 to H25251 | D7727 to D15788 | |
| 1962 | 81890 to 88346 | H25252 to H27932 | D15789 to D20308 (Unit construction engines) | |
| 1963 | 88347 to 94599 | H27933 to H32464 | DU101 to DU5824 | |
| 1964 | 94600 to 99719 | H32465 to H35986 | DU5825 to DU13374 | |
| 1965 | 99720 onwards | H35987 to H40527 | DU13375 to DU24874 | |
| 1966 | 101 onwards (Now Bantam Cub – BSA) | H40528 to H49832 | DU24875 to DU44393 | |
| 1967 | H49833 to H57082 | DU44394 to DU66245 | ||
| 1968 | H57083 to H65572 | DU66246 to DU85903 | ||
| 1969 | H65573 to H67330 | DU85904 to DU90282 | ||
| 1969 | (then) XC06297to HC24527 mid-’69 number change | (then) NC00100 to HC24346 mid-’69 number change | ||
| 1970 | HD27850 to KD60280 | JD24848 to ND60540 | ||
| 1971 | KE00001 to HE25250 | NE01436 to HE30869 | ||
| 1972 | JG32303 to GG59646 | |||
| 1973 | JH15597 to DH31460 | JHI5101 to GH36466 | ||
| 1974 | HJ56408 to JJ58103 | JJ58014 to NJ60061 | ||
| 1975 | DK61000 to GK62248 | |||
| 1976 | HN62501 to GN72283 | |||
| 1977 | GP73000 to JP84931 | |||
| 1978 | HX00100 to JXI0747 | |||
| 1979 | HA11001 to PA24608 | |||
| 1979 | XB24609 to 24790 XB date code used in error, should be XA | XB24609 to XB24790 | ||
| 1980 | PB25001 to KB275 |
