Triumph TR6 - let's discuss
 

So last week I posted about 2010 V6 Camaro's just for general conversation . A decent volley of thoughts and comments took place . Now going in another direction .

There is a 1974 Triumph TR6 for sale that needs work to be a runner per the ad . Looks decent with some surface rust in spots . Seller says rear frame rails have surface rust only , I guess that's a common rust point ?

Anyway let's discuss either past or present ownership . What did you like ? And what didn't you like ? Should be a fun discussion on a Porsche forum 😁

I and another Pelican checked one out years ago for another Pelican. I have always loved the look and thought one would be a great car to own.

This was a decent example, better than driver but not fully restored. I was shocked at what a rickety piece of junk it was, as a car. Everything about driving it was disappointing.

911s and 240Zs definitely spoil you.

In-line six, twin carbs, two seats, a vestigal top, wood dash, 3 pedals, a design that's just an update of a successful predecessor.

Quintessential sports car.

What's not to like.

One of the cool parts about the experience is when you are exiting the car, you turn your head and can't help noticing that the big rear tire and chrome wire wheel is inches away from your butt...

I like em.

Growing up the man across the street had a yellow TR250. I thought it was a wonderful looking car.

I have the TR6 to thank for getting into Porsches around 30 years ago.

I'd looked at one the day before and told the guy I'd meet him at his credit union, because they held the title. He was to arrive before they closed and get the title and I was going to be there shortly after.

Got there, and was admiring the TR6 while he counted the money I'd handed him. When asked for the title, he told me he wasn't sure I was going to show up so he didn't go in ... and by then they were, of course, closed.

I took my money back and while driving home, saw a 912 with a for sale sign in it. Bought it on the spot. Seven P-cars, and 79 various other cars later, I've yet to own a Triumph.

_

I had one when I was a senior in highschool. Bought the car knowing it had a rusted frame and bought a parts car and did a frame swap, had the rockers and rear valance reworked also. I had a blast with that car. CF51849U is the vin. We had that car completely apart. Watch for rust at the rear trailing arms and floor pans.

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TR-3 for me back in high school (77-79)

This was my TR6. Pics were taken in Niceville, Florida,1985. Destin, Florida out on the old two lane hwy98, 1987 and at a place just west of the Sandestin Beach Resort called Tango Mar, 1987. I called the car, The Redcoat!!! Good times!!! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...22a153ed02.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d713a8c3f0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a2c0fa9384.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9cc66aedd7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...26eb6b45aa.jpg

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I'm with Shaun. They look the biz but when you drive them it just don't add up
Schitebucket

Great story thanks for sharing .

To each his own. My car cornered as if it were on rails and I once had it going 120mph and it had more to give, but that was about as fast as I was gonna go. I had a Monza exhaust system under that car and it sounded awesome.

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A Guy in my ski club talked away from an MG and over to the 914...Which brought me here!

And we dated the same chick. And she was crazy.

...And apparently still is crazy...

I had a 69 TR6 and a 75 TR6. They were fun back then, but incredibly small, from what I remember. I thought at the time, the TR6 was the best looking Triumph Overtime, I’ve started to appreciate the TR4, TR4A and the TR250.

Edit: I also had a 69 GT6+. It made the TR6 look like a land yacht.

had a TR4A in HS..
800 bucks..
with those wire wheels and mallet..
nothing like that now..
you owe it to your self to look..
they are only going up..
even the rolling rust versions in TX aren't cheap..

Rika

Had a 73 and a 71. Have a modded 250. Had a few other Rumfs too.
I’ll paste the 6-pack buyers guide for you as a starting point since it’ll save me typing.
Rust is the biggest thing to watch for.

Triumph TR6: Pre-buy Inspection checklist

Bodywork
Take a strong flashlight & shine it up in the corners of all 4 fenders...the backs of the rear & the fronts of the fronts (up by the headlights). Check for corrosion.
Take a good look at the backs of the b-posts (where the doors close in the wheel wells). Check for corrosion.
Get in the boot (trunk) & unscrew the cardboard panel so you can see the tank. Check condition of tank and surrounding area.
Pull all the remaining trunk panels and pull the spare tire & look at the trunk floor. Check for corrosion.
Take your flashlight & shine it up along where the convertible top would attach on the sides...snaps down. Another common rust spot.
Either pull out the battery or get down on your knees & shine the flashlight up inside the cockpit where the battery would be. Check for corrosion
Check the rear valence outside at the bottom & get under the car & point your light toward the rear. Check for corrosion.
Take your fingers & run them along the inner fenders where the outer fenders attach. They sometimes rot there & you'll never see (find out) it unless you run your fingers in that area.
If the owner will let you - try pouring a couple of cups of water into the fresh air vent. About one cup should drain out behind each of the front tires. Nothing happens, then there's a rust problem in the wind...and a soaked cockpit. One side drains, then the other side is acting as a reservoir and a potential rust pit...if notalready in that condition - and very well hidden and difficult to correct.
Frame
Take a screwdriver & start poking at the trailing arm sections. Look for signs of "bulging" at both ends of the trailing arms. Do NOT be shy about poking pretty hard. If it's solid, you won't hurt it. Most of the time, the frame will be fine until you get to the trailing arm sections, solely due to the total oil loss system, inherant in every Triumph!
Look for any obvious bends in any of the front sections. Chances are good that there are cracks...that you won't catch unless all the undercoating is removed...again inherant in most cars.
Observe door gaps...top & bottom. Indication of possible frame sag which is difficult to tell when just eyeballing a car.
Check T-Shirt (Cruciform) pressings in front of the differential, look for any bulges or obvious corrosion.
Check rockers (sills) and outriggers both sides, common area for corrosion, expensive to repair!
Electrical
Check all external lights for correct operation, including licence plate light.
Check all interior lights for correct operation, including gauges, courtesy and glove box lights.
Check all warning lights and buzzers.
Check horn.
Check cigar lighter outlet (if fitted).
Check radio (if fitted)
Under bonnet
Check battery terminals and cables for corrosion/oxidization.
Check HT lead, coil, condenser, plug wires & caps, distributor cap (for cracks) and points for wear/pitting.
Check fuse box - correct fuses, signs of burning, no nails! (should be 20 amp if American replacements or 35 amp, ONLY if they are Lucas originals!)
General condition of remaining wiring etc. including starter motor and alternator.
Engine
Do a compression/leakdown test.
Test condition of thrust washers by pushing in on crank pulley as hard as you can. Once in, have someone depress the clutch and using your fingers as a guide, see how far the crankshaft moves out. Acceptible limits are .007" to .013", or the thickness of a fingernail. Alternatively, use vernier calipers if you have them.
Before starting the car, when cold, have someone start the engine and look for blue smoke from the tailpipes.
Check car will idle with choke on and, when warm, with it off.
Get the car up to operating temp & verify oil pressure.
Check engine area for obvious oil, coolant or head gasket leaks. Include oil and water pumps/thermostat housing. Look under car on floor for stains etc.
Check fluid levels, coolant, engine oil, brake and clutch master cylinders.
Running Gear
Jack the car up at the rear (using a block of wood under the jack face) & firmly hold each rear wheel top/bottom & try to wiggle the wheel...do the same on the sides of the wheel. Check for any play. You're testing to make sure the hubs are OK so you don't kill yourself on the way home!
Repeat for front wheels, additionally checking steering arms & track rod ends for play.
Check all bushings...see if they are neoprene & that ALL the bushings have been done, if seller says they've been done. If original, check condition.
Check steering rack, arms and boots for wear or splitting.
Check for play and any excessive movement in steering column, up, down and side-to-side.
Check condition of brakes, discs, pads, drums (rear), hand brake operation etc.
Transmission
Check smooth operation of clutch and listen for any "whiring" sound when released, could be sign of a worn throw out bearing or broken pin.
With clutch depressed, check gear selection for stiffness or sloppiness.
Thrust washers......easy way to make sure is to push the clutch in while at idle & make sure the RPM's don't drop.
Check the clutch linkage down by the gearbox, make sure there aren't any "extensions" on it. Should beconnected by middle hole of the three available.
Check travel of clutch before it engages. If it engages at the very top of the travel, it's probably worn out or, at best, needs serious adjustment.
Check prop shaft, universal joints etc. for excessive play. On some models they have grease nipples, others the UJ's are factory sealed and can dry/wear out.
Test Drive
Check general handling, brakes (pull up in a straight line), clutch operation, gears etc.
Listen for any clunking sounds from the rear-end, could indicate broken diff pin mounts, worn U joints or differential gears. Could also indicate corroded frame which is flexing.


PM me if you need an opinion on the one you are looking at.

This is a good English car - if you get a decent example.
Primitive, but everything is fixable and simple and the spare part situation is very good too, like the 911 (without the PCar Tax).

They have a chassis & rust is the big enemy.
Everyone likes them, wives will ride in them. They are a poor cousin to a big Healey and prices are going up a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7N2k5nCGs8&ab_channel=VanInhalin

This guy has good no-nonsense restoration videos.

Don't get one like this! It looks good BUT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAzaU7cbfvs&ab_channel=ElinYakov%27sRustyB eauties

There are two types of Triumphs.

Those that are for sale and those that are not.

The former is not the one you want.

True story, my 13,000 mile TR7, the left headlight would not pop up unless you turned on the defroster.

One day i dig in and pull the switch.

The backolite case is cracked, held together by a dried up brittle rubberband and scotch tape.

It came from the factory that way.

And that was the most “normal” problem that car had.

Felt like a boat owner when i finally sold it.

I had a TR3 in the late sixties. Not much of a performer but a great open air car to enjoy driving as you drag your knuckles on the pavement. I wouldn't be interested in a TR6, but maybe a TR4 would do.

I've gone back and forth on them for years. I've always thought they were great looking little cars. Are they a 911, nope. Honestly, thats part of the charm for me. I don't think I will scratch that itch till I get one. This dealer has some nice drivers. Usually has videos of running them thru the paces and then a good walk around of them. I've noticed they don't seem to stick around very long and the prices really haven't changed to much over the last year or so. I think you could buy one, play around with it for awhile and sell it and make out ok.

Inventory | Kurt Tanner Motorcars
https://kurttannermotorcars.com/inventory/

Just to be clear , I am posting just to start auto related conversations . I am not looking to buy a TR6 . I just thought it would be nice to discuss cars on a car forum ........

Here is another review with a quite decent car, rather than a "project". Much less doom & gloom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wjrvCnOn_0&ab_channel=MGMidget-TheBirthofaRacecar

The British shouldn't be allowed to cook food or build cars

My Dad has a 1972 TR6 he restored in the past few years. You want a 1973 or earlier. From 1974 on they are choked horribly by emissions equipment, worse by the year. If you can find one with the factory overdrive transmission it's very rare.

One thing worth noting on the TR6, they were designed for RHD. For USA LHD models when you sit in the car your feet/legs/body is angled to the left with the gas pedal about in the center of the footwell b/c of the transmission tunnel. It's a weird seating position. Plus the ignition key is between your legs, under the steering column. The first time I drove it I really found it odd, I guess you would get used to it.

There is an outfit called Goodparts that makes lots of special parts that overcome some of the Brits "design shortcomings" including suspension and cooling. They are very simple cars and cheap to restore. Literally everything is made for it aftermarket you can even buy an entire replacement frame. Almost all parts are shared across other Leyland models, MG, etc.

Helps that Top Gear guys voted the TR6 "the best blokes car ever built". I love the look of the TR6, but like pretty much ALL old cars for me, they are fun to look at but horrible to drive.

They do sound lovely with the right exhaust . . . I've only been in one, once, a long time ago.

Owned a 71 some time ago. About what you’d expect in terms of quality from almost anything of that era. But for a weekend tinkerer and sunny day car...perfect.

On one point I’ll respectfully disagree with Nick. The later cars (74-76) are great too as the smog stuff is easily removed and most have already done so.

Have never owned a “B” but this guy has one listed that seems interesting for the $. And not terribly far away from us N. Georgians...

If we weren’t planning to move in the spring, I’d be all over this:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/matthews-1974-mg-mgb-overdrive-the-mgb/7419739869.html

Exactly. Many years ago, I sold by old 911 and replaced it with a miata. It took a little getting used to. In the miata, I could open the door and reach out and without stretching, touch the rear tire. After driving the 911 for 5 years, it felt odd for a bit. (I don't rememeber the 911 ever feeling odd in any way, it felt familiar and comfortable from the start)
That's a great story. I find that when something seems like it's not working out, it often works out better than you expected in the end, and it sounds like that's the experience that you had.
Without having driven either, I think I'd really like to have either (preference would be the AH).
That's fantastic! What you call "character."

I had a HS buddy buy a Triumph Spitfire. It definitely looked the part of the little Brit sports car. What I found odd was that he was telling me that going up a particular hill near us, he'd had to downshift to keep his speed up. At the time, we had a Chevette with 52hp, and it didn't need the downshift to get up the hill. I don't remember exactly, but I don't think he'd had it more than a couple/few weeks when he determined that it either had a blown head gasket or something was cracked.
Hahahah. Come on, Lotus and McLaren.... A stopped clock, and all that...

Remember...the reason the English drink warm beer.

Lucas made refrigerators too.

Yes Marv I agree with you on the TR3 performance. I bought mine used. It had a leaky gas tank and rusted like crazy. However the exhaust note was memorable. After that the TR4 was the best looker.

That little MGB does look great. It's got the chrome bumpers instead of the horrible later rubber units, the minilites, and just all around looks fantastic.
And he's got those two older cars coming up for sale if they aren't already.

I need to make a lot more money...

I've always liked dem deep dish rim hoops on the tr6. The rear wheels just have that 'right' stance.

Friend had a tr4.
Uncle had tr3
Lots of friends with mgbs and midgits.

If I were to do it, I would do a Spitfire chassis ground up restoration with not a single english thing on it.

I got a ride in a Spitfire once. It seemed gutless. The best thing I heard a few years ago though was a Spitfire with a V8 in it. The Spitfire has great lines though...

That's what Id want to do. Basically English-ectomy the entire thing, installing more competent and dependable everything. I would just want the chassis for the lines.

This is one of my "when I win the lottery" projects. :D

Need a miata/spitfire hybrid. Something that starts and runs whenever you ask.

As a result of this thread...and in a moment of weakness I sent the guy a note. :confused:

Great, let me live vicariously through you!

No need. Here’s his reply. My guess is this dealer will sell it in CA for double his purchase price…

Hi Mike,
I sold the car in less than 2 days to a dealer in California. Most of my MGBs and TR6s sell within a week. My cars are very good cars when I’m done with the refurbishment taking several weeks to several months. Of the 16-18 cars I’ve sold over the past year and a half, I have never had a buyer come back with a single issue. I take great pride and enjoyment getting these great cars ready for the next 40 years.

Keep looking for my ads. I’m sure I’ll have lots more cars in 2022

I've got a close friend that has a very presentable running/driving 68' MGC-GT that he might be interested in parting with.

I owned a 1969 TR6 until summer of 2020, when I sold it for 20K on BAT. I bought it from the original owner, its serial # was 25124CC and was a very early example built in October 1968. I can say I put about 6K in over time to get it perfect, just about broke even at the end. The original owner bought it at the factory and brought it back to NC when his company sent him home.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1640270075.JPG

It was a fun project over 4 years and I learned a lot about old English sports cars, Lucas electrics and how reliable AAA is dispatching rollback tow trucks (very reliable around here). When the TR6 was running well, it was a blast to run on back roads, but when not, it was very unreliable at times and left me at the side of the road at least 5 times. I would say it was made for a different time and place. On expressways I always felt like I was flogging it as it didn't have the overdrive option. Some guys have added Toyota 5 speed transmissions, but I didn't want to spend that much or mess up a basically original example. It had no rust anywhere and had never left the NC area, so it never tasted salted roads.

I bought it in a nostalgic mood as my late brother and I ran a green TR3A back in the early 1960's, a fun car that got me into sports cars of all makes and into 3 aircooled 911's including my current 993.

Would I ever buy another one? Not at this stage in my life, but owning one gives you a sense of what "hairy chested sports cars" are really like. One cannot in any way compare them or Healy's or MG's to any current sports car experience, they are primitive but you really know it's just you in control of a basic machine and not a bunch of computers hidden in the sheet metal with you making "inputs" to aid them in controlling the car. Anyone considering owning one should have some good, basic mechanical skills and tools and only buy a very good example. If there is any rust, expect to find more in unexpected places and that gets very expensive very fast.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1640272391.jpg
This is the original owner just after buying it from the Triumph factory.