by Mike –
Previously we have featured the Porsche 928, the Datsun 510 Sedan, the Jensen Interceptor, the Volvo 1800 series and the Studebaker Avanti as examples of collector cars that can be had for less than $50,000 USD.
Today it is the British made Triumph TR6.
Triumph TR6
The Triumph TR6 was produced between 1969 and 1976 in England with most of the cars being sold in the United States.
The engine is an inline 6-cylinder with 2.5 liter displacement and the transmission is a 4-speed manual with an optional and desirable overdrive.
I bought a new yellow TR6 in 1974, pictured below. It is one of the few cars from my past that I wish I still owned.
The German company, Karmann was involved in the design which features a Kamm tail. The TR6 also has 15 inch wheels which were large for a small sports car at the time. Today wheels have grown out of proportion to many of they cars they sit under. The Triumph TR6 wheels made the car look extra special compared to other cars of the day.
The TR6 has disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the rear. For the US market it was carbureted and Lucas mechanical fuel injection was used for the other markets.
The only real complaint I had was the difficulty of putting the top up and down. It required getting out of the car and walking around it to snap three snaps on each side to help hold the top down. There was a rare metal removable hard top option.
It is not very fast in a straight line but a lot of fun on winding roads.
Number made: 94,619
Hagerty Price Guide value for a condition 2 example: $21,200 to $22,200
Sports Car Market Pocket Price Guide median price: ’69-’74 – $12,100; ’75-’76 – $18,900
Update
From Jim Palam – here are a couple of shots of my ’74 TR6 with Overdrive.
From, Wayne Watkins
Some pics of my TR3A now in Sydney.
Pic 1 & 2 at Sydney Motor Sport Park.
Pic 3 at Parramatta Park Donald Healey’s birthday June (middle of winter).
Pic 4 engine.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
I’ve always loved TR6’s. I’ve owned three Triumphs in the past (GT6+ and two Stags), and came close to buying a ’69 TR6 once. The styling is timeless and the exhaust note wonderful. On my bucket list of cars to own at some point.
Rob,
A GT6 parked on my college campus while I was a student sparked my interest in Triumphs. After I graduated I went to the local Triumph dealer and was told they no longer made the GT6 but they had a new yellow TR6 which I bought.
I am an admirer of the Stag as well.
Mike, in retrospect, I wished I had kept the GT6+. Such a great car in many ways. Very fast and handled well, I bought it used from a car lot in Richmond, CA. It was Valencia Blue and had overdrive in 3rd and 4th gear. I drove it to Lewiston, ID one summer when I worked up that way in a lumber mill to earn money for college. Not sure what happened, but a piston cracked on me and I had to have the engine rebuilt up there. Not many people knew how to work on British cars in Lewiston! Got it fettled a bit when I returned to the Bay Area but as the engine rebuild took a lot of my summer earnings and I was a poor student, I ended up selling it. Always loved it though and it cemented my love for Triumphs and British cars in general…..I’m a glutton for punishment at times!! Your TR6 looks very nice…..Mimosa?
Yes, Mimosa yellow, which I think is a special yellow.
Back in 2006 I was having maybe my fourth or fifth (stopped counting) Mid-Life Crisis, so after seeing a pristine white Triumph TR3 at a car show in LA (it looked ‘kinda’ like my very first car) I decided I should buy another – to enjoy in my more mature years. Trouble was a good one was out of my budget range – but the TR6 was not.
So I searched and found one described in the owner’s ad as the ‘Best TR6 in California.’ It sure looked good and after some negotiating I bought it and had it shipped to Santa Barbara where I was then living. Fast-forward to 2017 and that white TR6 with Overdrive is still my little collector car pride and joy – but the ‘Best TR6 in California’ it was not. Had to rebuild or replace most of my 74’s electrics, the top-end of the motor, radiator, brakes, the front and rear suspension and lots of ‘little bits’ that will inevitably fail as you drive and enjoy your vintage British Car. The good news is they are a blast to drive, parts and tech support is readily available, and when you’re out and about you will always get “Thumbs-Up” from young and old admirers alike.
BTW: I’d post a picture but don’t see a way to. Perhaps you can show me how Mike.
Jim,
Sorry, this software does not allow photos to be posted by readers but if you send photos in an email to me at michael.gulett@gmail.com I will post them in the body of this article.
Thanks for the info regarding posting photos Mike. I did send you 2 pix via your gmail link. Best Regards, Jim
You say they were not very fast in a straight line , which is because the rest of the world injected TR6’s had almost 50% more horse power ( 150 compared to 104 ) , which was adequate for quite quick acceleration for that era . The injected cars did have that problematic rear fuel pump , which could be rectified in more modern times with a replacement Japanese one . The later US ones also had those ugly rubber bumper monstrosities attached for safety reasons ! However still to this day a lovely looking sports car . I currently own a two US owner TR3A , sold new in Illinois on Feb 2nd 1960 , still in LHD with every receipt from new including trucking paperwork from New York to Illinois & original sales receipt . Not a fast car , but mechanically the same with the rest of the world market .
New Photos have been added from readers, Jim Palam and Wayne Watkins – take a look under the heading Update, above.
Thanks for posting the photos Mike. Better watch out: The Brit Car Guys are everywhere and quite enjoy chatting about these little leaky gems.
Thanks for posting my pics Mike . Jim’s TR6 looks magic & better than new . Remember guys , if your British sporty is not leaking , then its probably run out of oil .
Thanks for the nice comments about my TR6 Wayne. Love your TR3A. That is the same as my very first car. Mine was white, a beat-up New York City car. It was in deplorable cosmetic condition but it did manage to run faithfully throughout the 4 seasons and even in snow. Bought it for $375 and sold it for $600. With that ‘windfall’ I bought a Bug Eye Sprite and drove that like crazy – even with bad valve seats. I was young and to own any kind of a car was a joyful thing.