My brother owned a yellow TR6 for a number of years, and loved it. As his kids grew up he feared one of them would flip it, so he sold it. I think he still wants that car back!!

My brother had a beautiful TR-250 in high school (late 70's). Of course he had to buy a parts car as well. When it ran it was a blast to drive / ride in for short distances. Visceral experience. He was a pretty good amateur mechanic and advanced his skills always repairing it. He finally sold it because the reward was just not worth the effort.

I'd go with a Miata or Honda S2000. All the driving thrill, few hassles.

quote:

Originally posted by bob ramberg:
Search for a TR-6 or British car club. They usually have classified ads for cars. Also very knowledgeable people who can help with what to watch out for.

They also will have a list of licensed counselors. Get that.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I thought a TR was cool back in the day. Especially in British Racing Green. Until I went halfsies with my HS buddy and bought a Sunbeam.
<snip>

Before I got my "Dad-Approved" first car when I was 16 I took him to look at a Sunbeam Alpine ... I thought it was the coolest car ever (I was into British cars even then)
His response was simply ... Oh Hell NO!
I ended up with a Rambler American ... but it had its advantages at the drive-in!

Kind of an understanding don't you think when you buy something of that age considering the state of mechanics back then? [/QUOTE]
Another thing to remember is, in 74, higher safety standards and emission controls were hitting the USA very hard, and activist Ralph Nader was a huge killer of performance and sports cars ... back then performance and emission controls were never used in the same sentence, at least not without many choice 4-letter words. Nader hit the US cars first (my 72 Corvette was a dog compared to my 69) and after 72, was bumper height, 5-mile an hour bumpers ... Many people don't remember he was responsible for the beginning of the end of an era.[/QUOTE]

I have been doing some research and I'm leaning towards a '73 or earlier, pre-emission controls and also pre the rubber bumper overrides.

quote:

Originally posted by kimberkid:

Before I got my "Dad-Approved" first car when I was 16 I took him to look at a Sunbeam Alpine ... I thought it was the coolest car ever (I was into British cars even then)
His response was simply ... Oh Hell NO!
I ended up with a Rambler American ... but it had its advantages at the drive-in!

I didn't know my Dad had a twin brother...

The first car registered in my name was a '62 Chevy Impala 4 door with 250ci inline 6 and 3 on the tree.

My ride all during high school was Mom and Dad's '65 Rambler American in two tone dark green over teal.

It was the ultimate Chick Repeller.

I hope you are mechanically and electrically inclined.

An old mechanic once told me the Lucas electric motto was "A good days work and 'ome before dark". So very true.

quote:

Originally posted by kimberkid:

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I thought a TR was cool back in the day. Especially in British Racing Green. Until I went halfsies with my HS buddy and bought a Sunbeam.
<snip>

Before I got my "Dad-Approved" first car when I was 16 I took him to look at a Sunbeam Alpine ... I thought it was the coolest car ever (I was into British cars even then)
His response was simply ... Oh Hell NO!
I ended up with a Rambler American ... but it had its advantages at the drive-in!

The VW/Porsche dealership I worked at in the early '70's got a Sunbeam Alpine in trade. I took it for a ride and noticed a loud clunk on rough roadway. Drove car back, put on lift and found front subframe broke loose from main frame. Showed that to sales manager who got pissed off at salesman who swung the trade deal. Shop welder did a quick patch and Sunbeam went off to the car Auction.

Way back when I lived in Va Beach, we had a neighbor who did a frame up rebuild on a TR6. He pulled all the wiring out and replaced, made his own harness. He was an electronics wizard, and knew his way around many a tool box.

He worked for CBN, his name was Gene. Don't remember what his last name was. It was 1982, we lived on Colleen Ct in Va Beach.

That was a nice TR6.

Oh boy. I've sworn off most Limey cars, but still have the '67 Healey - and 19 (yes, nineten) 60's Triumph bikes.

After shit load of MGA's, Sprites, old Minis, a Hillman Minx, a Tiger, a Midget, MGB GT, a Ford powered 100-4, a TR-2 , TR-4A and Spitfire ...I almost have the affliction cured. Almost.

The TR-6 is by far the easiest to work on, with the possible exception of the 948cc Bug Eye. My advice: find one that someone has solved the rust and electrical issues, and may only need mechanical, paint or interior. If it has any evidence of rust - and most will unless someone has swallowed hard and exorcised the grunge - run like hell. The Lucas isn't really as bad as most say once you get used to how the buggers operate.

My sister owned A 1971 Triumph GT6, and then a Trimuph 1974 Stag. Both cars had electrical and carb problems. They were always in the shop. While they were fun to drive, they just had too many problems. The Stag had problems with the heads, they warped and overheated.

In my early 20's I owned (in succession) a Spitfire, TR-250, TR-4, MGB-GT, TR-250 and a TR-7. All were fun cars. The TR-7 was the most reliable, least fun. What finally did me in was the constant wrenching.

I had parts cars. The diaphragm in the Stromberg CD-175 carbs (yes, plural, there are two) was a weak link and often broke. I had a set of rebuilt carbs, mounted on an intake manifold and a new gasket sitting in the garage most of the time. One Saturday I was going on a date, pulled out of the drive and felt/heard the sound of a failed diaphragm. I backed into the drive, swapped the carbs/manifold, did a quick balance and was back on the road in 30 minutes. At first proud of myself then realized WTF, this isn't normal. Bought a IH Scout and the sports cars went to Sunday duty. I sold my last one 34 years ago.

Every now and again I think about buying one, for about one minute.

If I fit in a Miata, there would be one in the garage. Most of the fun without most of the wrenching.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
Isn’t the old joke “why do Brits like warm beer ? Because their refrigerators all have Lucas electrics ?”

You know why the British never entered the PC market? They could not figure out how to make a computer leak oil!

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness. Learn the three positions of a Lucas headlight switch: Off, Dim,Flicker.

Enough friends had British cars, I did not, my curse was BSA and Triumph motorcycles.

Serious tip, find out and remember if that vehicle is positive or negative ground. It could save you a lot of heart and wallet aches.

Kho, I'm very much looking forward to your "I bought a TR-6!" thread. And lots of pictures.

A neighbor in my 'hood growing up had one. I walked by it a number of times delivering newspapers. I probably drooled a little bit each time.

Recently off the phone with my uncle, a long-time car-guy who has owned a number of sports / muscle cars over time. He’s currently restoring a 1976 TR-6, apparently the last model year for the car.

My Dad hit a bit of a mid-life crisis in the early ‘70s and bought a wonderful burgundy-colored GT-6. I was extremely young but remember the car well - not the most practical thing for a family of 3 haha...I sat in my mother’s lap when all of us went anywhere - those wild, free-wheeling, pre-car-seat days LOL.

Go to the Bring a Trailer site. You can look at past TR6 sales and prices. Go into the comment section of the individual cars, usually very knowledgeable people will post on that car.

https://bringatrailer.com/triumph/tr6/

Had a Triumph GT6 years ago. Fun car. Back when I was young and skinny enough to enjoy it, lol. Only trouble was, too young to have enough money to properly maintain it. Ended up selling it. But it was a cool car.

You have a case of delayed Sports car Fever...

Traded a great 73 Mercury Capri in on a brown 77 Triumph Spitfire. Wanted the TR-6, but couldn't afford the payments.

A co worker had a Burgundy TR6, kept telling me not to get the Spitfire...or the TR6 either. Right after I bought the Spitfire, he had his father in law get an old Chevy Nova running and sold the TR6.

Brakes needed relining at 5,000 miles on the Spitfire. Constant bolt tightening, I think every bolt was coarse threaded. No AC, riding during the summer the fabric top had no insulation, miserable.
I did find a factory hardtop for it, had it painted, and that helped during the winter.
Akward pedal reach, Right before I got married, I traded it for a 79 Ford Fiesta.

I survived Sports Car Fever...

[apologies, slight thread drift]
most of those British designs were just eye candy that kept me own hopes/dreams/plans agitated.

2 wouldda/couldda/shouldda been done trades my Dad terminated, (I was under the age of signing auto titles at the time) were these:

Original 1st year 1953 Corvette 6 cylinder in all it's splendor. Straight across trade for my 1965 Dodge Dart.

Running, intact 1951 XK150S Jag drop head with overdrive, my Dart plus $500. I followed that one around the county for 5 or 6 years, saw the price climb to $30k before I lost track of it.

Some months apart, I drove 'em both home to show Dad. He was a pick up guy and was simply NOT going to sign HIS title for 'those things'.

In any case, OP, Happy Birthday.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:

No more British cars. Ever.

Words to live by.