Why would anyone want to own a TR6 sports car? Just take a look at the car and listen to those dual pipes and you will have your answer. You will immediately see yourself cruising in style on some winding back road, listening to those pipes and feeling that torquey 6 cylinder engine work.
The TR6 is the 5th edition of the Triumph sports car, preceded by the TR2, 3, and 4 , each having 4 cylinder engines. The TR5 (called TR250 in the USA) and TR6 were the first TR’s with a 6 cylinder engine. All were made in England, and were available from 1952 (TR2) through 1976 (TR6). A left-hand drive version was made for export, primarily to the USA. Mechanical fuel injection was developed for the TR5 and 6, but didn’t pass smog standards in the USA, so dual carburetors were used in those export vehicles.
There weren’t too many options for the TR6. All were roadsters, with a 4 speed transmission, the 6 cylinder engine, tachometer, independent rear suspension, and a soft top all standard. Options included a hardtop, overdrive, wire wheels, and a radio. A number of colors were available; there were no two-tones or chrome extras. No power steering, no air conditioning, no power windows. This was a mechanical vehicle.
Triumph TR6
Manufacture of the TR6 was followed by that of a TR7 and TR8, which had a radically different body design (known as the ‘wedge’) and evolution to a V8 engine in the TR8. The TR6 was considered by many to be the last of the true sports cars produced by Triumph.
Unfortunately, British problems with trade unions existed, and quality control in manufacturing suffered for some of the vehicles produced. Also, rust-inhibiting paint was not used throughout the production process, and the undercarriage for the bodies tended to rust in wet conditions.
Throughout the evolution of these models, a racing group campaigned the newer models, racing against other sports cars in their respective classes. Improvements resulting from racing experience found their way into the manufacturing process and performance of the cars continued to increase as the TR line evolved. Because the shape of the car has generally been well-received, and performance has been satisfactory, the TR6 is a popular entry in car shows.
One thing in favor of owning and showing the cars is the availability and low cost of replacement parts. Because there were so many TR’s sold in the USA, parts for practically the entire car are available through mail-order parts suppliers. Also, many improved versions of parts became available over time, improving the reliability and performance of the car over the stock model.
What is it like to own a TR6? Many people own one for the driving experience. Someone claimed that cornering a TR6 felt like ‘riding on rails’. It was a fairly light car, with a low center of gravity and heavy springs, and thus cornered well. Some people own the car because of its looks; inside and out. It has a generous display of chrome gauges on the dashboard to indicate what is going on under the hood. The car has developed a reputation for rewarding owners who don’t mind working on the car to keep it running well. The set of 2 carburetors are a significant part of that reputation. It takes a bit of time to learn how to get these carburetors in sync and to keep them there.
Another feature of the TR6 was the tendency of the vehicle to leak oil. This could come from the differential, the transmission, the overdrive, and/or the engine. Efforts to solve these leaks have been only partially successful. It was a leaker. Another feature that earned disparaging remarks was the tendency for rain and wind to get in, particularly through the soft top. The heater and defroster could barely keep up. It is a fair weather vehicle. It begs for sunshine and no top (maybe a tonneau cover). Probably the most common complaint about the TR6 (as well as for the other TR’s) was its hard ride. This is the result of the design to corner well, with stiff springs on all corners and a torsion bar on the front end (on the TR6). Another result of the stiff ride was the accumulation of squeaks and rattles as the miles added up.
I wanted my personal TR6 to have the feeling and look of a race car, but with a sense of being an elite form of transportation. To achieve this, I lowered the front end about 1 inch, and raised the back end about the same. Then I added wider rims and wider tires, with the rear tires wider than the front. Next I added a rear wing, a roll bar, rear torsion bar, and racing seat with a racing harness. Also, I painted 2 black racing stripes (on a red car) down the center. It then had both the look and feel of a race car, inside and out. I enjoyed driving it.
Owning and working on a TR6 was an adventure for me. I got the vehicle to look better that I had anticipated, and felt like it was a peppy and responsive car to drive. I was proud to be seen in it. I have few regrets, and have now owned and worked on a Triumph TR6 sports car.
