I too was an MG guy. Then, my mate bought a TR6 and I envied his engine and the beautiful style. I've had my TR6 since 1969 and still love it to death.
I've owned my TR6 since college, or 1981. With much hard work and good fortune I've probably owned over 50 cars including exotics, muscle cars and classics. The one car I never sold (and never will) is my TR6. It's still my favorite and always brings a smile to my face. Maybe it just reminds me of simpler times.
Love the TR6, I do more miles in mine than any other in my collection. Great noise, fun, narrow for the lanes in Dorset. Decent boot for trips and all the parts are cheap and easy to get hold of. The prices will only go one way.
great video Henry, back in the 1984 friend of mine had a TR-7 and took to a Triumph specialist where we live in central Canada and he was very good at what he did, he had a custom intake made to fit a Webbers and a exhaust header and upgraded clutch assembly, before the mods the car was peppy and the mods it sounded glorious and drove pretty fast for a little car that weighed almost nothing 120mph was easy for this car, we were driving home from the Lake on a Sunday and it is 140 miles from Winnipeg and we were cruising along at 100 mph and a TR-6 hauled ass past us so my friend tried to catch up to it and no chance we got unto 125 mph and that TR-6 was still an easy 1/4 mile ahead , we couldn't close the gap and finally caught up to him at the gas station just outside the city and my friend asked the guy who was laughing as we walked up to his car saying what's under the hood, so after feeling up he showed us a triple Webber set up and new exhaust header and some other internal work he had done to head and valve train, my english friend use to call this race type tune up and then proceeded to tell us who did the work and it was the same Triumph specialist that did my friends car, it was lots of fun and laughs, thank you for bringing back the memories 👍
One of the reasons why I fell in love with European cars and roadsters at a time when all by buddies were lusting after muscle cars. They all wanted Mustangs and Camaros and I dreamt of SLs, MGBs, and Jaguars not to mention the occasional Ferrari. A sweet little design!
Fantastic car, I've had mine since 2009. Clocked up many thousands of happy miles with it. Being body on chassis construction they do flex a little, and the cockpit is a little snug compared to say an MGB. But it is what it is, and with a 2.5 litre straight six fuel injected engine, coupled to a 4 speed gearbox with overdrive, gives plenty of power. Independent rear suspension, and a double wishbone front suspenion making a reasonally comfortable ride. Then when you hit the throttle and hear the soundtrack of the six cylinders beating, at full chat, yes that's what it's all about with top down motoring 👍
Hello Henry, thanks for an interesting video. I own a 73 TR6 at present and owned a 72 in 1981 which was an as new car. Its ineveitable that cars have matured a huge amount since almost 50years ago so those who fault this car are likely basing this on the experience of modern motoring, especially regarding huge (and pointless) amounts of power. I have found the TR6 to be a more than adequate fast tourer on the open roads of New Zealand. It becomes more of a handful around town but not such that it becomes unpleasant but it can be hard on a TR driving in stop start city traffic. With modern shocks, tyres and setup, the TR corners very well in my opinion. THere are weaknesses such as the control of end float on the motor, injection foibles, a dubious/heavy clutch, and the 6 universal joints and splines of the rear end which require attention more often than ideal, but these are well known. Of course any car that was used on roads in the winter with use of road salt had a large problem with rust and the TR6 is no exception. However it does have (in my opinion) the advantage that the body can be lifted off the chassis and repairs made to both parts. This makes it superior to me than the MGC which I have owned two of. So I think it is a desireable classic, but less so than the TR5. As for a BMW rendition of a TR6 no thanks. I owned a 10 year old 330Ci cabriolet BMW from 50,000km to 100,000. It had been professionally maintained and initially was superb, and was always a lovely handling superlative car BUT. At least three times when I needed full power it cut completely to get home power, oil seals all hardened with leaking, plastic engine parts all likewise leaked, hydraulic hoses for power steering seeped fluid through the walls, multiple sensors failed, a 50c nylor washer in an impossible position rendered the transmission unshiftable and the only fix was a 750$ hear shift assy... I could go on. If you took that car to 50years you would not be able to keep it on the road as you can a TR. As to the Z3s I had a 2.8 as well and that was a tricky beast on the open road, and nowhere near as nice as the 330Ci. In summary if you like classic British sports cars Jags and Austin Healeys are impossible for the average man but the TR6 is still affordable although my observation is that prices are on the way up which makes sense as the owners have to spend decent amounts on them. Be in while you can! But do the due diligence - especially chassis and inside wings. Get the excellent books by Roger Williams before you buy the car. Enjoy!!
Always a dream car on my list. I met a woman who had taken one and fixed up all the inherent engineering flaws (electrics, rear suspension, etc) without losing the character that makes the car appealing. These cars would be worthy of some of the modern treatments that tuners are doing.
in the states i have a 72 my brother a 74. in our collections. the tr6 is the jetski of all of them you cannot drive them without a smile on your face. anything that breaks can be fixed. just love these cars. oh and yes BMW should revive the brand, i always thought their z cars are what the spitfire would have grown up to be.
I love my 1974 TR6 with 125 bhp. We did many lovely trips abroad ( from the Netherlands, that is) to England, Scotland, Germany, France and even to Italy (toscany). Hope to enjoy my car for many years to come.
Ever since I was teen-ager, my 3 favorite cars to own in my life time were a 1: XKE, 2: '53 Buick Skylark, and a Triumph TR6. So an XKE was out of my price range as was the Buick. 9 years ago I had the great opportunity to buy a '71 TR6 for $400! It had blown a head gasquet back in 1983 and had been sitting in a garage in Seattle ever since. It was well toasted as it was this guys (2nd owner) high school chick magnet car but it was all there and no body damage and no rust. He had to get rid of it as he was moving, and if I didn't buy it it was going to the salvage yard for scrap! Drug it home to the Southern Oregon coast and after a few thousand dollars and tons of sympathy and tolerence from my wife (I bought her a '96 BMW Z3 to ease the pain) it was rebuilt (cooling system, ignition system, oiling system, exhaust system, fuel system, electrical system, suspension system, brakes, tires, $$$$$$$$). Long story-short; it turned out that this is the very car that my mail man took his wife out on their FIRST DATE in. And so what else could I do? When it was their anniversary I handed Larry the keys and he took his wife out for a "Date Night!" She was soooooo blown away! She had NO IDEA! Karma! What goes around comes around! Sometimes I just LOVE being alive just for the pure sake of being ALIVE! There is nothing better than cruising down HWY 101 on the Southern Oregon Coast in a vintage Triumph TR6 with some buds, (Dano-TR6, Gilbey-GT6, Peter-XKE, Roseanne-BMW Z3, Larry-427 Cobra, John-1972 Ferrari, Ray-19?? Morgan, Robert-TR6, you get the idea. And to think that I used to be a '65 Mustang convertible (we owned 2 at the same time, his and hers) guy! OH! Oh! my wife also owns a '98 Camaro Z28 (she's 81 years old now and quite the "shoe" as she has a few autocross wins under her belt! Life is to short for BORING CARS!!! 😎👍
I have a 1974 dual Zenith Stromberg carburetor version and I love this little car! Very fun to drive. Yes I would love to see BMW which owns the Triumph brand to revive this little British sports roadster into a modern version of this TR6 😊
I bought mine in 2003. Was looking for an MGB but the owner had the MGB and a TR6. The MG was a bit of a rust bucket so I asked him if the TR6 was for sale he said well not really. Long story short I ending up buying it and drove it home. Restored it over the next 2 years and still driving it in 2023. Lovely car, plenty of power and great looks. A 15 minute trip sometimes turns into a hour and a half because of the people stopping you and asking questions about it. Great car, plenty of parts available including upgrades. Highly recommend this classic.
Love these! I dated a woman a few decades ago just because she had one :). Snug seating, low to the ground. Heavy steering and brakes - very direct. Outstanding looks and one of the best sounds a car ever made. The woman was quite nice, too. BMW, PLEASE STAY AWAY - DON'T MESS UP OUR MEMORIES WITH SOME MASSIVELY OVER-PRICED POSER VERSION THAT'LL SPEND HALF ITS LIFE IN THE SERVICE CENTER!
Excellent! I have a 1971 Triumph Spitfire 1300 which I’ve been restoring over the last 2 years- Not a fast car, but it likes to rev and is every bit as fun, if not more so than a modern sports car. There’s something special about the mechanical engagement and simplicity of an old Triumph roadster…
Yes, I have one of these and can confirm that it turns heads - in a good way. It's been mothballed a few years so it needs dusting off and using again. There are lots of spare parts available and is pretty easy to work on. I converted it to run on unleaded (took cylinder head to specialist) and replaced the fuel pump & metering unit. Kept the old pump and put new unleaded seals in. Need to look in to what changes might be needed for B10, or just use Super Plus... You do need to keep an eye on corrosion of course... It's a British Classic Car! ;-)
I loved watching this video. We bought a new Triumph TR6 with a removable hard top in 1973. She cost $4500 plus $500 for the hard top. I learned to drive a 4 speed on that car. We found that it had a very unforgiving clutch. Many of our friends could not get her to start because it seemed they didn’t press the clutch pedal completely to the floor. The driver could not be sloppy about that! That was comical! I was a 23 year old girl and never had a problem with the clutch. Starting on a cold morning meant pulling the choke out completely, then slowly releasing. Otherwise, she would stall. I loved that car! After our son was born in 1977, we retired it to the garage for about 10 years until I started driving her again. In 1997, we moved to the beach and that was the end of her. Within two years, the rust was obvious but there wasn’t anything we could do to protect her. We reluctantly sold her to a collector (who really wanted that hardtop) in about 2010. I cried when they towed her away but she had given us many years of enjoyment. Thanks for releasing these memories!
I would love to see BMW relaunch the TR-6 with a straight six. I wasn't even aware that they owned the brand now. With the Z4 possibly coming to an end, a small two seat sports car like the TR-6 would be very welcome.
I have one - owned for 21 years. I love it. Anything BMW made would only ever be a BMW - these classics cannot be recreated by re-badging another brands product; no disrespect to the mighty BMW, who've made their own great classics
My dad owned an MG B GT (we need more roadster-based hatches!) before my time and had a red TR4 project car when I was growing up. The thing was never finished on the inside but I had a few rides in it before he regrettably sold it to pay for a new septic system. Luckily my buddy had an MG B for us to tool around in, and I eventually found my way into an NA Miata. I'll always have a fondness for these little British cars and what they inspired! Maybe as my first classic...
Had a couple of these . The injection pre 73 CP 150 ones are a brilliant 90mph cruiser on the motorway if set up correctly. Roof off naturally. The carb ones are asthmatic and bear no relation in feel. Henry you need to give it some welly. They are tough as old boots.
Definitely should have opened the throttle. Not a good review really because the car was being driven so timidly and no mention of the overdrive for high speed cruising. Shouldn't have been reviewed by an MG enthusiast!
I’ve been a Triumph guy since I was a kid. My dad is a Londoner and has always bought TR’s & MG’s but he’s had a 1972 TR6 for over 10 years now which I learned a standard transmission on. I love it so much
There is one around the corner from me owned by an elderly auto electrician who fitted a 3.9 rover v8, 5 spd and motec injection to it years ago. It's running minilite rims and is a stunner
I have owned an ex US 1975 TR6 for 20 years. Absolutely fabulous car - its mimosa in colour and turns heads when out and about. BMW should really revive the marque.
Had one for the weekend once. Problem is / was I also owned a 914-6 at the time. The TR felt as if it was a ‘50s car trying to be modern whereas the little 6 felt all as if it was a ‘70s child. I parted ways w the little six, own a 71 911, but find myself listing after another TR, a TR4 now.
My '74 (US) TR-6, sold 40 years ago, remains the defining automobile of my driving career. It was my first experience of driving a car primarily hinging on ankles and wrists, and I haven't owned anything so fundamentally connected since. Who cares if the hydraulic clutch mysteriously emptied itself regularly? You could start it from a stop using the starter and shift it sans clutch. Electrics sucked, lever shocks sucked, I didn't care. No idea how fast it was - I had no time to look and couldn't trust the instruments anyway - but I know it'd pull an indicated 5200rpm in top gear with the top down from repeated experience (no idea why I'm still alive) and it seemed like transonic speed in that car. I will carry the fond experience of that car to my grave.
Said it time and time again Henry is simply the pinnacle of motor journalism! I don’t care what the car is, I only want Henry to review it or tell me it’s history
I had a '72. Nice looking and fun when it ran. I got to the point where I would stop fixing any of the annoying little electrical troubles as they would just start working again in a week or so.. It was very important to have the rear logo in the middle of the Union Jack. I had mine up to 105 mph. Mind you that was quite a number of years gone by. I sold it to a workmate who stripped it down and re did it from the ground up.
I am lucky enough to have a 1969 and it is quite clean. Insured through Hagerty actually. I pleasure to drive and great to listen to. I have treated her to racing fuel lately ($9.99 US ) per US gallon but there is a smooth difference. Just a sweet and great car. I might have to sell the old girl but am reluctant to do so. Summers here in the US on the East Coast so it's getting perfect weather. Believe it or not I actually purchased it from the ORIGINAL owner and she's been in California until I had her shipped out here. Just a lovely car. Enjoyed your video so thanks,
Coming in a bit late. I’m the original owner of a 1969 TR6. It came off the assembly line on October 8, 1968 - an “early” TR6. In 2018, it completed a frame off restoration. It looks and drives better than it did in 1969! It is a “numbers match” car, except that it now has a very functional A-type overdrive, custom wood steering wheel with ‘69 TR6 hub, custom dash, Charles Skinner leather interior, and new Robbins soft top. All that sounds like a sales ad. It isn’t. This is a car I have enjoyed in the US and in Europe while in the US Army (mostly Bavaria). If you’ve never driven a “properly sorted” TR6, you don’t know what you you are missing!
Never underestimate the Triumph straight six - my mk2 Vitesse would eat MGBs while carrying passengers, wonderfully torquey and would rev to the red line without effort it would pass 100mph but then why would you want to when it was smoother at the legal limit. Not forgetting the glorious sound of the six when you gave it more fuel to drink.
Thumbed a lift non stop Leeds to London M1 back then ..100+ top down Yellow ( Saffron?) ...to go see Led Zeppelin earls Court... Yep those were the days! If that guy should happen to read this ,thanks again!
Since 1972, lusted after this car, I was 10. It was either this or my father's friend's Pantera. That Pantera is like unobtanium. I found a former drag race TR6, 71', set up for small block, but stripped out. Nearly 20 years now and still working on it but it has the HiPo 289 from a wrecked Cobra, C4 and Drag type 4-link rear, 9", tubbed. Needs interior still, paint, etc. Ferry dust was sprinkled on front suspension to get it to handle twisty's better. Love my little rescue toy and my son's can fight over her when I'm gone! Over 92,000 made? There's enough to resto-mod, so don't crush me, I rescued a used race car and made it better?
I drove a friend' s TR6 in San Francisco. With its big wheels and low to the ground, it was "tape-cul" in French in the text, so not the most comfortable roadster/convertible roundabout but I always loved the combination of the Michelotti design and the straight six motor/4-speed box with overdrive from British Leyland/Triumph.
I owned one like this new from Rossleighs in Newcastle.I see it is still on the books at Swansea. Travelling from Teesside to Beverley I found by chance the B1249 Staxton to Driffield on summers evening. Happy days!
The true value of a car is in the stories it holds and the pleasure of ownership. My father had a blue '74 reg TR6 (PPX 611K) when it was reasonably new and he has hours of stories to tell about it. Everything from replacing all 8 rusty panels to getting stopped by the police when pushing it home during a thunderstorm when the electrics packed up. He still regrets selling it to a man in a traffic jam on the North Circ. for £1600 in the 80s but at least it's still on the road!
I own 07 R56 and honestly I love the car it's my third Mini but the car that made me fall in love with British sports cars was my 73 MGB GT. I wish that British Leyland would buy them back. Bring back the Triumph, the MG's and how nice would it be to see the Jaguar XKE brought to today's standards, by far one of the beautiful cars ever made.
When I owned an 'H' registered TR 6 car in the seventies, with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd & 4th gears, it was a great 'cruiser' - because it was not any good at going round corners.
I was fortunate to have a Dad that had more than a few sportscars a TR3, TR4 and TR6 among them i must say by the time the TR6 came around I had discovered V8s. To be fair It wasnt a particularly well sorted car. Left hand drive and needed a resto but Dad enjoyed it for a couple of years as a daily only 8 years ago he is in his 70s bloody legend my Dad.
Drove a ‘69 in high school, early 1980’s. Drove a ‘74 in college, late 1980’s. Graduated to to ‘69 280SL. No Lucas electrical, no cardboard transmission tunnel, no fluid leaks, etc. Same beautiful styling, same joy to drive on a warm sunny day. The TR-6 will always remind me of my misspent youth but it’s inferior to the pagoda in every way.
I have a 1972 TR6 on the que to restore but I also have a 1962 TR4 that I’ve owned since since 1978. These cars are great fun and agree that they are under valued. I do wish BMW would bring back the TR. They could bring it to market as a lower level Z4 and compete with Mazda mx5/ fiat 124.
I had a 1971 pimento red 150 bhp TR6 back in the 80"s. Loved the car but could never get the PI sorted. I spent half my time changing injectors, pumps and metering units. Sadly it was whilst attempting the pump change that the car caught alight. It was a total loss.
Had one, long ago, when all this was fields (i.e., my high school years). Not exactly a shining example of the type (a beater, in fact), but I loved it and cursed it in equal measure.
My dad and his friend each had one and they pretty much fell apart. He told me they used to have an oil pan under the car IN THE SHOWROOM lol. This is a perpetual maintenance machine!
I first noticed the TR6 when in the 70's the American TV show "The Mod Squad" had one as their car, yellow if I remember correctly. Karman did an excellent job on the body, such a contrast to the TR7 which followed.
Hi all, nice video on the tr6. I own one, being a '74 model with its quirks. There great fun to drive, and as mentioned in the video on Sunday afternoon. Without the sigaret that is. I've nevver been up to 120 nog however in this, like being said a tad scaring I would say so.
Question, and it's not a referendum on the quality of your videos, but do you guys do post-production Catchpole audio? Because if not, that's amazing that you captured his voice so well!
Mine is a 1976 US car. Never restored. As new with the a/c option. Can’t tell you how great the feeling is when driving it. 30000 original miles. White/ chestnut. I’ve had it for 35 years. That says a lot I think. BMW would be stupid not to to a modern version, but they could never bake in the Triumph aroma…
Black on tan? Did you paint it? There's no record of Triumph ever producing this car in black, although you can find the colour on some British Leyland colour charts...
I would like to see BMW do something with it, but not half assed. Would love for them to build a car that is a true competitor to the Miata. Straight six, beautiful lines, manual trans, simple and straight forward. A good platform car for auto racing if one chooses.
Here in the US the TR-250 is highly desirable in that they only made them for one year - I believe the TR5 is the same as the TR-250 but is carbureted vs fuel injected . It has body of a TR-4 A with the 6 cylinder engine and the stripe across the bonnet near the front . If you can find one here they are most expensive !
I have a 1974 Britsh Green one for now 15 years love the car fun to drive and besides the oil on the garage floor and replacing fuel pump and an occasional mater cylinder. Know wood not one breakdown ever.
Got a 69 PI that was meant to be scrapped. It was in really bad condition, when I started to rebuild it, but the more I worked on it, the more I found, that most of the damage was purely cosmetic. Now the only thing I really need is a new injection system. Sadly that is almost impossible to get for a reasonable price, since the Brexit. Hopefully I might find one some day.
At age 12 I'd chosen a Fiat X1/9 over a Spitfire, and the TR6 was third (of course all was below an Esprit). Now 45 yrs later, the Spitfire is still pretty, probably wouldn't fit in an X1/9, and I've matured to fully appreciate the TR6. Always loved the wheel opening fit to the redlines.
=i have been driving my TR6 for more then 20 years and if I have to summarise the positive aspects are: reliability (with a bosch fuel pump and good spare parts), esay to maintain, good performance, fuel consumption, comfort for a tall man as me (changing the back shock absorbers, driveshafts uprated). The only negative aspect, if there is one could be the hard clutch. Now I put an electronic injection system (MaxxEcu) and it is incredebly fast.
Great video,,lived in Rhosneigr for years and visited the racetrack regular,,,also my dream car,,,retire in 6 months so a car like that would make my day..thanx..
Never owned a TR6 but would love to, sadly there are no more left here in Barbados, i do however have a modified carbed engine and overdrive gearbox, looking for something to put it into, maybe an MGB if i can find a good body shell, that said, i'd love to see Triumph make a come back like the motorcycles did, I had a 2000 Mk1 ,a 2000 Mk2, 3 1500cc Spitfires, a Stag , a 1360 Herald and a 1200cc Herald that i put a modded 2000cc 6 into, sadly i dont have any cars now but 5 bikes still.
I was a TR7 & 8 owner for many years but, tbh, I hankered after the 6. But even 30yrs ago, these cars were not what I would call 'affordable'. Sure, you can buy a basket for the 6k Hagerty suggested but a sorted TR6 was well into 5 figures back in the 90's. I imagine that figure could be quite eye-watering now...
Love my 69 pi . Rebuilt it in my back yard 4 years ago from a bare chassis and new floors, sills ,interior, etc, etc,etc.with some added professional bodywork the total $ cost amounted to what its worth today (my 3 years labour was free!) Very wary about BMW reviving the brand, Mini is ok but look what the Chinese did to the MG
I too was an MG guy. Then, my mate bought a TR6 and I envied his engine and the beautiful style.
I've had my TR6 since 1969 and still love it to death.
Weakest transmission I've ever seen. Loved the car, though.
I've owned my TR6 since college, or 1981. With much hard work and good fortune I've probably owned over 50 cars including exotics, muscle cars and classics. The one car I never sold (and never will) is my TR6. It's still my favorite and always brings a smile to my face. Maybe it just reminds me of simpler times.
Love the TR6, I do more miles in mine than any other in my collection. Great noise, fun, narrow for the lanes in Dorset. Decent boot for trips and all the parts are cheap and easy to get hold of. The prices will only go one way.
great video Henry, back in the 1984 friend of mine had a TR-7 and took to a Triumph specialist where we live in central Canada and he was very good at what he did, he had a custom intake made to fit a Webbers and a exhaust header and upgraded clutch assembly, before the mods the car was peppy and the mods it sounded glorious and drove pretty fast for a little car that weighed almost nothing 120mph was easy for this car, we were driving home from the Lake on a Sunday and it is 140 miles from Winnipeg and we were cruising along at 100 mph and a TR-6 hauled ass past us so my friend tried to catch up to it and no chance we got unto 125 mph and that TR-6 was still an easy 1/4 mile ahead , we couldn't close the gap and finally caught up to him at the gas station just outside the city and my friend asked the guy who was laughing as we walked up to his car saying what's under the hood, so after feeling up he showed us a triple Webber set up and new exhaust header and some other internal work he had done to head and valve train, my english friend use to call this race type tune up and then proceeded to tell us who did the work and it was the same Triumph specialist that did my friends car, it was lots of fun and laughs, thank you for bringing back the memories 👍
Thank you for sharing this story! ☺️ Our pleasure
One of the reasons why I fell in love with European cars and roadsters at a time when all by buddies were lusting after muscle cars. They all wanted Mustangs and Camaros and I dreamt of SLs, MGBs, and Jaguars not to mention the occasional Ferrari. A sweet little design!
These were always my favourite out of the TR series. Perfect proportions.
Fantastic car, I've had mine since 2009. Clocked up many thousands of happy miles with it. Being body on chassis construction they do flex a little, and the cockpit is a little snug compared to say an MGB. But it is what it is, and with a 2.5 litre straight six fuel injected engine, coupled to a 4 speed gearbox with overdrive, gives plenty of power. Independent rear suspension, and a double wishbone front suspenion making a reasonally comfortable ride. Then when you hit the throttle and hear the soundtrack of the six cylinders beating, at full chat, yes that's what it's all about with top down motoring 👍
Father had one. British beast.
Got any stories of it to share?
Hello Henry, thanks for an interesting video. I own a 73 TR6 at present and owned a 72 in 1981 which was an as new car. Its ineveitable that cars have matured a huge amount since almost 50years ago so those who fault this car are likely basing this on the experience of modern motoring, especially regarding huge (and pointless) amounts of power. I have found the TR6 to be a more than adequate fast tourer on the open roads of New Zealand. It becomes more of a handful around town but not such that it becomes unpleasant but it can be hard on a TR driving in stop start city traffic. With modern shocks, tyres and setup, the TR corners very well in my opinion. THere are weaknesses such as the control of end float on the motor, injection foibles, a dubious/heavy clutch, and the 6 universal joints and splines of the rear end which require attention more often than ideal, but these are well known. Of course any car that was used on roads in the winter with use of road salt had a large problem with rust and the TR6 is no exception. However it does have (in my opinion) the advantage that the body can be lifted off the chassis and repairs made to both parts. This makes it superior to me than the MGC which I have owned two of. So I think it is a desireable classic, but less so than the TR5. As for a BMW rendition of a TR6 no thanks. I owned a 10 year old 330Ci cabriolet BMW from 50,000km to 100,000. It had been professionally maintained and initially was superb, and was always a lovely handling superlative car BUT. At least three times when I needed full power it cut completely to get home power, oil seals all hardened with leaking, plastic engine parts all likewise leaked, hydraulic hoses for power steering seeped fluid through the walls, multiple sensors failed, a 50c nylor washer in an impossible position rendered the transmission unshiftable and the only fix was a 750$ hear shift assy... I could go on. If you took that car to 50years you would not be able to keep it on the road as you can a TR. As to the Z3s I had a 2.8 as well and that was a tricky beast on the open road, and nowhere near as nice as the 330Ci.
In summary if you like classic British sports cars Jags and Austin Healeys are impossible for the average man but the TR6 is still affordable although my observation is that prices are on the way up which makes sense as the owners have to spend decent amounts on them. Be in while you can! But do the due diligence - especially chassis and inside wings. Get the excellent books by Roger Williams before you buy the car. Enjoy!!
This is the episode that I was waiting for
Always a dream car on my list. I met a woman who had taken one and fixed up all the inherent engineering flaws (electrics, rear suspension, etc) without losing the character that makes the car appealing. These cars would be worthy of some of the modern treatments that tuners are doing.
in the states i have a 72 my brother a 74. in our collections. the tr6 is the jetski of all of them you cannot drive them without a smile on your face. anything that breaks can be fixed. just love these cars. oh and yes BMW should revive the brand, i always thought their z cars are what the spitfire would have grown up to be.
I love my 1974 TR6 with 125 bhp. We did many lovely trips abroad ( from the Netherlands, that is) to England, Scotland, Germany, France and even to Italy (toscany). Hope to enjoy my car for many years to come.
Thanks for sharing! Sound like a wonderful ownership experience
Ever since I was teen-ager, my 3 favorite cars to own in my life time were a 1: XKE, 2: '53 Buick Skylark, and a Triumph TR6. So an XKE was out of my price range as was the Buick. 9 years ago I had the great opportunity to buy a '71 TR6 for $400! It had blown a head gasquet back in 1983 and had been sitting in a garage in Seattle ever since. It was well toasted as it was this guys (2nd owner) high school chick magnet car but it was all there and no body damage and no rust. He had to get rid of it as he was moving, and if I didn't buy it it was going to the salvage yard for scrap! Drug it home to the Southern Oregon coast and after a few thousand dollars and tons of sympathy and tolerence from my wife (I bought her a '96 BMW Z3 to ease the pain) it was rebuilt (cooling system, ignition system, oiling system, exhaust system, fuel system, electrical system, suspension system, brakes, tires, $$$$$$$$). Long story-short; it turned out that this is the very car that my mail man took his wife out on their FIRST DATE in. And so what else could I do? When it was their anniversary I handed Larry the keys and he took his wife out for a "Date Night!" She was soooooo blown away! She had NO IDEA! Karma! What goes around comes around! Sometimes I just LOVE being alive just for the pure sake of being ALIVE! There is nothing better than cruising down HWY 101 on the Southern Oregon Coast in a vintage Triumph TR6 with some buds, (Dano-TR6, Gilbey-GT6, Peter-XKE, Roseanne-BMW Z3, Larry-427 Cobra, John-1972 Ferrari, Ray-19?? Morgan, Robert-TR6, you get the idea. And to think that I used to be a '65 Mustang convertible (we owned 2 at the same time, his and hers) guy! OH! Oh! my wife also owns a '98 Camaro Z28 (she's 81 years old now and quite the "shoe" as she has a few autocross wins under her belt! Life is to short for BORING CARS!!! 😎👍
I have a 1974 dual Zenith Stromberg carburetor version and I love this little car! Very fun to drive.
Yes I would love to see BMW which owns the Triumph brand to revive this little British sports roadster into a modern version of this TR6 😊
They would sell you a Z4 with a slightly different body and a triumph badge for 15k more.
@@agr18181 yes they probably would 😊
absolutely!!
Come on BMW & get new version of these Beauties back on market!!
I bought mine in 2003. Was looking for an MGB but the owner had the MGB and a TR6. The MG was a bit of a rust bucket so I asked him if the TR6 was for sale he said well not really. Long story short I ending up buying it and drove it home. Restored it over the next 2 years and still driving it in 2023. Lovely car, plenty of power and great looks. A 15 minute trip sometimes turns into a hour and a half because of the people stopping you and asking questions about it. Great car, plenty of parts available including upgrades. Highly recommend this classic.
I love mine and you are spot on with that straight 6 sound it’s delicious. It puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it
Love these! I dated a woman a few decades ago just because she had one :). Snug seating, low to the ground. Heavy steering and brakes - very direct. Outstanding looks and one of the best sounds a car ever made. The woman was quite nice, too. BMW, PLEASE STAY AWAY - DON'T MESS UP OUR MEMORIES WITH SOME MASSIVELY OVER-PRICED POSER VERSION THAT'LL SPEND HALF ITS LIFE IN THE SERVICE CENTER!
True Bloke's car - James May
Excellent! I have a 1971 Triumph Spitfire 1300 which I’ve been restoring over the last 2 years- Not a fast car, but it likes to rev and is every bit as fun, if not more so than a modern sports car. There’s something special about the mechanical engagement and simplicity of an old Triumph roadster…
Nicee :). Only a few more days until 2022... I hope we get see the long awaited comparison between the AMG One, Aston Martin Valkyrie and GMA T50 ;)
Amg one is still away from production, I've heard they pushed production of customer cars to end of 2022 or start of 2023. Still one can hope though.
6:41 that rear quarter shot really makes this car look good. shit, i even kinda want one now
Potential buyers please be sure thoroughly check the ladder frame suspension for rust. Only car I ever owned that rusted from the frame up!
How much oil did you leave on the track?
Yes, I have one of these and can confirm that it turns heads - in a good way.
It's been mothballed a few years so it needs dusting off and using again. There are lots of spare parts available and is pretty easy to work on. I converted it to run on unleaded (took cylinder head to specialist) and replaced the fuel pump & metering unit. Kept the old pump and put new unleaded seals in. Need to look in to what changes might be needed for B10, or just use Super Plus...
You do need to keep an eye on corrosion of course... It's a British Classic Car! ;-)
I loved watching this video. We bought a new Triumph TR6 with a removable hard top in 1973. She cost $4500 plus $500 for the hard top. I learned to drive a 4 speed on that car. We found that it had a very unforgiving clutch. Many of our friends could not get her to start because it seemed they didn’t press the clutch pedal completely to the floor. The driver could not be sloppy about that! That was comical! I was a 23 year old girl and never had a problem with the clutch. Starting on a cold morning meant pulling the choke out completely, then slowly releasing. Otherwise, she would stall. I loved that car! After our son was born in 1977, we retired it to the garage for about 10 years until I started driving her again. In 1997, we moved to the beach and that was the end of her. Within two years, the rust was obvious but there wasn’t anything we could do to protect her. We reluctantly sold her to a collector (who really wanted that hardtop) in about 2010. I cried when they towed her away but she had given us many years of enjoyment. Thanks for releasing these memories!
I would love to see BMW relaunch the TR-6 with a straight six. I wasn't even aware that they owned the brand now. With the Z4 possibly coming to an end, a small two seat sports car like the TR-6 would be very welcome.
In 1971, I went to lunch in a 1969 Pontiac. I went back to work in a 1970 TR-6 !!!! Still in love with TR-6's.
I have one - owned for 21 years. I love it. Anything BMW made would only ever be a BMW - these classics cannot be recreated by re-badging another brands product; no disrespect to the mighty BMW, who've made their own great classics
This car has amazing proportions
My dad owned an MG B GT (we need more roadster-based hatches!) before my time and had a red TR4 project car when I was growing up. The thing was never finished on the inside but I had a few rides in it before he regrettably sold it to pay for a new septic system. Luckily my buddy had an MG B for us to tool around in, and I eventually found my way into an NA Miata. I'll always have a fondness for these little British cars and what they inspired!
Maybe as my first classic...
I owned a Triumph TR7 Coupe dark blue...... it was a beauty......I still miss it...!!!!
Had a couple of these . The injection pre 73 CP 150 ones are a brilliant 90mph cruiser on the motorway if set up correctly. Roof off naturally. The carb ones are asthmatic and bear no relation in feel. Henry you need to give it some welly. They are tough as old boots.
Definitely should have opened the throttle. Not a good review really because the car was being driven so timidly and no mention of the overdrive for high speed cruising. Shouldn't have been reviewed by an MG enthusiast!
Au contraire, my smog free, high compression TR6 is a screamer. Triumph Standard not the same car as a Leyland TR6
I didn't realise the UK Hagerty channel is separate, I agreed with this whole heartedly!
I’ve been a Triumph guy since I was a kid. My dad is a Londoner and has always bought TR’s & MG’s but he’s had a 1972 TR6 for over 10 years now which I learned a standard transmission on. I love it so much
The 1976 Triumph TR6 has always been my favorite car. I was 16 years old in 1976. .
There is one around the corner from me owned by an elderly auto electrician who fitted a 3.9 rover v8, 5 spd and motec injection to it years ago. It's running minilite rims and is a stunner
Love my TR6 ( and my 3A, 4, 250, 8 😉)
You've got excellent taste! I too wouldn't want a TR7, but the 8 would be great to have.
and your Harley, and your Alfa, and your Capri. Did I miss any??
@@grahamjohn331 cat 😉
David you are obsessed 🤩
I have owned an ex US 1975 TR6 for 20 years. Absolutely fabulous car - its mimosa in colour and turns heads when out and about. BMW should really revive the marque.
Wish these episodes were longer! Great job as usual!
Glad you like them!
Had one for the weekend once. Problem is / was I also owned a 914-6 at the time. The TR felt as if it was a ‘50s car trying to be modern whereas the little 6 felt all as if it was a ‘70s child. I parted ways w the little six, own a 71 911, but find myself listing after another TR, a TR4 now.
Best looking old small car by far in my opinion!
My '74 (US) TR-6, sold 40 years ago, remains the defining automobile of my driving career. It was my first experience of driving a car primarily hinging on ankles and wrists, and I haven't owned anything so fundamentally connected since. Who cares if the hydraulic clutch mysteriously emptied itself regularly? You could start it from a stop using the starter and shift it sans clutch. Electrics sucked, lever shocks sucked, I didn't care. No idea how fast it was - I had no time to look and couldn't trust the instruments anyway - but I know it'd pull an indicated 5200rpm in top gear with the top down from repeated experience (no idea why I'm still alive) and it seemed like transonic speed in that car. I will carry the fond experience of that car to my grave.
Said it time and time again Henry is simply the pinnacle of motor journalism! I don’t care what the car is, I only want Henry to review it or tell me it’s history
I had a '72. Nice looking and fun when it ran. I got to the point where I would stop fixing any of the annoying little electrical troubles as they would just start working again in a week or so.. It was very important to have the rear logo in the middle of the Union Jack. I had mine up to 105 mph. Mind you that was quite a number of years gone by. I sold it to a workmate who stripped it down and re did it from the ground up.
I am lucky enough to have a 1969 and it is quite clean. Insured through Hagerty actually. I pleasure to drive and great to listen to. I have treated her to racing fuel lately ($9.99 US ) per US gallon but there is a smooth difference. Just a sweet and great car. I might have to sell the old girl but am reluctant to do so. Summers here in the US on the East Coast so it's getting perfect weather.
Believe it or not I actually purchased it from the ORIGINAL owner and she's been in California until I had her shipped out here. Just a lovely car.
Enjoyed your video so thanks,
Coming in a bit late. I’m the original owner of a 1969 TR6. It came off the assembly line on October 8, 1968 - an “early” TR6. In 2018, it completed a frame off restoration. It looks and drives better than it did in 1969! It is a “numbers match” car, except that it now has a very functional A-type overdrive, custom wood steering wheel with ‘69 TR6 hub, custom dash, Charles Skinner leather interior, and new Robbins soft top. All that sounds like a sales ad. It isn’t. This is a car I have enjoyed in the US and in Europe while in the US Army (mostly Bavaria). If you’ve never driven a “properly sorted” TR6, you don’t know what you you are missing!
Never underestimate the Triumph straight six - my mk2 Vitesse would eat MGBs while carrying passengers, wonderfully torquey and would rev to the red line without effort it would pass 100mph but then why would you want to when it was smoother at the legal limit. Not forgetting the glorious sound of the six when you gave it more fuel to drink.
Tr8 guy for noise, fun, and speed. Also a Tr 7 and a 944 Basic. Almost 80, but still A time to enjoy!
Thumbed a lift non stop Leeds to London M1 back then ..100+ top down Yellow ( Saffron?) ...to go see Led Zeppelin earls Court... Yep those were the days! If that guy should happen to read this ,thanks again!
Since 1972, lusted after this car, I was 10. It was either this or my father's friend's Pantera. That Pantera is like unobtanium. I found a former drag race TR6, 71', set up for small block, but stripped out. Nearly 20 years now and still working on it but it has the HiPo 289 from a wrecked Cobra, C4 and Drag type 4-link rear, 9", tubbed. Needs interior still, paint, etc. Ferry dust was sprinkled on front suspension to get it to handle twisty's better. Love my little rescue toy and my son's can fight over her when I'm gone! Over 92,000 made? There's enough to resto-mod, so don't crush me, I rescued a used race car and made it better?
Your TR6 big smile says it all.
Carfection is great, never miss an episode ! Thank you for your service to the car enthusiast community.
I drove a friend' s TR6 in San Francisco. With its big wheels and low to the ground, it was "tape-cul" in French in the text, so not the most comfortable roadster/convertible roundabout but I always loved the combination of the Michelotti design and the straight six motor/4-speed box with overdrive from British Leyland/Triumph.
I owned one like this new from Rossleighs in Newcastle.I see it is still on the books at Swansea. Travelling from Teesside to Beverley I found by chance the B1249 Staxton to Driffield on summers evening. Happy days!
Thank you for sharing your TR6 story ☺️
The true value of a car is in the stories it holds and the pleasure of ownership. My father had a blue '74 reg TR6 (PPX 611K) when it was reasonably new and he has hours of stories to tell about it. Everything from replacing all 8 rusty panels to getting stopped by the police when pushing it home during a thunderstorm when the electrics packed up. He still regrets selling it to a man in a traffic jam on the North Circ. for £1600 in the 80s but at least it's still on the road!
This series has been very interesting, so many nice cars and great advice, awesome.
Glad you're enjoying the series. To see future series like this when they come out, subscribe and hit the notification bell ☺️
@@Carfection 😅 I've been subscribed for quite a long time now. Love your channel's content since (including your Instagram). Keep up the great work.
I have a 1976 TR6 here in Ontario Canada. I enjoy the drive on the twisties.
I have a 1971 in British Racing Green and with chrome wire wheels. Love it!
I own 07 R56 and honestly I love the car it's my third Mini but the car that made me fall in love with British sports cars was my 73 MGB GT. I wish that British Leyland would buy them back. Bring back the Triumph, the MG's and how nice would it be to see the Jaguar XKE brought to today's standards, by far one of the beautiful cars ever made.
When I owned an 'H' registered TR 6 car in the seventies, with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd & 4th gears, it was a great 'cruiser' - because it was not any good at going round corners.
I was fortunate to have a Dad that had more than a few sportscars a TR3, TR4 and TR6 among them i must say by the time the TR6 came around I had discovered V8s. To be fair It wasnt a particularly well sorted car. Left hand drive and needed a resto but Dad enjoyed it for a couple of years as a daily only 8 years ago he is in his 70s bloody legend my Dad.
Drove a ‘69 in high school, early 1980’s. Drove a ‘74 in college, late 1980’s.
Graduated to to ‘69 280SL. No Lucas electrical, no cardboard transmission tunnel, no fluid leaks, etc.
Same beautiful styling, same joy to drive on a warm sunny day.
The TR-6 will always remind me of my misspent youth but it’s inferior to the pagoda in every way.
One of my dream cars when I was 18 years old, in the beginning of the 90ies.
Great series !
Thank you!
I dig the TR6 and I love the styling! It sure sounds better than my old '68 MGB...
I have a 1972 TR6 on the que to restore but I also have a 1962 TR4 that I’ve owned since since 1978. These cars are great fun and agree that they are under valued. I do wish BMW would bring back the TR. They could bring it to market as a lower level Z4 and compete with Mazda mx5/ fiat 124.
I have always loved the TR6! They are the perfect British roadster! I owned a Spitfire 1500, but always wanted a TR6!
I had a 1971 pimento red 150 bhp TR6 back in the 80"s. Loved the car but could never get the PI sorted. I spent half my time changing injectors, pumps and metering units. Sadly it was whilst attempting the pump change that the car caught alight. It was a total loss.
So sorry to hear this 😭😭
Had one, long ago, when all this was fields (i.e., my high school years). Not exactly a shining example of the type (a beater, in fact), but I loved it and cursed it in equal measure.
My dad and his friend each had one and they pretty much fell apart. He told me they used to have an oil pan under the car IN THE SHOWROOM lol. This is a perpetual maintenance machine!
I first noticed the TR6 when in the 70's the American TV show "The Mod Squad" had one as their car, yellow if I remember correctly. Karman did an excellent job on the body, such a contrast to the TR7 which followed.
Hi all, nice video on the tr6. I own one, being a '74 model with its quirks.
There great fun to drive, and as mentioned in the video on Sunday afternoon. Without the sigaret that is.
I've nevver been up to 120 nog however in this, like being said a tad scaring I would say so.
Question, and it's not a referendum on the quality of your videos, but do you guys do post-production Catchpole audio? Because if not, that's amazing that you captured his voice so well!
The gentleman from hagerty has alot if interesting info.
Could pick John's brain for hours
Just sold my 76 tr6 in September.. I miss it already! But I had eyes for a classic mini. I'll be back for another TR in a few years though!
Really enjoying this series! Thanks.
Mine is a 1976 US car. Never restored. As new with the a/c option. Can’t tell you how great the feeling is when driving it. 30000 original miles. White/ chestnut. I’ve had it for 35 years. That says a lot I think. BMW would be stupid not to to a modern version, but they could never bake in the Triumph aroma…
Had a black on tan '72 with Ansa exhaust, you think that sounds good now...
Loved that car and never had anything go wrong while I had it.
Black on tan? Did you paint it? There's no record of Triumph ever producing this car in black, although you can find the colour on some British Leyland colour charts...
@@ulbruce Yes, it was painted before I bought it.
Would definitely like to see the TR-6 back in production. A wider body and more power would be nice. Love the original instrument panel.
I would like to see BMW do something with it, but not half assed. Would love for them to build a car that is a true competitor to the Miata. Straight six, beautiful lines, manual trans, simple and straight forward. A good platform car for auto racing if one chooses.
Here in the US the TR-250 is highly desirable in that they only made them for one year - I believe the TR5 is the same as the TR-250 but is carbureted vs fuel injected . It has body of a TR-4 A with the 6 cylinder engine and the stripe across the bonnet near the front . If you can find one here they are most expensive !
I have a 1974 Britsh Green one for now 15 years love the car fun to drive and besides the oil on the garage floor and replacing fuel pump and an occasional mater cylinder.
Know wood not one breakdown ever.
For some reason, there are dozens of TR6 in great shape here on Cape Cod. I see them every weekend out and about.
Yes. Definitely needs a rebirth . The quintessential modern British roadster . A young ‘ lad’s ‘ car .
Got a 69 PI that was meant to be scrapped. It was in really bad condition, when I started to rebuild it, but the more I worked on it, the more I found, that most of the damage was purely cosmetic. Now the only thing I really need is a new injection system. Sadly that is almost impossible to get for a reasonable price, since the Brexit. Hopefully I might find one some day.
At age 12 I'd chosen a Fiat X1/9 over a Spitfire, and the TR6 was third (of course all was below an Esprit). Now 45 yrs later, the Spitfire is still pretty, probably wouldn't fit in an X1/9, and I've matured to fully appreciate the TR6. Always loved the wheel opening fit to the redlines.
I own a Tr-250. Cant wait for the spring....
Cornering is and was always easily fixable without destroying the character of the TR6
=i have been driving my TR6 for more then 20 years and if I have to summarise the positive aspects are: reliability (with a bosch fuel pump and good spare parts), esay to maintain, good performance, fuel consumption, comfort for a tall man as me (changing the back shock absorbers, driveshafts uprated). The only negative aspect, if there is one could be the hard clutch. Now I put an electronic injection system (MaxxEcu) and it is incredebly fast.
Great video,,lived in Rhosneigr for years and visited the racetrack regular,,,also my dream car,,,retire in 6 months so a car like that would make my day..thanx..
I own one... a 1972 triple webers and a bunch more. Jay Leno's head mechanic Bernard hopped mine up 2+ decades ago. It'll easily do 120+ mph 🙂
Never owned a TR6 but would love to, sadly there are no more left here in Barbados, i do however have a modified carbed engine and overdrive gearbox, looking for something to put it into, maybe an MGB if i can find a good body shell, that said, i'd love to see Triumph make a come back like the motorcycles did, I had a 2000 Mk1 ,a 2000 Mk2, 3 1500cc Spitfires, a Stag , a 1360 Herald and a 1200cc Herald that i put a modded 2000cc 6 into, sadly i dont have any cars now but 5 bikes still.
I was a TR7 & 8 owner for many years but, tbh, I hankered after the 6. But even 30yrs ago, these cars were not what I would call 'affordable'. Sure, you can buy a basket for the 6k Hagerty suggested but a sorted TR6 was well into 5 figures back in the 90's. I imagine that figure could be quite eye-watering now...
I am also a MG man but Triumph made some very cool cars. The TR250 might be my favorite but I wouldn't mind a TR6.
I have had my ‘73 since 1982 and love it. I would love to see BMW relaunch the brand. I believe it would be a smashing success.
We hope so too!
Thanks for sharing.
For how long will we still see these beauties on the roads in an electrifying world?
Love my 69 pi . Rebuilt it in my back yard 4 years ago from a bare chassis and new floors, sills ,interior, etc, etc,etc.with some added professional bodywork the total $ cost amounted to what its worth today (my 3 years labour was free!) Very wary about BMW reviving the brand, Mini is ok but look what the Chinese did to the MG
The TR6 was beautiful
Triumph is certainly a Marque that should return !! , they made so many lovely models :-) saloons & sportsters !!