Before I bought my '72 TR6, I thought I might want an Austin Healey 3000, but so glad I didn't get one. My TR6 has a hot custom cam, triple Webers, competition shocks and springs, bigger rear sway bar, lightened flywheel, electronic ignition, quad exhaust tips and much more. In overdrive it'll pull beyond 120 mph easily! It is a great car! Super reliable and fun to drive. If you are looking for a classic British roadster, look no further, buy one!
TR6 Driven once - interesting - wet cobbles foot down dropped the clutch - squirming - into 2nd ! Mate screaming -. STOP !! GET OUT “ expletive expletive -- 72’ on a K plate - Quality just the best - Superb !!!
Great review of one of our best sports cars. I do more miles in mine still than any other classic. They are tough and you can get everything you need to keep them on the road. Great fun.
My first TR was a 1975 Magenta TR6, then I bought a 1963 TR4 which I still have 38 years later along with a 1958 TR3 which I imported from the US and did a nut & bolt restoration on - my favourite, the TR4, followed by the TR6.
I bought a '72 in '74. Pimento red. When it went, it was fabulous: for its day, good performance and it made a lovely noise. However, and it was a big 'however', it was by far the most unreliable car I ever owned. In the 8 years I had it, the diff exploded; a wheel detached itself and went spinning past; the fuel pump packed up (twice); the rear driveshaft mountings broke (both sides, different times); the clutch seized and the wiring burnt out. Other than that, it was fine. Apart from the rust, but that was a common problem back then!
A friend of mine has one, but a 1970 model. To anybody who has only driven a modern car, it comes as a shock and it's almost like learning to drive again. Looks wise, they are superb. It does handle, it absolutely does not like poor road surfaces, of which there are a lot in the UK and the standard damping is really rather bad on bumpy roads (although that can be improved). The fuel injection system isn't quite as bad to look after as it might appear, but it's also not exactly trouble free either. The exhaust note on my friend's example is very rorty, and I think it's louder than standard due to the exhaust system a previous owner had. It certainly isn't a car you want to do very long journeys in, although swapping out the seats for something more supportive helps. It's, of course, very heavy to steer at slow speeds. However, it is great fun, and they aren't too difficult to work on either. However, you do need to maintain them well, and the don't react well to being left undriven for long periods.
I had a white N reg back in the day. Loved it. You didn’t mention the overdrive which I found very useful. Clutch was heavy in town but get out on to a decent road and it was easy to drive.
Always have a nosey at a TR6 when I see them at shows. Triumph did make some nice cars in the 60s/70s. TR6, Doly Sprint, Spitfire and GT6 all great. Be nice to see how an early TR6 would perform with a megasquirt upgrade, some newer injectors and modern ignition.
I think that the engine detune was just to save costs, because the engine camshaft, pistons, valves etc were brought in line with the Triumph 2.5 PI saloon car, which saved construction time as only one engine came down the production line.
Thank you for a very interesting video. I have got an MGC Roadster that has got all the uprated suspension and engine modifications developed by Doug Smith at MG Motorsport which overcome the relative shortcomings of the C in standard spec. Looks like driving a TR6 is as thrilling as an uprated C!
Regarding the 155 bhp , actually 150 bhp , l think you meant CP . And the Walnut was Teak , although retrospectively many owners do fit walnut . But , as you say , it is a fabulous car
I live in New Hampshire, USA. There is a nice 1973 model for sale a few miles from me, seems rust free, has the steel top, additionally a stainless steel exhaust and triple Weber carbs. Red over tan, around 60,000 miles, luggage rack, seems quite nice. Asking $20,000, $17,000 would probably do it. Not for me, I have a Jaguar F-Type and a Jaguar XJ8 in the garage and a 2016 Mazda MX5 sitting outside.