Cheap 1970 Triumph TR6 Project
I am not going to sugar coat this review. This 1970 Triumph TR6is a basket case with rust, dings and rot but the motor will run. The good news is that the seller is only asking $800. So if you know these cars and can do body, frame and interior work, you would still be crazy to take this on as an investment. The car is located in New London, Connecticut and the seller has two other Triumphs that he is restoring and want this one gone. Frankly, I don’t see anything that could be parted out except the engine, transmission and maybe the slotted mags. You can see the listing here on Craigslist. We appreciate Pat L. bringing this project car to our attention.
The interior looks better than the exterior and at least still has bucket seats but the dash bezel looks water damaged and the door panels and every other vinyl or plastic part is damaged or warped. Even though this is the least of the new owner’s worries, the muffler is shot and the seller is including a dual outlet exhaust manifold and stainless steel exhaust system. The car will need frame work and the seller is willing to include a front spare suspension, used convertible top and steering box.
Under the hood the car has a 2.5 liter inline six cylinder engine that the seller states is in running condition. This engine in US spec was rated at 105 horsepower from the factory. The seller acquired this car along with another car in a package deal. After doing some valve work and rebuilding the Stromberg carburetors, the engine is in running order. The seller put the back wheels up in the air and shifted through the gears and said the 4 speed manual transmission is working.
By the way, the car doesn’t come with a title. I hope as you look at this car and see the bent front bumper, rust and rough interior, you keep in mind that the seller has it listed at only $800. With prices climbing, is this car salvageable?
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Comments
Slotted mags are worth $800. Good parts car.
This is Pebble Beach material next to some recently featured Mopars 😂 Also shows what a gem my new-to-me ‘75 TR6 is despite its few electrical issues I have to sort out 🙂
when i needed wipers….i aimed at pot holes. maybe why the rear axle support tore off the frame. spent more on welding and cutting than the USA spent on raising ships from Pearl harbor.
If the frame is generally solid and not made of Saltines, and if the bulkheads and tunnel of tr body are solid, this is a good deal. It’s only economically reasonable if you can do most of the work yourself, but it looks very complete and original down to the shift knob. TR6s are fun cars, with a great sound and very simple, reliable mechanicals (as British sports cars go).
Yes, I hate to be cynical but at $800 I would buy this in a heartbeat just to part it out and make some money to subsidize a more viable project or as a good parts car to accompany your ongoing restoration if you already had a TR6. There are many multiples of $800 in parts there. The paddle switch on the right of the column even indicates this was an overdrive car I believe?
On the flip side, as a Triumph TR enthusiast I should say this car is still save-able and it would be shame to take it out of circulation. as the saying goes “they aren’t making any more of these….”
Heart vs Head. Head says someone will cash in on this as a financial opportunity. Heart says this one could be rescued – keep it on the road if at all possible.
I agree with the author that prices are slowly climbing for good examples of TR6 and TBH I’ve been surprised how affordable TR6s have been for many years. They just seem like such a great all-round package as a classic car. They are still relatively inexpensive to buy, mechanically simple so easy to work on, great parts support, modern enough to be safe and practical in today’s traffic but still with that vintage feel to drive, great performance (yeah, I know, “a V6 Camry is faster” but with the top down and sitting just a few inches off the tarmac the performance is experienced pretty vividly) great sound. It’s also very easy and relatively inexpensive to boost that 104 BHP performance up to something more respectable if you are not living in a strict smog law state.
I already have a TR4 so don’t really need another project but I do keep an eye on local ads for a bargain TR6 to just stash away for a future project. I can’t believe they are going to stay this cheap for ever.
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Paddle switch on the right side is the dip switch for the headlights.
Overdrive switch would be an additional stalk on the column behind the turn signal stalk.
“Paddle” switch on the right side of the steering column…are you referring to the headlamp dip switch? Overdrive switch on TR6 cars was a separate stalk behind the turn signal stalk on the left side of the steering column.
Car is worth every all of $800 just for the bits and pieces. I have said for years the Triumph marque is grossly undervalued when compared to other overpriced and overrated sports cars out there. Long live our LBC’s!!
Perfect for a 289 swap. :-)
In the Craigslist ad, the seller says make an offer. I’m sure that you can pick this up for much less than $800.00.
There is “promise” here at ‘$800 little.’
Some guys will part it out and triple the amount.
Still some will ‘flip’ it for 2 large.
English project cars are like playing “Russian Roulette” with 3 in the cylinder.
It is worth every penny of $800. 30 years ago, you couldn’t touch one much better for $800. Frame repairs and title are the only two stumbling blocks to put this on the road. If you can do the frame repairs yourself, and your state has a reasonable path to a title, then put it on the road. If not, then it is worth twice that in parts.
I owned a TR6. You couldn’t pay me enough to own another one.