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+--- Thread: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... (/showthread.php?tid=103198)
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - DaviDC. - 09-11-2010
I might take this project on if the car was a gift, otherwise, no way.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - Thrift Store Scott - 09-11-2010
davester wrote:Agreed.
Post some pix (inside, outside, engine compartment) so we can get an idea of the condition.
Even if it's in not too bad a shape, there are several hard questions you must ask yourself:
1. Do I have a place to do this where the car can sit undisturbed and protected from the elements for at least a year?
2. Do Ombligo Junior and I work well together on involved projects?
3. Do I have practical personal experience repairing and maintaining an old car?
4. Is Ombligo Junior at all interested in this car beyond the "cool convertible" factor?
If the answer to any of those questions is "no", then walk away from the car and don't look back.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - davester - 09-11-2010
In my enthusiasm, I didn't go over the ground rules, as Thrift Store Scott has ably done. Answering all those questions in the affirmative is a necessity.
One point where I do differ from a lot of the posters above is in regarding old british iron as unreliable. During the day, specific Lucas and SU parts were indeed unreliable. However, there is so much knowledge out there on these parts today that eliminating the major reliability issues is not that difficult while undertaking a restoration. For example, SU fuel pumps were horribly unreliable due to the burning of electrical points in them. There's now a guy available that does nothing but remanufacture those pumps to new specs and he modifies the final product to solid state operation so that the points no longer burn. He does this for a remarkably low price and includes a lifetime warranty.
Once you fix the various unreliable bits, the basic cars are built like tanks and are much more durable than many cars on the road today.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - Don Kiyoti - 09-11-2010
M>B> wrote:
I wouldn't put a teenager in a car without modern safety features like airbags!
That level of overprotection is no way to live! My buddy had a TR-6 when we were in high school and we drove the hell out of it and survived just fine.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - voodoopenguin - 09-11-2010
When it comes to spares I think you will find that everything is available quite often in a better quality than the original. As davester said, the electrics are not a problem any more. They are also the type of car that won't lose its value if looked after.
Paul
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - Z - 09-11-2010
If you're mechanically capable and your son is interested, go for it. <1K isn't bad if the body is in good shape. The dash should be sandable and resealable. Carpets for 2-400 depending on quality. Good poly rubber for about $150, new top for 2-300. I'm not a fan of the big rubber bumpers that it picked up in that era, but it may be possible to retrofit a better bumper setup.
I bought my own '70 Triumph Spitfire at 16 years old, saying if I could read it I could figure it out (in terms of fixing). Get the Bentley manual for the TR6 and go to town. Any pics?
My spit:
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - Grateful11 - 09-11-2010
The only Triumph I've driven was a Spitfire. Very cool ride. Sounds like it could be a nice restore but
not sure I'd put my teens behind the wheel of a vehicle unless it had earned my trust.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - davester - 09-11-2010
One more thing to add. My daughter (now 22) helped with the restoration of the MG and her reward has been that it is now her main ride. She loves it, and especially loves that she has a much cooler car than any of her friends. She doesn't take it long distances though. She uses friends' cars or rentacars for big trips.
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - Ombligo - 09-12-2010
Thanks guys, I'm going to continue my research as there is plenty of time since my son is just 14 and I won't think of letting him drive alone until he is at least 17. But I also know this will take time to do right if we go that route.
No pics as the car is 150 miles away and buried under a garage full of junk. Some of my information is based on what I recall from the last time I could see it.
It's parked next to his other "collectible" that he thinks is much more valuable -- an 85 Camero with cross fuel injection :confused:
Re: Triumph TR6 -- deal or no deal... - DeusxMac - 09-12-2010
voodoopenguin wrote:
As davester said, the electrics are not a problem any more.
Paul
Which is why you'll have to calculate in the cost of updating any electrics if this car still has the original stuff.