The body was re-designed by Karmann of Germany, although the centre section and doors remained the same as on the Triumph TR4, TR4A and TR5 models. The old four cylinder engine that had been used in all models from the TR2 and TR3 through to the TR4A, was replaced by the six cylinder 2,500 cc engine with Lucas mechanical petrol injection. The Triumph TR5 and TR6 were the first UK production sports cars with Petrol Injection. The same engine was also fitted to the Triumph 2.5 PI saloon.
From 1967 to 1972 the engine developed 150 bhp in the TR6s, but this was problematical in town traffic, suffering from rough running. So for 1972 the engine was de-tuned to 125 bhp to make it much smoother and easier to drive. The Lucas Petrol Injection did not meet the US emission control regulations, so US cars had the 2,500 cc engine but was equipped with twin Stromberg carburettors and only produced about 104 bhp. The TR5 was sold as the Triumph 250 with twin Strombergs.
The interior remained similar to the TR4A and TR5 with a walnut dash and good quality trim. The gearbox has synchromesh on all four gears and is fitted with overdrive that works on 3rd and 4th gears.
Our Triumph TR6 has been the subject of a complete body off restoration from 1988 through the early 1990s. The chassis was stripped down and re-painted, the suspension rebuilt, all four wings replaced and the body repainted in its original colour of Mimosa Yellow. The engine was rebuilt and the unreliable Lucas fuel pump replaced with a modern Bosch one. The car won the Moss award for Best TR at the 1993 Classic Sportscar Show and had covered less than 5,000 miles between then and 2001 when we bought it.
When we purchased the TR6 from TR Bitz in Warrington, they installed a new metering unit fitted with unleaded seals, and we have run it on unleaded petrol ever since. Since then it has been driven all over the country by our customers, including a Canadian couple who took it on the Three Castles Tour of North Wales. We have driven it on the MSA Euroclassic five times. We have the abiding memory of having climbed all 49 hairpin bends of the Stelvio pass on September 11th 2001 to hear that a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Centre buildings. Then at the top of the Gavia pass we heard that another plane had flown into the second tower. The run finished at the circuit at Imola.
The 2003 Euroclassic took us across the Pyrenees to Valencia in Spain and in September 2004 the TR6 took us on the Euroclassic from Paris to Florence, via Monaco, without missing a beat.
On 7 November 2004 the TR6 speedo finally went round the clock, having completed 100,000 miles. Here's to its next 100,000!
In 2005 it had it's fourth European tour around Denmark and finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden and then in September 2005 it took us around northern France, starting from Lille and finishing in Baden-Baden in Germany. It had a year off in 2007 as we took our E-Type Roadster on the Euroclassic around Spain and Portugal, but then in 2008 we headed North again and took it on the Euroclassic 'Nordic Odyssey' around Norway and Sweden.
Most classic cars run better for being used and we think this counts as 'using' our TR6 properly. So why not follow our own lead and treat yourself to the ultimate Triumph TR6 driving experience.
For daily, weekend and weekly hire rates for our Triumph TR6, see the section on Hire Charges.
