Triumph TR6 – Classic Cars at Dowleys

The Marque

Triumph

The Triumph Motor Company was a British motor manufacturer, first established by a German importer of bicycles in London in 1885 under his own name, S. Bettman. The Triumph name was adopted in 1897, as the Triumph Cycle Company, and the firm commenced motorcycle production in Coventry in 1902. Thanks to large military orders, Triumph was, by 1918, established as Britain’s largest motorcycle manufacturer.

The purchase of the Dawson Car Company saw Triumph commence car production in 1921. The 1927 Triumph Super 7 model sold in significant volumes until 1934. By then the company had changed name to the Triumph Motor Company but began to experience financial difficulties which led to the sell-off of the bicycle and motorcycle businesses. Subsequent decline and the drastic effects of World War 2 saw Triumph firstly enter receivership, change ownership and suffer the destruction of its Holbrook Lane works by bombing in 1940.

After the war, now under the ownership of the Standard Motor Company, the Triumph Motor Company (1945) Ltd commenced production with new models, beginning with the 1946 Triumph Roadster. The sporting heritage with which many enthusiasts associate the Triumph marque was established with the TR2, initiating the line of TR badged sports models that continued right through to 1981.

Purchased by Leyland Motors Ltd in 1960, Standard-Triumph eventually came under the umbrella of the British Leyland Motor Corporation. Through the 1960s and 1970s Triumph produced many of the popular models, both saloons and sports cars, for which it is arguably best known. These include the Herald, the Spitfire, Stag, Toledo and Dolomite, TR6, TR7 and TR8.

Its last production model was the Triumph Acclaim in 1981, by which time Triumph had ceased to produce original designs, the Acclaim being essentially a rebadged Honda Ballade. The marque was retired in 1984.

BMW currently own the trademark, acquired with its 1994 purchase of the Rover Group, the successor of British Leyland.

The Model

Triumph TR6

The Triumph TR6 two-seater sports car commenced production in September 1968 but was officially launched as a 1969 model year car. It proved to be a popular export to the USA, with approximately 90% of all TR6s produced crossing the Atlantic.

With a body designed by the Karmann company of Germany, the TR6 was produced on a relatively modest budget, sharing common components with the previous TR250 and TR5 models. Triumph’s 2.5 litre straight six engine powered all TR6s, mated to a four-speed manual transmission, augmented as an option by an overdrive. Over the TR6s life cycle, a series of petrol injection systems and carburettors were offered with power output ranging from around 104bhp in models with carburetted engines to 150bhp in early “CP” petrol injection models.  A removable hardtop was another frequently chosen option.

Through the production run of the TR6, small changes in the aesthetics and mechanics of the car were made though the essential classic British sporting 2-seater appearance remained consistent. Interestingly the paint choices offered varied by model year, so for sharp-eyed observers a TR6’s colour, assuming it retains the original paint scheme, can be a clear indicator of its age.

In terms of ownership and modern-day driving experience, there is still plenty of interest in what the TR6 offers to drivers. Experts may be in slight disagreement about its handling – Auto Express says the TR6 “isn’t the finest-handling sports car of its era” while Classic Car Weekly says it “offers fantastic handling” - but the steering is direct and responsive. Cornering is solid with little body roll, though the trade off for this might be a firm ride. Enthusiasts would likely concur that the TR6 offered a quintessential British sports car experience with enough power and performance to offer owners a rewarding drive.

The TR6 petrol-injection variant ceased production in 1975, and the carburetted version was continued right to the end of TR6 production in 1976. Today, it is interesting to note that the number of TR6 cars either taxed or under SORN in the UK has increased, in some part due to the model being reimported from the USA.

At the time of writing, Dowleys are proud to offer for sale a stunning 1970 Triumph TR6, registered in the UK since 1970 and boasting an exceptionally low mileage of just over 30,000 miles. Contact us today to arrange a viewing of this marvellous piece of British motoring history.