Jason's Triumph TR6

Following on from the short-lived production run of the Triumph TR5 / TR250, the TR6 was introduced early in 1969. It carried the same inline six-cylinder, 2.5 litre engine that had been used in the earlier model. In terms of looks, when viewed from the side, the central section of the TR6 is much the same as the Michelotti designed TR5 / TR250. However, the front and rear had been totally revised by Karmann of Germany.

As with the TR5, the non-US version of the TR6 was fuel-injected, using a Lucas mechanical system. This petrol-injection (PI) system, as it was called, produced 150 bhp. For the US-market, with its more stringent restrictions regarding emissions, the engine was carburetted (as was the TR250) and only produced 104 bhp. TR6s featured four speed manual transmission, with optional overdrive.

Early non-US TR6s had a reported performance of 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph.

By the end of the production run in July 1976, 94,619 TR6s had been built. However, only 8,370 of these were sold in the UK.

Club member Jason remembers seeing a TR6 when he was a teenager: "I saw a TR6 filling up with fuel, I must have been 14 or 15 years old. It looked stunning and the roar as it left the forecourt was amazing. At that moment I said to myself one day, one day", says Jason.

As with many of us that own classics, it took Jason some years before he was in a position to buy the car of his dreams. Then, in 2012, the right car for Jason came up for sale. "Tiara", as Jason calls his Royal Blue TR6, was a UK-market car owned by a millionaire who had taken it out to Cyprus, where it had spent much of its life. Sadly, the car had fallen into disrepair, so the owner at the time brought it back to the UK for some light restoration work. Soon after that work was completed, the car was put up for sale. 

Since owning the car, Jason has continued its restoration, by replacing the gearbox, overdrive, differential, drive shafts, soft top and seats. Furthermore, the head has been converted for unleaded petrol and ported to produce 240 bhp. Alongside that work, smaller improvements have also been made. "It has taken until now to get her to A1 condition, finishing things like boot trim, sun visors, electronic ignition, electric cooling fan, the list goes on", says Jason.

In the spring and summer months, you'll find Jason out at club events showing his TR6, often with his head in the engine bay fettling something or other. But, most of all, Jason enjoys being out on the road. He has taken his car to the Pyrenees in Northern Spain and likes drives along what he considers the "best driving road in the UK", which runs to very west coast of Wales. "My TR6 never fails to bring a smile to my face", Jason adds.