My TR6 was a dirt-lot derelict with a rock-and-roll heart
Younger folks may find this unbelievable, but in the 1970s, cars that are now coveted and revered were often neglected and sometimes even abandoned. Such misfortune befell this 1969 Triumph TR6, left for dead on a scruffy Long Beach dirt lot, where thieves had plundered its seats, bumpers, and hubcaps. Upon sighting it, I thought, “Whoa, that’s nice!”
The DMV identified the lienholder as a local bank, whom I called.
Me: “I found a car you own abandoned and want to buy it.”
Bank: “Where’s the car?”
Me: “Somewhere in Long Beach. Good luck finding it.”
Bank: “The loan is in default. Bring in a cashier’s check for $300 and we’ll release the title to you.”
Me: “That’s a deal.”
And just like that, I was a new TR6 owner! The trunk contained dozens of canceled checks that I trashed, and a 5×7 glossy of a wide-eyed Iggy Pop singing at the Waldorf. “Go out to the funky bar i get hurt—crying inside,” read an inscription. That I kept.
After inflating the tires and checking the oil and coolant, I jumpstarted the TR6 using my roommate’s $150 GTO (a carport find). To my delight, the TR6 ran wonderfully. Driving without a seat was another matter, but a milk crate and couch cushion sufficed for the 65-mile ride home. But talk about scary …
While the car ran great, the master cylinder was fading, and it required much frantic pedal pumping for any brake action. Also, a front A-arm mounting bracket had broken, causing random steering aberrations. Not what you want when perched atop a makeshift seat.
With effort, however, the situation improved. I found seats and bumpers, fixed the brakes, and a welder reattached the suspension mount. After a repaint, the TR6 became a reliable daily driver.
Wheel covers proved elusive, however. Rejecting British Leyland parts pricing, I bought Sears hubcaps reminiscent of early TR6 ones. Except they fit poorly. One clattered away on the Ventura Freeway, and another escaped on winding Mulholland Highway early one morning while I was racing down to Leo Carrillo Beach to surf. I heard ringing as it hit the ground, then watched it scurry across the centerline and onto a dirt shoulder, where it started bouncing. Whirling like a chrome sawblade, it then took a final glorious leap into a steep, wooded canyon.
Naturally, I stopped, but there was no finding it without risking a lifetime dosage of poison oak or worse, tick and rattlesnake bites. I soon returned the remaining hubcaps for a refund.
Sears did alright by me. So did that little TR.
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John, good find, always wanted a TR-6, but never got one. My sister went though a series of Spitfires and a Stag during the late 60’s and early 70’s. But there could be electrical issues, which I am surprised you did not mention. That and I think it was her second Spitfire that lost its front end when she was at the Cross Roads Mall and a 1970 Buick Electra 225 backed out of a parking spot and knocked the whole front end off the car. Lady said she did not see my sister behind her when she went to back out… oh you did not say do you still have the car?
There are still projects out there, not likely to drive home with a jump start though. Cars with no electronics, you can trouble shoot with a multi meter and sort them out.
Have you ever owned a British car ? They don’t call Lucas Electrics The Prince Of Darkness for nothing 🙂 I owned a Triumph Stag that someone had put a Chev 350 in. The motor was too heavy for the car and the electronics and wiring were a mess. You could have spent the rest of your life with a multi meter and never figured that mess out, Even though I love their style, No more Old British cars for me.
Owned a 1959 MG 1500 hundred. It had many electric issues, unreliable even in the sun shine if a dog walked by it won’t start. Thinking it had peed on the fuel pump in front of the right rear tire. Bought a complete wiring harness from J.C. Whitney for 80 dollars and fixed a lot of the issues. But alas I got rid of it. When it drove it was fun the rest it wasn’t.
I’ve owned five British sports cars. Two MG Midgets and three Triumph Spitfires. If you take care of these cars, they’re quite reliable and lots of fun to drive!
A deuce and a quarter! Great car. That was a big drawback with those English roadsters – they were so small and low to the ground that they were hard to see. You had to be VERY alert when driving one in traffic.
A good friend is looking for an MGB/TR6. I’m sending him your story though I don’t think he can go wrong either way.
Love(d) the TR6. Had a Sprite when I was young (which was a blast), but always lusted after the TR6. Still do.
It’s nice to know there are still ‘Barn Finds’ out there, even though this wasn’t in a barn.
Not a bad way to pick up a car.
Just back from lunch and back in my TR6. Bought it out a chicken coupe in south Texas eighteen years ago.. No Rust but a hole in the side of the block. Did a bumper to bumper refurb including painting it myself. It has been a great fun car ever since. A very nice driver and I do not have to worry about parking it some place I would have been afraid of with a more expensive car.
No , A Buick Electra 225 is a Deuce and a quarter 🙂
Cool, cool, cool. Always wanted a TR-6. Had a girlfriend whose family had one. She drove it a lot so I drove it a lot too. Almost bought one back in like 1980 but as soon as I told him I’d give him his price he backed off – jerk! Fun ride!
A good read. My first car was a used ’73 TR6. Always reliable (even in snow) and zero electrical issues. Came with the TR4 Surrey top (rare). The Kentucky body shop where I was having it worked on while I was reassigned (from Ft. Knox to WA) went out of business and the car vanished. Found another (a ’71) a few years later in Seattle when I was stationed at Ft. Lewis. Became my daily driver for several years. Also reliable; no electrical issues. Over thirty years later and I still have it. Still a special car and great fun to drive.
What a super deal you got , and welcome to the TR-6 family . Amazing that the car started and ran but this are very strong little cars . I am in CA and bought a TR-6 ( $2,100) over 35 yrs ago , to take my little kids out on the weekend . I will keep my TR-6 forever haha Grandpa now
James
What a super deal you got , and welcome to the TR-6 family . Amazing that the car started and ran but this are very strong little cars . I am in CA and bought a TR-6 ( $2,100) over 35 yrs ago , to take my little kids out on the weekend . I will keep my TR-6 forever haha Grandpa now
After a repaint, the TR6 became a reliable daily driver.
Now, that’s what I call incredible. I’ve know people who owned MGs and Triumphs and had a couple British cars myself and reliable is never included in their description.
Hi i have a 73 tr6 has not run in over 20 yrs raised 3 kids a shame
I am about to become the owner of a ‘74 TR6 that has been restored over 10 months. There is now no rust anywhere. Virtually all replacement parts were sourced from Moss Motors. My friends warn me, in a nice way, that it’s a 50 year old British car- it’s going to leak and it’s going to break. BUT, enjoy the ride! I plan to.
That could be my 74 tr had it over 30 years ran like a top . Royal Blue from Atlanta. Enjoy !
Enjoyed your story! In the late 70s I was also looking for cheap transportation, and searched for a TR6, Spitfire or 240Z. The first one I found was a 72 Z sitting derelict behind a gas station in Baton Rouge, LA where I grew up. Gas station owner gave me contact info and the Z owner said he would sell it for $600 and that he parked it because it pulled to one side. While removing the front tires to pump them up, I noticed I could see daylight behind the spindle nut in the RF tire! Hand tightened that nut, found a nail in the parking lot to use as a carter key and it towed straight all the way home. Fresh gas and battery and some new tires, and it fired right up and became my daily driver – very reliable car. Sold it when I got married to buy a family car, but in 91 I picked up a 71 Series 1 Z I still own. Brings back my youth every time I drive it!