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Triumph TR6
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1969 - 1976 |
Country: |
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Engine: |
6 cyl. |
Capacity: |
2498 cc |
Power: |
150 bhp |
Transmission: |
4 spd. man (optional overdrive) |
Top Speed: |
191 km/h |
Number Built: |
94,000 |
Collectability: |
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The TR6 (1969-76) was the best-selling
TR in history when production ended in 1976. Of the
nearly quarter million TR's built, more than 94,000
were TR6's, ninety percent of them to US specifications.
The TR6 has a reputation as a car that looks good and
sounds right. The chassis and running gear of the TR6
were essentially the same as those of the TR5/250.
The big difference was the body, which for once wasn't
left to Giovanni Michelotti. The Italian was tied
up on other work for Leyland when the new TR was needed,
so Triumph turned to Karmann of Osnabruk, West Germany,
well known for its work for VW, Porsche, and BMW.
Given only fourteen months, Karmann completely altered
and modernized the TR sports car, without changing
the TR5's cowl, doors, or inner panels.
Karmann shaved off the hood bump and the bright metal
trim from the fenders; went to a single bar grill set
against a flat-black meshwork instead of the tubular grill;
and reshaped the tail into a sort of Kamm-back, painting
the upright section flat-black and wrapping the tail lights
horizontally.
The TR6 was a refined sports car. It featured pile
carpeting of floors and trunk, plush-looking bucket
seats, a wood dash and the usual full complement of
instruments. It featured the six-cylinder motor that
was carried over from the TR250.
Mechanical changes
included a front antiroll bar and wider tires and wheels.
While it was a remarkable facelift, achieved in record
time, it was still an evolution of the old TR4 from
1961 and this put off potential buyers, who went elsewhere.
Despite the production figures stated above, the TR6
never sold at the rate of the TR3A or the TR4. But
it was a steady, consistent seller which appealed
to the tradition-minded. The development of the TR6
was a slow, evolutionary process from the first TR2.
The TR7 that would follow the TR6 was a complete change.
So much so, that for a lot of people, the TR6 was were
the TR story ended. There was a great deal of change
between 1969 and 1976.
Most of the changes occurred to meet US safety and
emissions regulations. Other changes were requests
from the Triumph North American office, such as the
UK flag decal, and the wheels. The US cars used carburetors,
while the UK-market cars were fuel injected. The worst
changes occurred in 1971 when the compression was dropped
form the original 8.5:1 to 7.75:1, and performance
suffered accordingly.
The TR6's ride height was raised to meet US minimum
headlamp height requirements. This naturally affected
the handling. 1971 was also the last year for wire
wheels, although the steel disc wheels are much prettier
than the dummy units used on the TR250. Changes in
1973 included a reprofiled camshaft, a front spoiler,
and a re-designed hardtop. Then bumper guards were
later added, which to some, destroyed Karmann's clean,
nimble lines.
The last TR6's were sold in the US in 1977, and for that
reason some may be titled as 1977 models. This stylish
six-cylinder sports car is regarded by many as the last
true Triumph. |