Triumph TR6 PI (Fuel Injection)
The Triumph TR6 is the hairy-chested bruiser of the British sports car world. Where the MGB was polite and the Jaguar E-Type was glamorous, the TR6 was raw, muscular, and uncompromising. It was the last traditional Triumph sports car — the TR7 that followed was a completely different, and much less loved, machine.
The TR6 was essentially a TR5 with new bodywork designed by Karmann of Germany (famous for the VW Karmann Ghia). They squared off the curves of the TR5, creating a more aggressive, wider-hipped design that looked like it was flexing. The result was one of the most masculine British sports cars ever designed.
Under the hood sat a 2.5-liter straight-six. In UK spec (with Lucas PI mechanical fuel injection), it produced 150 hp. US-market cars were detuned with twin Stromberg carburetors, producing 104-106 hp — a significant loss that many owners now rectify with PI conversions or Weber carburetors.
The TR6's driving experience was pure and unfiltered. The independent rear suspension (unusual for the era) gave surprisingly good handling, while the torquey six-cylinder provided ample performance. The steering was heavy at parking speeds but beautifully weighted on the move. The exhaust note — a straight-six burble that hardened to a roar under acceleration — was one of the great automotive soundtracks.
The TR6 was the best-selling TR model ever, with 91,850 units produced between 1968 and 1976. The vast majority (83,480) were exported to the United States, making it one of the most successful British cars in America.
The TR6 is a solid classic car choice with good parts availability. Rust is the biggest enemy — check chassis rails, outriggers, body mounts, floor pans, and sills. The body-on-frame construction means the chassis is separate from the body panels. The inline-6 is strong but check for worn timing chain (rattling) and oil pressure. UK-spec PI cars are more valuable than US carbureted versions. Overdrive gearbox is preferred. Surrey-top (hardtop with removable panel) cars are rare. Watch for cracked exhaust manifolds.
Total production: 91,850 (1968-1976). US market: 83,480 (91%). UK/rest of world: 8,370. UK-spec cars had fuel injection (150 hp); US-spec had carburetors (104-106 hp). The TR6 was built alongside the GT6 and Spitfire at Canley. It was the last body-on-frame TR sports car.