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I'm an ex-SCCA FF, FC, and FM racer and after finally hanging up the driving suit in 2006 I discovered withdrawals are a real thing when I didn't touch any tools for a few years. So I decided to build some old trucks for myself and a couple neighbors - 1948 1/2 ton Chevy; 1956 3/4 ton Chevy "farm truck;" and my own 1959 Apache. Another neighbor had been pressing me for years to get his derelict '73 TR6 (which had been sitting under a fabric car cover for thirteen years in his driveway) back on the road. I wasn't interested until he offered to sell it to me for $250 now and $250 if I sold it. Too tempting to pass up, so I bought it and had it hauled up to my house. In fact I'd been looking for a project for the garage at home instead of at our shop in Fallbrook.
I'm pleasantly surprised that, like in the case of old Chevy trucks, you can literally build one of these Triumphs from the ground up with parts readily available, even if more pricey than the truck stuff. After being completely unimpressed dealing with the ignition switch - PO lost the keys - I have come to admire the engineering of the car now that the drivetrain is out - engine at the machine shop - and the body is off the frame. Lots of problems to solve and rubber parts to replace and improvements to make, but I love going out to the garage at all hours of the day and fiddling with it. I admit that I got lucky in the rust department because although the driver and passenger floors and the trunk floor are getting fitted with new sheet metal, the frame is in great shape. The only issue is an apparent twist in the flexy frame which, in turn, has caused the body to settle into a twisted condition. It isn't much, but it is visually noticeable and measurable. I'm at the scratching my head stage with it until I get the front suspension pulled off (rear already gone) and can set the frame down on the garage floor. If I can manage I'll attach some random photos of the project so far.
I'm pleasantly surprised that, like in the case of old Chevy trucks, you can literally build one of these Triumphs from the ground up with parts readily available, even if more pricey than the truck stuff. After being completely unimpressed dealing with the ignition switch - PO lost the keys - I have come to admire the engineering of the car now that the drivetrain is out - engine at the machine shop - and the body is off the frame. Lots of problems to solve and rubber parts to replace and improvements to make, but I love going out to the garage at all hours of the day and fiddling with it. I admit that I got lucky in the rust department because although the driver and passenger floors and the trunk floor are getting fitted with new sheet metal, the frame is in great shape. The only issue is an apparent twist in the flexy frame which, in turn, has caused the body to settle into a twisted condition. It isn't much, but it is visually noticeable and measurable. I'm at the scratching my head stage with it until I get the front suspension pulled off (rear already gone) and can set the frame down on the garage floor. If I can manage I'll attach some random photos of the project so far.