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TR6 Better 0 to 60 performance: TR3, TR4, or TR6?

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I think all 3 can be timed stock to 60 with an hour glass. Snap your neck back acceleration was not a Triumph's main selling point, unless you have a PI car that is!!

Mark
1970 TR-6
Zero to 60 time much slower than my Dodge Caravan, but who cares?
 
Having both the TR3 and TR4 I can tell you that the '3 definitely feels faster... but that is probably just the sidecurtain effect you get seeing the ground whizzing by within reach of the fingers on your left hand.
 
Having at one time or another all three over the last forty years, I can say that they are all quite similar in 0-60 times. Right now, I'm going through a TR3 resto, and plan on spoofing the motor up a bit. I think because of the lighter weight of the TR3, whatever I do will have a more profound effect. Put 87mm pistons in there, along with a hot cam, .040-.080" milled from the head, a set of headers and I see know reason why I won't have 125-130 HP. Now we're talking. I want to tie those rear wire wheels in knots. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
I think its clearly the go cart affect more than horsepower! Its far more fun driving the tr4 than my bigger HP cars (or the bgt for that matter) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif.
 
The TR3 has a notation that it was known as the TR250in North America and TR5 in the UK. Now I am really confused.

WIth the lighter shell weight of the TR4 and the 2.5 liter motor, my guess was that the (here in the US) the TR250 would have the quickest 60.
 
that is the wrong information. TR250 / TR5 was the dual-named model. TR3's were just TR3s (unless you want to get into the TR3, TR3-A, TR3-B debate)
 
I've got some Road and Track road tests in my old Glenn's manual from 1969.

Here's what they say:

TR4 - 10.7
TR4A - 10.5
Spitfire 4 - 19.5
Spitfire Mark II = 15.0

and...

Ladies and Gentlemen...

The ever popular Herald....

coming in at a whopping 22.6 seconds
 
[ QUOTE ]
Snap your neck back acceleration was not a Triumph's main selling point, unless you have a PI car that is!!


[/ QUOTE ]

Mark,
Actually, when the TR2 arrived in the US, it was cheered by major automotive press for being the best stoplight bandit you could buy. A TR2 could run faster than a Hudson Hornet, Rocket88 and was only slower than the '53-'55 Corvette, which nobody, save for movie stars and VIPs had.

The first car Motor Trend tested that broke 0-60 in 10sec was the '55 Buick Century, which did it in 9.9.

In terms of specific numbers, now it seems to depend on tires and gearing. I've been able to hit 10 flat in my TR3 with room for better launching, and that was faster than my TR-250, which had a tired engine. I've seen period tests that had the TR3 from 10flat all the way to 12.5. My tires are a little smaller than stock, so the gearing is good. I was also running more advance at the time.

The funny thing is that 2-6 can all be outrun by a TR7, which is considered by the masses to be less of a true sports car!
 
What ...no Vitese?
 
Love that Herald, all 22.6 seconds of her.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Strange how the HP on the TR6 (N.American version) is similar to the other earlier models in spite of the larger engine and more pots.
The real story is in the torque numbers though, with the TR6 significantly higher and at lower RPM's.
I always think an engine's horsepower is less important then the torque numbers and where they occur in the power band.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cowboy.gif
 
I agree with altaknight that it's torque that matters. I try not to spend much time at 5000 r.p.m. (if any). I have fun reving in the power band to the next gear. My hats off to you guys that run wide open cuz' that's where the highest horspower is.
Also, that chart showed one of the tr 4's as having a 5 speed...I didn't know that, I wish my 6 had another gear. (not interested in the toyota mod...)
Achtung
 
That's an excellent article, remember Carroll Shelby "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races!"
Simon, with a torquey TR4 and a (slow) Spitfire!
 
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