Alfasudcrazy
Member
Offline
The weather this evening is cold, very windy and dark threatening clouds loom overhead - just the kinda evening for a little open top motoring.
I roll out my TR6 – the battery just installed after being left charge overnight. Every journey in this car is an event – you can’t take it for granted you will be back without encountering some TR6 character forming moments.
But its obvious to me the TR6 is on top form again as I listen to the 6 cylinder growl enthusiastically. It accelerates nicely considering it has not been out of the garage for four weeks with not a hint of splutter or hesitance. I stop along the way to get a few pics – but it’s a brief stop as I prefer driving it to photographing it.
But as usual light rain soon starts to appear on the windscreen requiring me to switch on the wipers. Mother nature has decided I have had enough pleasure for now as I anxiously drive it home before the trickle turns into a deluge.
Just as I approach my garage door the gods let rip – I can just barely get it back into its tight slot in the garage before the rain can do any real damage. The TR6 gleams under the glow of the fluorescent garage lights as the stainless steel exhaust ‘pings’ as it cools. I close the door and lock up – just twenty minutes of fun – still the exhilarating feeling lasts for quite a while. Just knowing the TR6 is there – waiting for the next driving opportunity gives me something to look forward to. Next time the weather might be less of a spoil sport. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
Where did I buy it:
I bought it in the UK in August 1993 was in Wiltshire – brought it back on a transporter on the back of my Mk 3 Golf diesel. Still remember the beautiful English countryside in the nice August sun.
Where did I find it;
I had been scouring ‘Practical classics’ magazine for months – and so had a good idea about quality/price – but on reflection I was very ‘green’ about buying classic then – the cost/quality should only be one of many considerations – such as originality.
How much did it cost:
£5,400 – it was fully restored in 1990 and drove fairly well so I considered it a fair price – but no bargain.
How much did it cost to bring in.
That’s the bad bit – I thought it might cost a few hundred pounds. NO NO – Mr taxman wanted £2,500 from me as they said it was an almost pristine classic and because it was a 2,500cc engine they wanted another few hundred as some other ‘levy’
Did it give any trouble:
Generally no – its actually a remarkably reliable car. The lucas mechanical fuel injection system was always weak and in 2001 I took it to a TR6 specialist in London who replaced the entire fuel injection system and gave the car a virtual mechanical rebuild. Since then the car has been like new to drive and is now quite economical also.
Verdict:
A nice simple classic that is easy to work on and that parts are available for at reasonable prices.
Must garage and drive regularly to keep it ticking over.
I roll out my TR6 – the battery just installed after being left charge overnight. Every journey in this car is an event – you can’t take it for granted you will be back without encountering some TR6 character forming moments.
But its obvious to me the TR6 is on top form again as I listen to the 6 cylinder growl enthusiastically. It accelerates nicely considering it has not been out of the garage for four weeks with not a hint of splutter or hesitance. I stop along the way to get a few pics – but it’s a brief stop as I prefer driving it to photographing it.
But as usual light rain soon starts to appear on the windscreen requiring me to switch on the wipers. Mother nature has decided I have had enough pleasure for now as I anxiously drive it home before the trickle turns into a deluge.
Just as I approach my garage door the gods let rip – I can just barely get it back into its tight slot in the garage before the rain can do any real damage. The TR6 gleams under the glow of the fluorescent garage lights as the stainless steel exhaust ‘pings’ as it cools. I close the door and lock up – just twenty minutes of fun – still the exhilarating feeling lasts for quite a while. Just knowing the TR6 is there – waiting for the next driving opportunity gives me something to look forward to. Next time the weather might be less of a spoil sport. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
Where did I buy it:
I bought it in the UK in August 1993 was in Wiltshire – brought it back on a transporter on the back of my Mk 3 Golf diesel. Still remember the beautiful English countryside in the nice August sun.
Where did I find it;
I had been scouring ‘Practical classics’ magazine for months – and so had a good idea about quality/price – but on reflection I was very ‘green’ about buying classic then – the cost/quality should only be one of many considerations – such as originality.
How much did it cost:
£5,400 – it was fully restored in 1990 and drove fairly well so I considered it a fair price – but no bargain.
How much did it cost to bring in.
That’s the bad bit – I thought it might cost a few hundred pounds. NO NO – Mr taxman wanted £2,500 from me as they said it was an almost pristine classic and because it was a 2,500cc engine they wanted another few hundred as some other ‘levy’
Did it give any trouble:
Generally no – its actually a remarkably reliable car. The lucas mechanical fuel injection system was always weak and in 2001 I took it to a TR6 specialist in London who replaced the entire fuel injection system and gave the car a virtual mechanical rebuild. Since then the car has been like new to drive and is now quite economical also.
Verdict:
A nice simple classic that is easy to work on and that parts are available for at reasonable prices.
Must garage and drive regularly to keep it ticking over.
Hey Guest!
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 