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Jedi Hopeful
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I'm afraid I have confirmed a recent suspicion about some front end damage by a previous owner. In the below pictures you can see a seam on the inner fender well. Either this is a stock assemby or the front well was cut to repair the damage. Ironically, both the left and right sides are the same but I have only had time to get a close look at the drivers side. From the pictures does it appear that the inner well was cut and welded? In the first picture you can see that only the bolts remain that hold the fulcrum in place.

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Everything is relative. Are the body lines good? Did you buy it right? Did you buy it as a driver or for show?
These cars are 32 years old at minimum. Some people are fortunate to find undamaged original cars, but many will have sustained damage at one time or another.
If it bothers you, it can always be repaired to original. But it will still drive the same, regardless.
My car had heavy front end damage when purchased, but I wouldn't trade anybody's TR6 for it.
Drive it and enjoy it.
 
Sheetmetal damage is common on a car of this age.

As already mentioned you can easily replace all of the damaged panels IF this really bothers you.

BUT what is MUCH more important to the long-term value and usefulness of the car is how straight the frame is and how well it drives. If the frame appears to be undamaged and it drives well, then don't worry too much about the sheetmetal repair.

I bought an old Jeep once that looked GREAT! After owning it for several weeks I discovered that the first foot or so of the frame had been replaced :shocked: , obviously due to an accident at one time (no wonder the grill & fenders looked "like new"...). Dispite this repair the Jeep always drove great and held up to whatever abuse I could deliver! I was the only one who ever knew about the repair, & I even had to point it out to the next owner when I went to sell it. He still has that Jeep & wouldn't part with it for all the money in China (which is a lot more money than it used to be!).

Just be happy that this isn't a repair on an Austin-Healey Sprite (I have several) or some similar unibody car. THAT would be a much greater concern as a similar rrepair would likely have negative impact on how a unibody car drives.

Remember, it IS a 36+ year old car!
At 36 I wasn't "like new" anymore either!
& I'm pretty certain that most of my cars will long outlive me!!

Don't worry too much about the small stuff!
Drive it & Enjoy it!! :driving:

"Cheers!"
-Bear-
 
Thanks it just kinda stinks. The car drives fine and there is nothing that tells me the frame was damaged. It looks like the PO went under another vehicle taller than them and crushed the headlamps back.

I'm going to talk to someone to see if the repair is fine as is or should it be improved. I think a weld along the inner well would be a nice improvement.

Now look at this picture of the trunk. The spot welding doesn't look like stock either. I suppose the car could have been sandwiched.

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The front end repair technique is not unusual. To replace the four parts would cost over $2000 in parts plus a whole lot of labor in body work and paint. From the photos, it looks like you have some issues on the top of the inner panel that need attention. The trunk area looks OK to me. Keep in mind, the coach work on these cars was not the greatest.

If the frame and body is straight, put on some new undercoating, paint the rest and drive it.
 
I appreciate the good points that have been made. The car was likely fixed relative to the time of the accident; in other words who knew at the time the car would be considered a worth while collector.

On the positive side, I do own a TR6 and the lack of originality makes its an easier decision to personalize the car. I may have paid more than I should have at the time knowing what I know now (5 years later) but don't think I would have got it for much less. I put out 2,500 for her and I beleive these are now going for around 6,000 in fair condition and running.
 
I wouldn't worry about it too much at this point. Get on top the rust and enjoy, I'd wait to tackle that section otherwise until you decide to do a whole hog restoration....
 
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