TR6 Spridget Guy looking to purchase a TR6

[rickdaily]

Hi all
I am currently a spridget owner (still in process of restoring) and am looking for a TR6 that has already been restored recently and figured that this would be a good place to start looking for one. What I'm really interested in is finding out what to look for in respect of price and a good quality TR restoration. I haven't got a LBC in running order right now and it is killing me. My midget is going to be great when I get it done but I need something to get my need for speed fix. Besides the wife says I have to finish the Midget because it was her Dad's and he would have kittens if I sold it. Any advice on Where, What and When to look for One would be appreciated. Check out the ones @ www.auto-quest.com and advise. There are 2 listed and I have looked at the red 76, but am not sure if the price is high, low, or great. Any and all advice is welcomed RICK /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

 

[BOXoROCKS]

its shiny

 

[BOXoROCKS]

OK you guys,how was that?it's the new me.

 

[BOXoROCKS]

OK I am on a roll. It's shiny and appears to be a beautiful day when the picture was taken.I am talking about the 76 black TR6,thats the only one I saw thats a 1976.

 

[Guest]

I'm guessing you mean the 72 (the red one). If so, it's a bit hard to tell based on the pics bit I don't think it's quite ready for concours just yet.

It has no o/d or a/c, but the panasports aren't exactly free (if you like them). I wonder why the hood isn't up in any of the shots though.

Since you have a british car, there's little point in telling you to look for rust, you know that already.

Assuming it's straight, the engine and trans is ok and nothing else is too egregiously wrong, personally I'd give him 10-11k and be fairly happy, but then 1. I'm in an expensive part of the country and 2. I'm adding a slight premium because it's a dealer. I assume that you have lemon laws there...

I paid just under 10k recently for a nice looking 73 that turns out to need a little more work than I thought. I bought on condition, but was so happy to find a rust free car that I didn't look at the mechanicals as closely as I should have. My own stupid fault - Caveat Emptor.

Good luck with your choice.

btw: Based on dealer prices here it doesn't seem that bad. I saw a real dog for 14k in CT (an older restoration - meaning that the bondo was starting to show through), and another for 11k that looked fit for the breakers. It didn't even run, but I did...

 

[rickdaily]

Sorry Guys,
The 72 was red and the 76 black. I had them reversed. SAT. I'm assuming BOXoROCKS is not just a made up name for this guy. He really sounds like he's dumb as a box of rocks. I just asked a simple question, if its a question he can't answer why is he spouting off. I'm surprised Basil puts up with the likes. Sorry. RICK

 

[achtungeveryone]

what's wrong with "spouting off"? If what Box said got your panties in a wad than you might ought to look for a new mini-van with a warranty!
Chill, don't ill!
spouting off,

Achtung

 

[Dave Russell]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry Guys,
SAT. I'm assuming BOXoROCKS is not just a made up name for this guy. He really sounds like he's dumb as a box of rocks. I just asked a simple question, if its a question he can't answer why is he spouting off. I'm surprised Basil puts up with the likes. Sorry. RICK

[/ QUOTE ]
Box is actually quite knowledgeable on these cars. The question that you asked is hard to give an honest reply to without hurting someones feelings. I think he was just trying to warn you without giving a whole bunch of negatives.
D

 

[BOXoROCKS]

Thanks fellas,Rick,thats OK.You were looking for a serious answer and I decided to be flip.Rick,I have been known to pound some tarted up cars in to the ground that have been misrepresented.Can't stand blantent liars.There are plenty of knowledgable guys here who can help you with a bit more diplomacy than I.Although if you would like I will look at it and describe what I see in one syllable words.

 

[Simon TR4a]

I can see a number of rather minor details which are incorrect on both cars, but not uncommon.
For examples missing radiator shrouds, incorrect paint colour of certain items in the engine bay, incorrectly positioned BL badge on front fender, weird seat upholstery on the black car, and presumably non-original type of soft top, but these things won't affect the value too much.
It would be nice to get overdrive at this price range, maybe a discount can be negociated.
The dealer does not seem to specialise in Triumphs, and it is important to lokk at several before buying.
Good luck with your search!
Simon.

 

[Dugger]

Rick,

FWIW...

There are several venues for locating a TR6. As much as I hate to *assume* anything, I would think that your searching has led you to the normal websites, i.e., CollectorCarTrader, VTR, 6-Pack, Hemmings, etc. You might try britishcarlinks.com to locate other sources. Most British Car Clubs have a classified section and that is how I located my car.

If you are uncertain what to look for in a TR6, you might want to look at the VTR, 6-Pack, etc, websites for articles concerning "what to look for" in a used TR. I found them quite helpful.


To determine the actual price you will pay for a car or its value, restored or not, depends on several factors, three of which are:

1 - Overall Condition: Since you are in the process of restoring a car already, condition is something that you should be quite familar. Just remember that pictures cannot tell the whole story and there is no subsitute for *kicking tires* and test driving.
2 - Location - Cars from the 'dry' states usually will bring more $$$ due to less chance of rot.
3 - Urgency - I truly believe that the self-imposed *urgency* to buy a LBC sometimes effects the rose colored glasses syndrome on the buyer. Not to speak for anyone else, but I have been guilty of this in the past.

Not trying to be offensive here, but If the cars you asked about are worth the asking price, nobody but you can determine that. The only way I would know is to actually see the car up close, drive it around a bit, and even put it on a lift and look underneath. Of course, my last name is not Gates, Walton, or Hilton either.

If you locate a car out of your area and are unable to *see* the car yourself, you might try locating someone near the seller to do this for you. I have found that contacting local British Car clubs nearby sometimes provides a source of information usually not offered by a dealer and possibly an actual person to look at the car for you - sometimes a fee is involved.

One more thing, opinions are like noses, everyone has one, especially when it comes to car values.

Good luck in your search and keep us informed on what you find

 

[LastDeadLast]

Off the top of my head.

1. Body appears to be straight in the pics.
2. The paint is very shiney.
3. The top isn't fitting very good
4. What the heck were they thinking with the upholstery? Not very attractive and not even close to original.
5. The engine bay is painted flat black instead of gloss like the rest of the car... which isn't necessarily bad, but for a car that costs over 12 large, its a factor.
6. Fan shroud is missing. Not a big deal but still for 12,500, it should be complete.
7. The car appears to sit at the right height.
8. Looks like it's got the stainless steel Falcon Sport Exhaust... nice.

All in all.. from the pics, it looks like an OK car... is it $12,500.00 nice? Not in my opinion, for that kind of money I would be looking at something that really didn't need anything except detail work... if the interior looked better and the engine bay was correct, I might change my mind. That is providing that the body, engine, drivetrain and suspension check out.

 

[BOXoROCKS]

Oaky Doaky Rick,The red one. 1st offer them way less,as a matter of principal, cause I dont think they have much of a grasp of TRs If is IS a 72 then its dressed as a 73 or later;wrong dash{75/76}seats{73/76}center consul{73/76}.Trim screws in the door panels?{NO YEARS}.Flags on the fenders{73/76}.Wrong rear bumper,no lic lite,so lites must be under the trunk lid....Hummmm..Wrong thermo housing{75/76}etc,anyway you get the picture.By the way ask them where the factory hardtop is cause it has the hardtop boot cover,only ava with the hard top.It appears to be a very nice but incorrect TR6. Investment Cars? for whom?

 

[jsneddon]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry Guys,
SAT. I'm assuming BOXoROCKS is not just a made up name for this guy. He really sounds like he's dumb as a box of rocks. I just asked a simple question, if its a question he can't answer why is he spouting off. I'm surprised Basil puts up with the likes. Sorry. RICK

[/ QUOTE ]
Box is actually quite knowledgeable on these cars. The question that you asked is hard to give an honest reply to without hurting someones feelings. I think he was just trying to warn you without giving a whole bunch of negatives.
D

[/ QUOTE ]

and as you get to know him.... you'll find that he is very knowledgable but he's... shall we say... a little excitable. You actually caught him in a reflective and fuzzy mood. He spends a little too much time on e-bay and gets worked into a lather over the white-belt-and-matching-pleather-shoe types who try to pass themselves off as "just selling this car for a friend".

Don't be offended. We love him anyway.

 

[rickdaily]

Sorry guys,
It just kind of hit me the wrong way the way it was said I guess. I am trying to go about this purchase in the most informed way possible and buy a car that is not something I will regret later. And guys I did expect you to pick it apart and tell me your honest opinion. If it were a Midget or a Sprite I may not have asked at all, as I'm quite competent at those models. I knew the basics and that all LBC's need to be looked at closely. I just wanted to make sure that there wasn't something that you all could see from looking at the pictures that I may not know to look for. I was just a little to serious in my expectations of answers. Again I appologize to BOR and anyone else I may have offended. Give me another chance guys. Promise I won't blow it again. Now that all the apologies are said and done let me clarify my question a little more. I used the 2 cars on that website as examples only. The car I'm looking for does'nt neccesarily have to be concours quality, but I want something that is not so far off it is going to cost me a fortune (on top of initial price) to get it close enough so people don't laugh in my face for being stupid enough to pay 12,500.00 for a half breed. I love all these little cars and want to do my part to make sure that there are some of them around for people to look at for many years to come. Thanx all and again, Sorry RICK

 

[rickdaily]

Hey BOR,
I wrote that last thread before I read your other one. Thats the kind of info I'm looking for, stuff that the average Joe don't know to look for. And whoever said that they're name wasn't Rockefeller or Gates was exactly correct. Mine isn't either and I guess thats why I took my question to seriously. Again BOR the wet noodle is your to beat away on me if you want to. All I ask is that you show a little more mercy than I did to you. RICK

 

[jayhawk]

There are 3 in the Kansas City area-- all low mileage 30-43 K miles! Pete https://www.cars.com/go/search/fs_search_...;aff=kansascity

 

[Mark_Gibson]

Rick,

You might find a few TR-6's restored to close to concours quality, but be prepared to pay for it. I just finished a frame off on my TR-6 and I wouldn't let it go below 20K. Of course, there aren't many (if any) folks out there that would pay that for a TR-6, no matter how well the restoration is done. (BTW, mine is not for sale!) Ha! I'd say continue to use this forum as a car buyers guide, as you've already seen, a few of the guys here can spot an incorrect or poorly restored car from just a very few photos. If you know of anyone close to you that owns a TR-6, it might be worth your while to take them with you as a 2d opinion when you find one worth looking at. There are alot of 10 to 15K cars out there that are hiding big problems. Good luck!

Mark
1970 TR-6