My elementary school friend's dad had a beautiful red TR6. Then when I was in high school, I went to a car auction with my dad and another friend, and there were a couple TR4s and TR3s. I thought they were so cool - it was the first time I'd ever seen a TR3.
After college, I moved back to Seattle and started working with a guy who'd buy cars, fix 'em up and ship them to Germany for profit. Triumph were very big at this time in the export market, so I got very interested in the TRs again. This was the time I was thinking about getting a fun car for myself.
Most importantly, when I started looking at cars, Triumphs were one of the few cars I could fit in being 6'4".
I looked at buying a TR4 in Seattle, but I decided against it at the last minute.
Finally, now married and living in Houston, I bought a TR-250. It was a total pain to keep running, but I absolutely loved the grunt, and the sense of speed.
When I sold my 250, then got my first 3, I was hooked permanently. Such unique looks, great sound (I'd set off car alarms with the exhaust note in the parking garages,) and amazing sense of speed.
It's not that I'm only a Triumph guy. I love all types of cars. Triumphs are simply affordable fun cars that make you feel great when you drive them (like the nearly 50 miles I put on my 3 yesterday.)