Background
In 1968 Triumph recruited coachbuilder Karmann to carry out the ultimate top-and-tail refresh of its existing TR5, and hey-presto, the TR6. As designing sleights of hand went, it proved blooming effective. Its straight-edged persona brought modernity to the TR party, even if under the skin it adhered to original 1952 TR2’s separate underslung chassis and separate body set-up.
For died-in-the-wool TR aficionados worldwide that proved no bad thing, for it retained the same brawny, beefcake formula that they so loved: the characterful 2.5-litre straight-six engine (courtesy of the Triumph 2000 saloon), rack-and-pinion steering, semi-independent trailing arm rear suspension and front disc brakes. Oh, and in came a front anti-roll bar for good measure.
European cars got a walloping 150bhp from their fuel-injected unit, although that dropped to 124bhp from ’72, whilst over in States Triumph offered a twin-carburettor set-up for 104bhp.
Did the model sell? You betcha. Despite the relative age of its underlying design, Triumph shifted an impressive 94,619 units between 1969 and 1976 making it the best-selling TR variant to date.
The ‘modern’ TR7 that followed it did away with the traditional TR formula in favour of monocoque construction, but controversial styling and a, by contrast, somewhat characterless four-cylinder engine ensured it was never loved in quite the same way.
With classic Sixties/Seventies low-slung roadster looks, a characterful period cabin, and a driving experience that’s always a muscular pleasure, you can’t go far wrong with a TR6.
And this example is a fabulous beauty that remains in excellent post-restoration health – one that’s guaranteed to endow its next owner with all that’s great about a Triumph TR.
