Featured The Other Triumph

I shouldn't get too upset if it turns out it isn't a "matching numbers" car. As long as the numbers match the documentation then all's good IMO. If it's a rare Ferrari, Porsche etc worth £m's then maybe it makes a difference to value. Owners swapped engines for various reasons back in the day. The one my friend owned years ago had already had the engine replaced (and tuned) by the previous owner. I've replaced engines in a couple of cars in the past (not a Ferrari or a Porsche) without a thought for engine numbers other than getting it changed on the log book. Then of course there's the "restomod" way which is becoming popular with old classics getting modern engines and running gear etc. I watched a video on the tube a while back of a TR6 with a V8 retro fitted, a Ford 302 IIRC.

 

It all depends what you want from your classic. An original standard vehicle as an investment or to maybe reminisce about if you had one years ago or something to just drive with modern levels of performance while keeping the classic look. I've seen E types with American V8 transplants, not what I would do but obviously worth the effort to whoever thought it a good idea. The nicest, modded E type I've ever seen was a S3 V12 with the Stromberg carbs replaced with six twin choke Webers, lovely. Jeff Uren, a British racing driver and tuner back in the 60's/70's produced his own versions of existing Ford models with bigger engines, 3L V6 Escorts and Cortinas and a Capri with a Boss 302 V8. Original versions of these cars are now worth small fortunes.

 

I think you nailed the "it depends", @Pegscraper. Several of us went for a little MC ride yesterday afternoon and this comparison came up--basically, stock versus "resto-mod"--as we were firming up our plans for a road trip. We're riding to Las Vegas in a few weeks to go to the Mecum Antique and Vintage Motorcycle Auction. And the resto-mod vs. stock debate always comes up when we watch the Mecum car auctions on MotorTrend. Evidently there's a place in Henderson, NV, a suburb of Vegas, called Atomic Motors that has classic cars and (maybe?) motorcycles. Our riding buddy, Russell, has been there and suggested we make a stop. I think they do both classic restorations as well as rest-mods. When we watch the auctions it does seem that, for both bikes and cars, the vehicles that fetch the highest prices are classics restored as stock. And, like @Wire-Wheels mentioned, the sellers of the resto-mods usually say that they put more into the car/bike than it sold for.

https://www.atomicmotors.net/

 

One of my favourite cars of all time is the Jensen Interceptor, not the early one, the 1967> model. Beautiful Italian styling by Touring, big block American power by Chrysler and hand built by British craftsmen. It's now available as a restomod by a Co. that completely rebuild it, replace the original Chrysler V8 with a new LS3, normally aspirated or supercharged complete with uprated everything else. You just give them an old Interceptor, around £100k or so and they do the rest. The result looks virtually the same but is WAY better to drive than the original in just about every department and considerably faster to boot, but.......it's not an "original" interceptor built by Jensen. My personal choice would be the best original car I could find, even one restored to original spec, even though driving one of each back to back would undoubtedly put the original to shame. A business friend of my Dad had one back in the early 70's. I got to drive one several years ago. It just took me straight back to 1973 and that's where I would be every time I drove mine if I had one, back in the 70's.

 

There's also the electric conversion that's gathering pace in the classic market. Throw away the very heart of the car, the straight 6, V8, V12 etc which makes the car what it is and replace it with modern battery tech. This means you can "future proof" your investment, enjoy your pride and joy and be green at the same time! " Enjoy", really?.
IMO that's like buying a classic Rolex, trashing the movement and sticking in a battery powered replacement.
Pish!

 

I'd expect the TR6 to be more plentiful across the pond than here in the UK. The fact that there were almost ten times as many exported to the US than sold on the home market, plus the benefit of having "sunny" states where salted roads are non existent should mean many more have survived. Sun damage can certainly wreck paintwork and interiors but rust is the No.1 killer and by far the biggest problem facing classic vehicle restorers. Add to that the fact that cars of that era left the factories with virtually zero rustproofing and you can understand why decent examples are comparatively hard to find over here.

 

There were a lot more TR6's sold over here than in the UK for some reason. ...J.D.
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There were a lot more TR6's sold over here than in the UK for some reason. ...J.D.
indigocard activate
jjsploit.click

 

Probably for the reason I mention in post 51!

The last years of Triumph cars were all built under the British Leyland mantle along with several other old names. Apparently, in 1975, Drive magazine did a survey of the worst new cars in England and in 1st place was a Rover P6B, 2nd place an Austin Allegro and third place went to a Triumph Stag.
According to Wikipedia, the survey said that a Rover 3500 P6 purchased in 1974 had covered 6,000 miles (9,600 kilometres) during its first six months, during which period it had consumed three engines, two gearboxes, two clutch housings and needed a complete new set of electrical cables. The car had spent 114 of its first 165 days in a workshop. Imagine being the owner who bought that one!

 

Potential parts availability problems aside, at least they are comparatively simple and easy to work on. In a daily driver you want reliable start and go tech with long service intervals. When it's a toy and a nostalgic classic to boot, tinkering with this and adjusting that is all part of the enjoyment IMO.

 

@Wire-Wheels
What a wonderful photo of you and Liam, @J.D! Love it. And the car looks terrific, too.