While we Americans like to think that we perfected the “big engine in a small car” idea, the British aren’t too shabby at execution, either. Sure, there are plenty of little cars with equally little engines running around, but it’s all about perspective. A 350 cubic inch engine in a 3500 pound car is fun to drive. But what about a 150 cubic inch engine in a 2200 pound car? That’s every bit as exciting, and lighter is almost always better. Better handling, better brakes, and a connection to the road that you just can’t get when there’s almost two tons of steel around you. That’s the key to the Triumph TR6: the British performance car that you never recognized for what it is.

This 1974 Triumph TR6 has been restored as needed, so it has a traditional British car feel: comfortable but not over-restored. It isn’t perfect, but none of its joyous road manners have been diluted and in its current state, you’ll never hesitate to set out for the open road without a care in the world. That’s the advantage of the imperfect car—no worries. Classic white is the car’s original color and it was treated to a quality respray a few years ago, so it looks bright and crisp. The body panels are straight and don’t seem to have spent much life in an adverse climate, so the slab-sided bodywork lines up rather well. The TR6 was an evolution of the TR4, although a fairly comprehensive restyling by the designers at Karmann gives it a unique identity that’s extremely attractive. Triumph fans will quickly recognize the kick-up behind the doors as part of the TR4 look, but the handsome nose with twin headlights faired into the fenders and the kamm-back design of the tail panel make it totally unique. This car carries the US market rubber overriders, but at the same time, the marker lights are visible where they’re supposed to be under the grille, so it has the right look. The car doesn’t have stripes or decals beyond a single red pinstripe and the Union Jack decals on the quarters, which is one of our favorite features. As the last great British sports car, there’s no reason not to advertise.

The interior features brand new seat covers and fresh foam underneath, so they look great and are all-day comfortable. The door panels and carpets are also recent, and working with the black dash pad, steering wheel, and console, it all has a very cohesive look. The dashboard is made of real wood, not some plastic substitute, and all the original Smiths gauges are fully operational. The three-spoke wheel feels meaty in your hands and is big enough that you can toss the relatively lightweight TR6 around with ease, even without power assist. The 4-speed moves through the gates cleanly and clutch action is light, so it’s easy to snap it through the gears even in the heat of combat. Weather protection is decent, thanks to a recent black convertible top as well as a black boot and full tonneau cover. There’s a decent upholstered parcel shelf behind the seats as well as a decent-sized trunk with what just might be this car’s original spare tire. It’s also big enough to make this a good car for a weekend getaway.

That’s all nice, but the real reason we like the TR6 so much is the burly 2.5-liter inline-6 under that long hood. Remember, we’re talking about a very small car, so don’t be fooled into thinking that this isn’t a performer with just a six-cylinder engine. It has been recently rebuilt to stock specs and yes, dual carburetors were standard equipment. There’s a modern alternator up front, as well as a Pertronix ignition system in the original distributor, so it lights off easily with just a little choke, and these big-bore British sixes have a sound like nothing else. There’s a big hit of torque available at almost any speed and while it isn’t a high-RPM screamer, you will enjoy running it through the gears and listening to the baritone howl of the exhaust. Detailing is quite good and there are a lot of new parts to be found under the hood, so it’s ready to go.

We’ll admit that the undercarriage is a bit crusty—it hasn’t been restored and the car is now more than 40 years old. But the important parts are solid: the frame and the rocker boxes. There’s no structural rust, the floors are ultra clean, and the hardware is 100% functional. The 4-speed manual has a fresh clutch attached to it, so it’s crisp and lively, and the rear end has been serviced as well. The stainless exhaust system is new and we can see some newer fuel lines with correct clips in there as well. The all-independent suspension makes for a very competent little sports car and this TR6 never seems to plant a tire wrong. The limits aren’t like a modern performance car, but you can use 90% of this car’s performance without endangering everyone else on the road. The torquey six makes shifting purely optional and the brakes are quite good considering the car’s featherweight curb weight. Factory steel wheels wear bright trim rings and hubcaps, along with a set of correct redline radials that fill the fenders properly.

Extras include an original owner’s manual, jack, top boot, and two tonneau covers.

Designed for fun and only fun, the TR6 is on our short list of cars to buy and hold. Earlier cars like the TR3 and TR4 (never mind the TR250, which has already skyrocketed) are seeing big gains in the market and we’ve seen time and time again that a high tide tends to float all the boats. These awesome sports cars can’t be this affordable forever and we’d argue that the TR6 is the best-driving of them all. This is fun on wheels, nothing more and nothing less. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.