You have to take your hat off to some people, and just admire their generosity. The former owner of this nice looking Triumph TR6 has donated it to charity, and that organization is now auctioning the car off as a fund-raising exercise. It is a car that shows a lot of promise and would be a great vehicle to use for a bit of cruising in its current location of Orange, California. The Triumph has been listed for sale here on eBay, and with bidding now sitting at $6,957, the reserve has been met.
The Triumph is finished in Magenta, and if I’m honest, it isn’t my favorite color in the range from that era. Leaving that aside, the car does appear to be in quite good condition. The owners are pretty open about the car, and state that the description is derived from their own observations. They do advise people to undertake a personal inspection if they have any doubts or questions. The TR6 appears to be free of any obvious rust issues, but we don’t get a look at the car’s underside. Personally, I would be recommending a personal inspection, because the TR6 does have a reputation for developing rust problems. Of course, if it has spent its life in California, then this should help the car in this area. The paintwork has some marks and chips, but it certainly seems to be quite presentable. One interesting and slightly unusual feature of this particular TR6 is the fact that it wears wire wheels. This makes quite a difference to the vehicle’s appearance when compared to the deep-dished steel wheels that are such a common sight on these cars. The soft-top looks to be in really nice condition, and included in the sale is a tonneau and a car cover.
The interior of the TR6 is quite presentable, and it doesn’t appear as though there are any urgent problems to be addressed. The carpet looks like it is showing some wear, and the emblem is missing from the top of the shifter knob. The rubber pads are missing from a couple of the pedals, but otherwise, it is definitely quite presentable as a daily driver. The walnut veneer dash looks like it has survived really well, and I don’t see any aftermarket additions to the Triumph’s interior.
It was under the hood of the TR6 where the most apparent difference could be found between the TR6 built for the UK domestic market and those cars that found their way to the USA. Both featured the same 2,498cc six-cylinder engine. However, while the domestic production wore Lucas fuel-injection, American examples were fitted with twin Stromberg carburetors. The result was that while the US cars produced 106hp, this was a drop of some 40hp when compared to the same car in the UK. Backing the Triumph’s engine is a 4-speed manual transmission, while handling was aided by the independent rear suspension. The sellers state that the car is showing 32,695 miles on its odometer, and while they can’t confirm it, they do believe that these are original miles. The engine bay presents very nicely, and the sellers say that the Triumph runs and drives really well.
The TR6 has always been my personal favorite from Triumph’s “TR” range, and this one shows a lot of potential. I would love to know what the motivation was that has seen the previous owner donate the car to charity. This is a car that could be a great option for a bit of top-down cruising in sunny California. Do we have any readers who are feeling charitable enough to bid on this British classic?
Great listing Adam. You guys may get tired of hearing this from me but its so importatnt to get a professional inspection or look at it yourself. I saw so much fraud on some ebay cars this week that I’m amazed and shouldn’t be. Looks like a nice one. Caveat emptor.
Cheers
GPC
This is what it has come to on eBay. There is more concern about buyer follow thru and fees than the description of the car.
Does
Anybody know if this is a factory color? I’ve seen a few this color over the years.
Don’t know if this is a factory colour but isn’t it godawful?
Yes I’d drive it, Strait to Earl Scheib, same as the pink Porsche. And this isn’t just pink, It’s pink with a steroid injection.
That’s because they are a clearinghouse for cars donated to charities, they don’t know the history or mechanical condition of the cars. Look at their other vehicles listed, most are in poor shape, often donated to get a free tow. They have to protect their interests, if not, eBay will throw them off their site just like any other seller.
As a buyer from a charity auction you need to be aware that there might be problems with the car. Buy it assuming it’s a project needing some work, not something that is turn key ready to drive.
Steve R
Absolutely a factory color. Triumph paint code #92. We have a ’73 Spitfire in this color.
This has been repainted. The original magenta wasn’t quite so pink in sunlight. Most likely repainted in PPG 50921
Love it or hate it, Magenta #92 is unique. In the States, this color was available in ’73 and ’74 only, if I remember correctly.
On the plus side, kids love it! Gets a lot of attention at car shows. Pisses off all the muscle car owners and those with boring reds and BRG.
Magenta was code #92 and was offered in ’73 and ’74, apparently. Not many sold here. Without O/D, the deal is off regardless of the color.
Bought right you could use the extra savings to put a 5 speed in it. We used to call this color “blurple”. Does get your attention and it doesn’t look as bad as it should.
Weird contact bidding rules.
But I understand the reason.
Have to see it yourself if you do not want to lose 10 grand or whatever it goes for
I find the allusion to “original miles” more than a bit hard to believe. SoCal cars almost always have high mileage because they are driven everywhere by owners and a mundane Sports Car doesn’t qualify as a garage queen as per owners who own Ferrari and Lambo for instance.
The suggestion of a personal inspection is definitely on target. These IRS rear end cars are notroious for ripping out the rear end to body/chassis poorly designed apparatus that is/was supposed to hold the axle in place. More common here in the Midwest but hard driving also takes its toll. FWIW.
As for color, GM, specifically Pontiac had a Hot Pink that had a strong appeal to me back in the mid 60s but looked like a giant Pepto Bismal bottle on a Grand Prix or Bonneville. Color is always a subjective case.
With so much Armor-All slathered all over the tires, I wouldn’t even begin to consider this without a proper first-hand inspection! I’ve known a number of people who’ve donated cars to charities, but in each and every case, the car had some serious issue, either hidden or not, that gave rise to the donation. Makes one wonder, do these owners sleep better at night knowing it was the charity, and not them that screwed the buyer?
Purple or no purple, these cars are handling demons. I know this because when I was in college my buddy had one in white and terrorized me with it wherever we would go. He was really into “cornering” at the time and whenever we made a turn, it seemed like he was attempting to achieve maximum G-force. Throttle floored all the way.
I particularly remember Signal Hill and it’s curvy roads. When we hit a gravel patch and spun out, we laughed our ass off. Yes, it was fun but when we got on the freeway he would weave in and out and that part was scary. Glad I survived that era.
Not a lot of torque but free revving, these TR6’s are a blast to drive and this one would look pretty good to me, if only it weren’t purple.
Spoken like a true OG
@Steve H. Was that Signal Hill, Cape Town?
This was in SoCal. Grew up in Long Beach, CA and Signal Hill was a fun place to take a sports car in the early 70s. It’s been completely subdivided by now so it wouldn’t be much of an attraction for drivers anymore. Back then then it was basically populated with oil wells and derricks. And not very many cops!
Not familiar with this type of ‘charitable’ auction. Appears to be an auction house inserting itself between donor and intended Charity.
Why not subtract the fees from the proceeds rather than dunn the buyer?
Who is the beneficiary Charity?
The tax laws were changed a several years ago, prior to that many charities would have a row of donated cars sitting around. Most were junk since there were not many constrains as to the “value” for tax purposes placed on the vehicle. That changed, rules were set in place to bring the amount eligible for a tax deduction more in line with the cars actual market value, which meant more regulation and paperwork. Me and some friends would buy several cars a year, there were a fair number of 60’s cars cycling through at one point, but that has since changed. Sure, this is a bit of a scam, but it’s now favoring the clearing house rather than the people that donated the car. Many of these cars, especially the ones needing work would likely wind up scrapped otherwise. It’s not a perfect system, nothing is.
I love these cars it totally brings me back to my youth!!! I have honestly never seen one in this color!!! Seems cool though although not my first choice!!!
Your adventures on Signal Hill remind me of mine on Mulholland in my TR3 early 70s, the difference being that the tractor engines 3 had plenty of low end torque, perfect for hanging the rear end out any time you wanted! Drifters and rice burners must have studied TR3s!
I guess I have to ask my cousin who happens to live in Orange, Cali to check it out for me! It’s too bad that it doesn’t have the electric overdrive….:(. I used to own a ’74 BRG TR6 and loved it. We’ll see what my cousin says about this Magenta.