Two Boomers' Homage to the TR6

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HoveringPorridge@reddit

I love the TR6, my grandfather had one. A light car with a smooth 150bhp i6 is a recipe for fun.

Though personally, if I were to buy a Triumph it would have to be a TR8. I just love that late '70s styling.

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shwiss@reddit

150hp is a lot for the time. That thing must fly.

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HoveringPorridge@reddit

There's an old Clarkson VHS where he's discussing how cars have evolved. He drag races one against and S2000, and the TR6 beats it off the line.

But he goes on to say that reliability is the big change, the S2000 could do it all day. But the TR6 will probably overheat. Then cuts to a clip of the race again but the TR6 stops half way with steam pouring everywhere.

Can't find it on YouTube sadly, it was fairly obscure for Clarkson! But they were quite brisk, and one of the rare cars that all three of the old TG trio seemed to like.

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CaptainGo@reddit

Wedge era best era.

That being said I'd probably do a Dolly Sprint simply because it's the one Triumph I haven't seen in my area

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Bonerchill@reddit

It's extremely sad to me that the overwhelming majority of the people in this sub will never, by choice, experience something like this.

Too small.

Too unsafe.

Too slow.

... too bad.

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holzmann_dc@reddit (OP)

Miata? Which both James and Jay praise in the video.

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xXxDickBonerz69xXx@reddit

Too small, too unsafe, too slow

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hi_im_bored13@reddit

I don’t think it matters as the choice isn’t present in the first place, it’s a fantastic era of automotive but where in the world do even find one of these apart from personal connections?

You can go abroad and rent an r34 or whatever, gr Yaris, nobody is going to let you touch an s800 unless you know what’s up

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Bonerchill@reddit

You buy one.

Instead of spending $300k on a GT3, you buy a $40k TR6 or a $150k E-Type or a $75k Giulia GT or a $35k Giulia Super sedan or a $90k 911 T hot rod or a $40k Morris Mini Cooper or a $25k BMW 2002 or a $50k Lotus Elan. Hire someone like me to inspect it first, though.

Or you go to a Cars and Coffee that isn’t dominated by tech bros and oligarchs, find an owner, and mention you’ve never experienced one of these cars.

Or you go to a classic car garage and see if they have a meet.

Or you check with AROC or, for me, the Triumph Club of Southern California.

Or you join the forums and see if there’s a local meet, or post in the regional subforums.

I suppose I may be spoiled in SoCal but there are groups of enthusiasts throughout the country.

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hi_im_bored13@reddit

This is completely ignoring the time it takes to source parts and keep these cars up to standards. VS a nd3 Miata or similar. And for the vast, vast majority of people on this earth, 300k on a gt3 isn’t a choice either.

Will definitely agree that the socal clubs are fantastic, there are great owners out there, and people really should network more and get a change to drive their dreams, but in most places it’s pretty sparse

Not saying there shouldn’t be more attention on these cars (there definitely should, they drive like nothing else on the road), but I feel diluting it to “people willingly make a choice” is a bit much

Even completely ignoring the money for me, I simply don’t have the time or space to deal with an s800, my s2k just ~30yrs later has significantly better availability, much less a brand new 86 or similar.

Though full disclaimer, this is from a Honda classic perspective, haven’t watched the video yet either, maybe the triumph guys eat well, don’t know

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sprottythotty@reddit

so you would rather have the easier to maintain and less raw car ownership experience? All cars require maintenance and take up space? Most people just don’t care for this era enough to put up with some of the quirks which is sad

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Bonerchill@reddit

Having done a partial restoration on an S800, it’s hugely outside the norm.

Everything I listed has significant parts available, and mechanical parts are readily available.

The prices I listed are also for fairly sorted examples that will likely need less than $10k in the first year of ownership and $2500-5000/year for the next ten years depending on owner involvement, tire choices, proper usage, etc.

A decent early 911 requires an oil change a year, and little else.

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ZombieLinux@reddit

I was gonna say your prices seemed high, but then you mentioned socal.

I’m about 5k into a ‘70 MG Midget and it’s been a blast to wrench on and even more fun to drive.

This era of small fun roadsters is absolutely worth preserving and should be high on any enthusiasts list simply for the disturbingly low barrier to entry.

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fenby13@reddit

Wow i havent seen leno in a little while. He looks slim but like he’s aged a lot too.

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Thunder_Wasp@reddit

His steam burn accident messed up the skin on his face and neck which makes him look older imo. In the video he explained he’s 75 but has fortunately no health problems and is doing better than all his friends at the same age.

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peakdecline@reddit

He seems tired, frankly. Its not just the look but its the behavior. He also, frankly, seems to barely be taking in what James May is talking about.

Call me an asshole, I get it, but I thought the content of this video was not good. Beyond the novelty of Leno and May being in a TR6 together... there's no substance here.

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BassWingerC-137@reddit

Meh, the worst thing in this video was May saying “nice chips.” INO fries suck!

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keithplacer@reddit

I had a similar opinion on the video. Part of that was, I think, that May’s schtick is wearing thin, but a bigger part was Jay’s lack of engagement. Maybe it was due to hearing issues, or age, or something else - I can’t help but think that having his wife become an invalid as she slips away must be having a big effect on him. It is tragic. Oddly, there have been a lot of videos of him sitting down for interviews with whomever over the last few months that have all been very similar. He tells the same stories, the same quips, etc. It’s almost like they’re scripted.

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fmjintervention@reddit

seems to barely be taking in what James May is talking about

He's deaf. He's not having cognitive issues, the problem is that he can't hear a word James is saying. There's many instances where James says something and Leno blankly stares into the distance, and then James repeats himself with a raised voice and Leno responds in a perfectly intelligent manner. They're in a convertible on an LA freeway. Leno can't hear a thing May is saying. He's probably doing great cognitively, he just needs hearing aids badly

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OreeOh@reddit

All thanks to no sports lol

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I_like_cake_7@reddit

It’s amazing what having tons of money can do for your health.

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strongmanass@reddit

idk what the average age of this sub is, but health is something you only truly appreciate as you get older and you see people close to you struggle. Many of my friends deal with chronic health issues, and my parents' generation are dying younger than Leno.

Being 75 and still mobile, able to ride motorcycles and engage in all sorts of classic cars despite some severe recent injuries is a luck of the draw most people won't internalize until they're close to it.

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willpc14@reddit

Luck and genetics play a huge part, but I maintain that staying active both physically and mentally at 60+ plays just as big a role.

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strongmanass@reddit

Physical decline begins in the 20/30s and cognitive in the 40/50s if you don't take care of yourself, so physical and mental exercise do play a role for slowing general aging and decline. But if you have a condition like fibromyalgia then just existing is a challenge. And most people who break multiple bones in their 70s like Leno won't fully recover even if they were in great health before the injury.

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RentAscout@reddit

The joke about wheeling his high school quarterback off a cliff was hilarious.

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degggendorf@reddit

He does just seem very slow overall. Slow walk (fair enough), but also very slow responses.

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tlivingd@reddit

Just saw it and yea he aged quick. I guess he fell down a 60’ cliffside toward the end of 2024 and broke his wrist and knee or kneecap and injured some other things.

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sleevieb@reddit

That’s nothing compared to lighting his face on fire and clotheslining himself on a motorcycle

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tlivingd@reddit

I knew about the burns but shit clotheslining himself?! Damn

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MammothWrongdoer1242@reddit

It's funny that you thought you had to explain who James May is to a car sub reddit lol

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degggendorf@reddit

Just to clarify that it's not James May the British gymnast who finished 33rd in the 1992 Olympics.

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Excellent-Will-8971@reddit

Jay, James, burgers and a TR6. That's the kind of quality content I signed up for.

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TheRAP79@reddit

I do like the TR6 compared to the other stuff of that time. Less 'hairdresser' than the Spitfire and compared to the wallowy MGB, a better handling car, despite its separate body/chassis construction.

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rudman@reddit

Back in the late 70s I wanted a TR6 so bad but as a teeenager I couldn't afford it. And as I got older, I couldn't afford a dedicated sports car. And now I can afford one, I live in a condo and have no where to keep it and work on it. Arrrggh!

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Novacek_Yourself@reddit

Leno looks very, very rough. Will appreciate having him while he's here.

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senor_sugar@reddit

Highly recommend anyone looking for a car hobby to pick up an old Triumph or MG. Nearly all parts are readily available and they're very simple to work on. Lots of fun, and not too expensive.

Personally prefer the TR4, you can pick up a driver condition car for $10-15k. I have a database of 50+ current TR4s for sale throughout US classifieds in all conditions if youre looking to buy..

Torquey motor in a little car and they look good too!

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