This next car came in as a tip from Hugh who writes; Oh my! Plus for seemingly having four donut spares installed. I didn’t fixate on the donuts, but I had strange sense of déjà v6 swap, because I swear I’ve seen this car before. And we’ve featured a strangely high number of V6 swapped TR7s over the years, but this one appears to be new to us. Find this 1976 Triumph TR7 V6 offered for $2,750 in Jefferson City, MT via craigslist.
This next car is an interesting thing — it is a Triumph TR7 that has had its original engine removed and replaced with a Buick V6, which should make it a rare thing — but this isn’t the first, second, or even the third Buick V6 powered TR7 that we’ve featured here…so I guess that Buick V6s in TR7s is a real movement within the automotive customization world. I think that is a good thing….right? Find this 1979 Triumph TR7 offered for $5,100 in Des Moines, IA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
You’ve got two empty spaces in your garage, barn, dirt lot…whatever, and you need to fill it with two classics. Obviously one needs to be red and the other side green — an automotive salute to the little red/green sign you have on your table at an all-you-can eat churrascaria. You might not be able to eat either of these next four cars, but they all look like they’ve been barbequed over a charcoal fire for the past few decades. Which pair goes in your green field? The pair of Triumphs TR7/TR8 for $4k or the pair of NSU Prinz 40s for $1100CAD? NSUs are a tip from Erik.
This next car comes as a tip from Zach who writes; If only there were people who knew how to make keys. Or screwdrivers, this is a vintage British car, you could probably start with a key from a can of Spam. Mmmm, spiced ham. I’m hungry now. Find this 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 offered for $3,600 in Westminster, CO via craigslist.
This next car follows along with the theme of the MG Midget with Toyota power that we featured the other day…except that this one has the exhaust routing figured out. Classic British motoring style with reliable Japanese power…sounds like an MX-5 Miata without the reliable electrics. Find this 1972 Triumph TR6 with Toyota 20R power offered for $8500 in Santa Cruz, CA via craigslist.
Fairthorpe Cars out of Buckinghamshire England started making cars in 1954 using motorcycle engines mounted on steel backbones with fiberglass body panels. By the 1970s the company was almost extinct, but not before they released the TX Tripper (possibly through a side venture called Technical Exponents run by the son of the founder), which put dune buggy-ish styling on a Triumph GT6 chassis. It is a hand-built car produced in handfuls and now it is offered for pennies. Find this 1974 Fairthorpe TX Tripper offered for $4,800 in Austin, TX via craigslist.
Over the years, various people have answered the question; what happens when you shove a big V8 into a small car? But today’s custom answers the question; what happens you put a lot of Chevy into a little bit of Triumph and the answer is something special. I love the wood dash, the minilite wheels, and the small roll hoop, and I just hope the exhaust is subtle enough that most people won’t notice the burbling 6.6 liter menace under the hood. Find this 1973 Triumph TR6 offered for $24,000 in Long Island, NY via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
I’ve got a good friend who drives a classic Triumph GT6 that looks a bit like this next car — and it is a bottom of the barrel project, but people stop and take photos of it and he gets celebrity treatment everywhere but Pebble Beach. Most people don’t know what a Triumph GT6 is, but that is part of what makes ownership fun. Find this 1970 Triumph GT6 offered for $4300 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist.
This next car comes as a tip from Zach who writes: The Mk III Spitfires still had the chrome bumpers, upsized engine 1296cc vs 1147cc earlier unit. Looks to have most all the pieces you’d want there – OD, hardtop, replacement floors to be welded in… if the sills are good, this is about as straight forward as you can get. Difficult to tell, but body panels generally appear straight. Pretty much any part you need is available and after you go through and clean the electrical bits, as reliable as you need on a project car. I still miss my ’70. Right on Zach…buy this one!! Find this 1969 Triumph Spitfire Mk3 offered for $1500 near Portland, OR via craigslist.
The Triumph Stag was a 2+2 convertible sports tourer designed by Giovanni Michelotti (known for his work on the Triumph Spitfire, GT6, TR4, Ferrari 250/340/375, Maserati 3500/5000, and BMW 2002…you get the idea) and produced by Triumph. Today’s Stag has been de-bumpered and the result is a car that looks more mid 60s Lotus or […]