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 […]
The Triumph TR7 isn’t a car that’ll make you fall in love at first sight. In fact, you probably need to see on 15 times before you acquire the taste, but like a fine cauliflower purée ..the TR7 isn’t for the new car collector or someone getting their feet wet in classic cars…but for the […]
The biggest problem with driving a 90s Miata is that everyone knows it is fun, reliable, and easy version of a classic British roadster. While an MX-5 might be a great car for a curvy road on a fresh spring day, it doesn’t get much attention or street cred at your local classic car night. […]
The wedge shaped Triumph TR7 launched in 1974 by the infamous British Leyland Motor Corp. The TR7 was billed as “The Shape of Things to Come” – which was apt as British Leyland’s sales followed an sharp angle…directly into the ground. The TR7 styling was penned by Harris Mann (known for his Austin Allegro and […]