1971 Triumph TR-6
This is my story of where I came from and what I (1971 Triumph TR-6) and Terry (my owner for the past 35 years) have been up to.
If you are new to my blog please start at the begining to follow my entire story. Scroll to the bottom of the page and under the Archive List start with the Post Titled "Terry's First Triumph" and work your way up the Post List. The most recent post is directly below this text.
Enjoy and please feel free to follow my blog and add your comments.
Thanks
Terry's LRC (Little Red Car)
If you are new to my blog please start at the begining to follow my entire story. Scroll to the bottom of the page and under the Archive List start with the Post Titled "Terry's First Triumph" and work your way up the Post List. The most recent post is directly below this text.
Enjoy and please feel free to follow my blog and add your comments.
Thanks
Terry's LRC (Little Red Car)
Topless on New Years Eve!
I had a crazy New Years Eve, Terry was working on me with the garage door open since it was sunny and in the upper 50's today. I liked it so much I went topless.
I'm 40 Years Old Today (11/25/10)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!
Today on my 40 th Birthday (of my actual build date) I would like to give thanks to my owner for the last 35 1/2 years Terry. Thank you for keeping me running and looking pretty good. I am looking forward to my facelift. I also want to thank Terry's wonderful wife Laura and his two daughters Michelle and Kelly for respecting me and my relationship with Terry.
Oh yea and those two dogs Tyler and Bosco who have kept their sharp paws off my paint.
Today on my 40 th Birthday (of my actual build date) I would like to give thanks to my owner for the last 35 1/2 years Terry. Thank you for keeping me running and looking pretty good. I am looking forward to my facelift. I also want to thank Terry's wonderful wife Laura and his two daughters Michelle and Kelly for respecting me and my relationship with Terry.
Oh yea and those two dogs Tyler and Bosco who have kept their sharp paws off my paint.
More of Terry's Helpers (11/13/10)
Now that my motor has left me I need some help to get moved around. What a beautiful November day for a good degreasing!
Trick or Treat? (10/31/10)
Halloween 2010 Will it be a Trick or will it be a Treat? We went for our last pre-restoration ride today. I hope Terry knows what he is doing when he takes me apart. I hope I do not end up like some of the other yard art around the house!
One of Terry's Helpers (10/31/10)
Ok if you are going to help hand Terry his tools you need to know what a spanner is, also the bonnet is not a womans hat!
My pal Bosco.
My pal Bosco.
My Rear End Needed a Little Work
Although I think my rear end is quite cute, Terry said that it had an unwanted crack in the right front support which caused an obnoxous sound on hard shifts. So Terry decided to take my rear end out and repair it this summer.
Before Removal
Memories
Through the years I have given Terry some problems but I have almost never left him stranded on the road. Yes I did blow up my rear end in Akron once and he had to baby me home and my brakes stopped working once in Akron as well but we made it home safely. But for the most part I have felt and ran good and do appreciate not being taken out in the cold or snow. Terry has recently talked about taking me apart and rebuilding me, I really believe that he is ready to start soon, he has bought a lot of new parts over the last few years which look great but which would look even better on me. In preparation, he has created a little more room in Terry and Laura's garage. Now I can stay there this fall when I start to be taken apart. Being in Grandpa's garage with the Packard was OK but it sure is nice now, sitting on a concrete floor. I sure hope he knows what he is doing when he takes me apart. I hope he doesn't lose any of me or forget where some of my pieces go. But if you know Terry like I do you know he will take a lot of pictures to help his poor memory. I really don't not want to stay apart too long.
A TR-6 Wins the 2009 SCCA E Production National Championship.
Sam Halkias 2009 National Champion |
Although Terry did not take me, said it was too far and I was too small because he had to take Dave and a lot of beer, one of Terry’s best TR-6 stories is the SCCA 2009 Runoffs where a 35 year old TR-6 won the E Production National Championship Race at Road America in Elkart Lake Wisconsin. Brings back memories of 1975 when Paul Newman won the same championship in a TR-6 as well.
New Drivers
Terry has recently started teaching Kelly to drive me. I like her. Since Michelle is living in Cincinnati now we have not had a chance to hook up. But we will and I am sure I will like her too.
Not a recent photo of Kelly and me. I like the Little Mermaid too!
Recent (2009) Photo of Kelly at Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix with a 240 Z similar to Uncle Larry's former car
GIrls are Getting Older
As the girls got older we could no longer go for rides with both of them but we enjoyed one at a time even if they did complain about the wind messing up their hair with the top down, which it usually was.
Triumphs 40th Birthday
A Different Kind of Fun
Although some of you cannot understand it Terry always enjoys being with me even if it involves some work and getting dirty! Terry must like the color RED.
Having Fun
Terry took the best care of me a car could ask for, even when he took me to Autocrosses and to Nelson Ledges he was always very respectful of me and did not hurt me.
Cleveland 500 Autocross | <>Nelson Ledges> >>>>>>>>>
Although we didn't race at Mid-Ohio we have driven the track several times. I know I could go really fast there.
The Girls Love the Little Red Car (LRC)
In 1986 and 1988 Terry’s two other loves of his and Laura’s lives were born, Michelle and Kelly. I was concerned because I only have 2 seats and knew that our times together would decrease again. But, Terry found a way to safely take the two girls for rides (short, slow ones). The girls called me the Little Red Car. (I don’t mind the name but, they didn’t grow up to be too big themselves! Ha Ha.!)
I was a Part of Terry & Laura's Wedding!
Terry and Laura married in 1983. I was not the Best Man but I was driven by Terry’s friend Larry to transport part of the wedding party (Larry and Sandy). One of the few times someone other than Terry had driven me. Since Terry was working at Poop Plants he would not drive me to his construction work sites because he didn’t want me to get too dirty. We would still enjoy our limited rides together.
My Japanese Cousin
Although we never met since he lived in Florida, Terry's Brother Larry had a 1972 Datsun 240 Z. It was a nice looking car. I wish he would have kept it and we could have had a chance to play together.
Origin of the Triumph Fever?
By the way there once was another Triumph in the extended family. Terry’s Cousin Bernie was the proud owner of a TR-4 . Maybe that is where Terry got the Triumph Fever.
Other Triumph Friends
Terry’s friend Dale liked me so much that he decided to buy a Triumph as well. Problem is he bought that so called “SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME TR7”. He should have bought a TR-6. We got along but Dale and the 7 eventually parted ways.
The Early 80's
Once Terry graduated from college he started working full time out of town and my job of being his primary mode of transportation ended . Our times together were fewer and fewer. He found a new love, Laura, the three of us would go out for rides when he was home on weekends.
Terry and Laura always liked taking pictures with me. I have a nice smile :)
Terry and Laura always liked taking pictures with me. I have a nice smile :)
I Went Back to Ohio
At my new home I met my older sibling a 1964 Triumph Spitfire. Terry soon sold his Spitfire and we have been a one Triumph family ever since.
I took Terry to the University of Akron for 5 years as well as to his part time jobs and to some fun places as well. I was his primary transportation during the spring / summer / fall driving season of around March to November. Terry would never drive me in the snow. He would always drive some German or Yankee vehicles in the cold Ohio winters. I would stay in Terry’s parent’s garage.
How We Met
Ma, Terry and Me on our First Day Together |
In June of 1975 Terry had just Graduated High School, and had just turned 18, he had been saving his money to buy a dependable car to get him back and forth to the University of Akron. Terry currently had a Triumph Spitfire which his Dad had purchased a few years back and together they repaired the rust, repainted it and made it a nice looking and running car. Terry knew that the cars in Florida were rust free so he went to visit his Granmother (Ma) and look for a TR-6. Even though he never had driven a TR-6 he knew they were bigger (more leg room) and faster (6 cylinder vs 4 cylinder) than a Spitfire. My relationship with Terry started on June 20, 1975 when we met in Clearwater Florida at Checkpoint Inc. Auto Sales, a Triumph and Saab dealership on South Missouri Ave. It was love at first sight. I was looking very good! (Terry was hesitant about even stopping to see me because he thought I was brand new and he could only afford a used car). He took me for a ride and didn't like the clunk my rear end was making but he decided that the rest of me was great so he purchased me for $2,000. Terry drove me all the way to my new home in Sagamore Hills Ohio with Terry’s Mom and Dad following and co-piloting with their 1974 Chevrolet El Camino.
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