With us since 2021, for a long time without a clear direction
This 1976 Triumph TR6 arrived from Switzerland in 2021. Initially, the project was conceived as a partial restoration, but then almost five years passed with little progress. Such pauses are not unusual for classic car projects, but they do change the nature of the work. A disassembled vehicle doesn't improve with inactivity. Parts need to be stored, documented, and reassigned; decisions remain open, and every subsequent continuation begins with the question of what was planned back then and what is actually mandated today.
At the end of 2025, the owner decided to have us continue the complete restoration of the TR6. This turned a stalled project into a firm order. The body was painted in spring 2026, and further assembly and mechanical work are scheduled to continue in autumn and winter 2026.
Don't leave gap dimensions before painting to chance
The TR6 was partially assembled to adjust the panel gaps. This is no small matter for a roadster with a separate frame. Doors, hoods, fenders, front and rear sections must fit together before painting; otherwise, impatience will come back to haunt you later with every trim piece, every seal, and every door lock.
Especially with the TR6, the critical points are the sills, floor panels, wheel arches, trunk floor, window frames, outriggers, and body mounts. Even though the frame forms the load-bearing basis, the bodywork determines the fit and the final appearance. A freshly painted TR6 with inconsistent panel gaps remains a poorly prepared TR6.
When fitting a door, you quickly notice whether previous work was done properly. A door that lines up perfectly at the front but is misaligned at the back doesn't always indicate a door problem. Often the fault lies deeper, in the mounting, sill, or old repairs.
2.5-liter six-cylinder engine with planned three-carburetor system
The Triumph TR6 was built from 1969 to 1976. This later model is a carbureted version with the familiar 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine. The plan is to convert it to three carburetors. This makes the technical aspects more complex than with a near-stock carburetor setup, as the intake, linkage, jetting, ignition, and exhaust system must all work together seamlessly.
Such a conversion is not merely a decorative engine detail. Three carburetors can function well if they are properly installed and tuned. Poor synchronization, incorrect jetting, or play in the linkage can quickly turn a powerful six-cylinder engine into one that idles roughly and doesn't accelerate smoothly under load.
The complete restoration encompasses the bodywork, paint, mechanical components, engine, transmission, chassis, brakes, electrics, interior, convertible top, and final assembly. For a project that has been on hold since 2021, this comprehensive approach makes more sense than continuing to work on individual issues.
Ongoing project with a new plan
This TR6 is not yet finished. The body is painted, the panel gap adjustments have been prepared, and further work is planned for autumn and winter 2026. This clearly distinguishes this project from completed TR6 projects: it's not about a finished product, but about a fresh start after a long break.
Economically, a TR6 remains worth restoring if the frame, identity, and parts base are usable. Parts availability is decent, the technology is comprehensible, and good vehicles have their market. Nevertheless, downtime costs money. Not immediately, but later: through searching, re-inspection, storage, indecisiveness, and duplicated attempts.
The direction of this project is now clear again. What started as a partial restoration has become a complete restoration, including a painted body and planned mechanical work. The next test will not be the paintwork, but the assembly: that's where it will become clear whether the decisions regarding the body, panel gaps, and mechanical components truly work together.
