Damp barn, missing parts and old damage
This 1970 Triumph TR6 came to us from Berlin. The car had spent years in a barn that was anything but dry. For a British open-top roadster, that's no small feat. Moisture seeps under carpets, into seams, under sealant, and into cavities. What might appear on the outside to be a salvageable restoration project can quickly turn into a long list of rust, missing parts, and old accident damage after disassembly.
This was precisely the case with this TR6. The typical areas affected were those of the model series: sills, floor panels, wheel arches, fenders, trunk floor, window frames, and partially the frame rails. The frame itself was not the primary source of damage, which is an important finding with a TR6. If the frame remains structurally sound, the focus of the work shifts to the body, add-on parts, mechanical components, and assembly.
TR6 with 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine and carburetors
The Triumph TR6 was built from 1969 to 1976. The body design came from Karmann, but technically it remained a classic British roadster with a separate frame and a 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine. This particular car is a carburetor version, not the European PI version with mechanical fuel injection. This means the technical requirements are somewhat different: the carburetor, ignition, fuel supply, cooling, and exhaust system must all function as a cohesive unit.
A TR6 may seem robust, but after prolonged damp storage, reputation is no guarantee of quality. The brakes, clutch, suspension, rubber bushings, lines, electrical system, and instruments all require a thorough inspection. Some gauges and chrome parts were missing, which can quickly cost more time during final assembly than major visible repairs. A missing switch or an ill-fitting trim piece can halt a project just as much as a rusted-through panel.
Complete restoration instead of barn romance
The TR6 underwent a complete restoration in the Czech Republic workshops. The work encompassed the body, paint, mechanical components, interior, chrome, dashboard, chassis, brakes, electrics, engine, transmission, and final assembly. For a vehicle stored in a damp barn, this process doesn't begin with paint, but with complete disassembly and documentation.
Rust on a TR6 tends to take hold where the buyer least expects it: under carpets, at the transitions between the floor and sills, on wheel arches, in the trunk area, and around old repairs. If removing the carpet releases the smell of damp insulation and old rust, that's not just a minor detail. It means the car has been storing water for years.
The accident damage was an additional factor. Therefore, fender connections, panel gaps, door fit, and the alignment of the front and rear sections had to be inspected not only visually but also structurally. A new paint job on a warped body would only provide a brief respite before the next problem arises.
Worthiness of restoration of a TR6
From an economic standpoint, a Triumph TR6 is generally a worthwhile restoration project, provided the chassis and overall identity are sound. Parts availability is better than for many rare British cars, the mechanical components are readily understandable, and demand for good TR6s remains stable. Nevertheless, the cost is considerable: missing parts, chrome work, interior restoration, bodywork, and a complete mechanical overhaul can quickly and significantly increase the overall expense.
Despite the circumstances, the decision was understandable in this project. The frame wasn't the primary damage, the vehicle was fully restorable, and the owner wanted a genuine rebuild, not just a refurbished showroom model. Once the work was completed, the TR6 was finished and returned to its owner.
The 5-star Google review was a nice confirmation. Even more important for us was the follow-up project: The owner subsequently entrusted us with his Morgan Plus 8 as well. That says more than any polished chrome bumper when it comes to restoration work.
