Andrew Smith Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 (edited) Ok, I was supposed to be inspecting an original and unrestored 1970 Saffron TR6 last weekend with a view to selling it on behalf of the owner who is no longer able to drive it due a triple bye-pass and sciatica. He has owned the TR6 since 1994 and is only the 3rd owner with a genuine 42,500 miles from new! Well, I did view the car and it is truly a time-warp TR6; it still wears its original paint, panels (for factory gaps they are impressive!) and it still has its original interior (except for the Motolita), even down to the door seals/furflex! The factory hood and hood bag are still on the car, as are a pair of dealer fitted Lucas fog and spot lamps. The original log book and owner’s manual are also with the car, as is the toolkit. It’s a little untidy under the bonnet as Dot 4 brake fluid has damaged the paintwork around the brake master cylinder and areas of paint has lifted off the servo, but after all it is 44 years old! Of course there are areas of surface rust that requires attention, but overall the condition is excellent and bears testament to having been Ziebarted from new. Besides, it’s patina has a certain charm. On jacking the car up at a pivot point the doors gaps didn’t budge a smidgeon and both doors opened as if it was on flat ground! It drives as per the mileage, it is very tight and not a rattle or clonk from the drivetrain; although it requires some new brake pads/bleed and is a non-overdrive car, but hey! Anyway, during the inspection I had a ‘Victor Kiam’ moment and bought it - I pick it up on Saturday morning!! I now just have to sell the E36 M3 Evo Convertible to make room next to TuRK in the garage - first viewer is on Sunday! Cheers Andrew Edited April 15, 2014 by Andrew Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Welcome back Andrew! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevo_6 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Nice Car Andrew, welcome back to TR6ing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR NIALL Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Congratulations,Enjoy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Nice one Andrew enjoy and it goes to prove a point I have said for years good shell jacking car up no problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Well done Andrew, preserve that patina at all costs as there is a new class coming in the competitions that is going to be very hotly contested. The Originality class which will be very welcome after lots of years of long lines of far too shiny concourse cars. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 " and is a non-overdrive car, but hey! " Well yes, most TR6s of the CP persuasion were non-overdrive, I drove plenty of them at the time and overdrive was a rarity. If I was you I'd keep it as original, the extra 5 or 6 horses are worth more than the overdrive unless you're doing a lot of autobahn cruising. Nice find. Cheers Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Great news Andrew! Good to read that you have the sense to recognise a great car and that you are not put off by it's colour (which is great by my standards). I hope it will give you endless troublefree motoring miles. And like Stuart says: keep it original! Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianhoward Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Sounds good!!! Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Well done Andrew! I may be in a minority, but I actually like the colour. Is that some form of sound-deadening material underneath the bonnet? Is/was that original? Regards Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Yep keep as is but the steel brake and clutch pipes have to be changed imho Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marki Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Yep knew it wouldn't be long..... Enjoy, look forward to seeing it one day Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Denis Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 How nice to see an 'original' car, but I thought a 70 car would have had a body coloured windshield surround, like my 69 car ? I remember in 1971 being so envious of a customer of mine when he bought himself a brand new Saffron TR6, it was what prompted me to go buy my albeit 2 year old 1969 one, which only had 16,000 miles on the clock then (still only 74k today) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Harvey Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Great car. If it is as original as it looks then PLEASE do not touch a thing unless safety issues dictate otherwise. The proper term for such cars is 'survivor' and these are becoming the holy grail for serious collectors. Even the dot 4 paint damage is part of the story of the car. As Stuart says, this is a serious Concours contender in the proper sense of the original description. See: http://www.survivorcollectorcar.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Millward Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 But it's not Red!!..... . Lovely car Andrew, mine was originally that colour. Cheers Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Welcome back to the TR6 fold Andrew. My first TR6 was Saffron and it is great to see this one in good hands. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
68tr Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Nice find Andrew! Enjoy the patina. It will probably be the most popular and scrutinized TR6 at the shows. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 What a lovely car! I really like saffron (reminds me of my GT6 in the days before I was too old and fat to drive one!) Have fun Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Smith Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Hello Andrew I just brought my first TR6, about 6 weeks ago, a CR 1973 model, two previous owners and 51k mileage. This was also Ziebarted at two years old. Mine is not as good as yours from the photos, but has not been molested. The rear wings have been respayed at some stage. I think its about conservation rather then restoration, as long as the car is not deteriorating. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Nice Andrew, Better still no mudflaps this time Te he Cheers Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phil Kirk Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Well Done Andrew enjoy!! Cheers Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulAA Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Very nice, Andrew. It's interesting that originality is now becoming significant in its own right. In building conservation, this has been the mantra for the thirty-odd years, where the patina of age must be preserved at all cost. In contrast, the mainland European approach is of 'chocolate box lid rebirth', taking the building back to its appearance at first completion. As Stuart has said, it is becoming more prominent and I saw in the press coverage that there were several excellent examples of untouched originality at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago. Cheers Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Denis Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 (edited) Andrew (or anyone) any chance of a picture inside the Boot...showing how the Jack, the handle and the Tools were originally fitted please? I can't make 'head nor tail' of the original Jack position and the leather strap in the corner of the boot of mine! Edited April 16, 2014 by Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevo_6 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Good shout Denis, allways puzzled me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pogo Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Wonderful looking car Andrew and I agree with yours and others thoughts on originality. Not many people have that chance nowadays! Well done. Look forward to seeing it. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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