What’s your age bracket ?

[Jonny TR6]

I’ve been interested in how age plays a part in car ownership for a while and there’s a definite correlation in buying the cars you lusted after in your youth.

My early driving days were in the mid 80’s, so no doubt a whippersnapper compared to some of the wiser chaps on here and I’ve pretty much owned all the cars I grew up wanting. Mainly Lancias, BMW 840, various fast Mercs, etc etc.

The TR6 was a classic by the time I could afford one, but I never really came across them - all my mates were into Beetles and other VWs that were customised and modded and created a spirit of camaraderie and kinship, although my succession of 5 Lancia Fulvias on the trot always had me stand out as a bit of an oddball, but one who was part of the gang for loving cars.

I remember being at a chum’s in the early 90’s and he pulled back the tarp off a very rusty plum coloured TR6 which was apparently his late father’s. He told me he was going to restore it one day. I remember vividly saying “yep - always loved the TR6, they’re cool” 

I think that was the first time I remember seeing one in the flesh.

I’m now 57 and gradually getting my TR6 I bought in 2022 into the shape I want.

It would be interesting to hear other owners’ stories and their age bracket. I still feel I’m relatively young to TR6 ownership. Are there any really junior owners out there ? 

Edited November 4 by Jonny TR6

[Mk2 Chopper]

I was 48 when I got mine, its a car prior to the era where I could name every car of my childhood (including the TR7 - which I had the Scalextric version) and the 80's cars I wanted. But then I also got the bug for air-cooled VW's too and this took me back to earlier decades. 

The TR6 is quite a 'new' car in those terms for me, but I'd always had a soft spot for the 60's type of roadster, and settled on the '6.

Gareth

[multipletriumphsinner]

I was 16 when I got my TR5 in 1977, and I still have it.

 

[Paul Hill]

I am 69 had my TR6 seven years now. It was the only car I wanted in 1974 when I was 18 and learning to drive, way out of my income though. Like most great things they come in the end.

[iain]

Oops!

Edited November 5 by iain
Not a Tr6 owner!

[Jonny TR6]

3 hours ago, Mk2 Chopper said:

I was 48 when I got mine, its a car prior to the era where I could name every car of my childhood (including the TR7 - which I had the Scalextric version) and the 80's cars I wanted. But then I also got the bug for air-cooled VW's too and this took me back to earlier decades. 

The TR6 is quite a 'new' car in those terms for me, but I'd always had a soft spot for the 60's type of roadster, and settled on the '6.

Gareth

I was talking to my 11 yr old on the school run about the old days when you could name every car on the road, from the front, side or rear. Nowadays I haven’t a clue.

I eventually lapsed into VW world as well  and have had a 65 Split for 11 years. It’s my son’s favourite car.

We need to keep these things on the road for our sons.

And our sons’ sons. 

And our sons’ sons’ sons.

Yes - thank you Reg …

[SuzanneH]

Here is our sons’, son ( 9 months old) enjoying a newly restored TR4 that is for sale.

Edited November 5 by SuzanneH

[Jonny TR6]

You do realise that you won't be able to show him that pic when he's older ? He'll never forgive you !

[250]

51 minutes ago, Jonny TR6 said:

You do realise that you won't be able to show him that pic when he's older ? He'll never forgive you !

Roger or the grandson?

[Rob Salisbury]

I was 19 when I got my 4A in 1969 and I still have it, tax'd insured, MOT'd and on the road last weekend.

[PodOne]

I'm 60 and grew up with 80's cars with modified Fords, Vauxhalls, Peugeots and finally in my 40's MK1 MX5's modified to silly power with a bad accident seeing the end to that adventure and the threat of divorce if I rebuilt her so she had to go. With an empty garage my thoughts turned to the red TR6 I used to walk past as a kid on my way to school and the rest is history with two young granddaughter loving to sit and take a ride in her. The older one already says it's her car and loves to help with the spanners!

Andy

 

[Nigel Triumph]

I bought my TR6 19 years ago, as a 50th birthday present to myself. I wanted one ever since 1973, when literally just out of school on my 18th birthday, I crossed the Channel by hovercraft with two mates and a Mini, to go for a month's camping tour of France. We were overtaken on the Route National out of Boulogne by a nearly new Mimosa yellow TR6. The look and the six pot sound track has stayed with me ever since. 

It was worth the wait to get my very own 6.

Nigel 

[harlequin]

My first TR was a tatty left hand drive TR4 that I got when I was 22 that was in 1971 . My job took me over Europe and my TR4 was my transport, it was brilliant it never let me down once in the 6 years that I had it.

I replaced it with a very smart TR6 which was the exact opposite, everything that could go wrong did go wrong so after 2 years it was traded for a BMW.

Then in 1997 I got the TR bug again and bought my 2nd TR6 but this time it was a carburettor one and I still drive it nearly every day. 

George 

[Martin50]

I was in my early 40’s when I brought the TR6 in 2007. I had an old MG midget in the 90’s and then traded it for a Jag. I’ve always loved old cars but with marriage and settling down had a spell without one but missed having an old “classic”. Spent a year or so looking at various cars, and thinking what to get - good fun looking. Settled on the 6 really for the engine, its power and the injection. I think all the TR’s look great. The sound of the 6 is perfect even if just plodding along some country back roads. I’ve been lucky with the car I got, its been incredibly reliable with trips to France and across southern England.(pride comes before a fall) It’s always got us home. And mostly dry! Martin.

[yardman]

64 just bought mine 

[Alfrom]

Yep.  I was 67 when I bought my 6 and yes, I’ve always admired the style.  I couldn’t afford the TR in my early years and stayed with a Herald and FWD 1300 Triumph until spending many years car-less ( I didn’t need one and money was in short supply)

Got sidetracked though when I was 34, was smitten by Alfa Romeo and then owned several Alfas since1980, interrupted briefly by a few years with a 205GTI - all were excellent cars with a lot of get up and go.  I then had a life changing time (cancer and retirement) in 2012/3 when the TR finally entered my life.  Been a different type of car fun ever since, although there is still an Alfa outside the house!

As an aside, I managed to infect my son with the Alfa-bug (He’s on his 4th Sud right now. But also loves his BMW Alpina).  The TR is just so not his car - wrong era entirely.

Despite being on the TR insurance the only time he has ever even just sat in it was the day he came with me to buy the car.  He has no interest in actually driving it.  One of those generational things really.

Apologies for prattling on but that’s just about the whole picture, summarised as late life lusting after cars of our youth that were then just out of reach, which is why the Register will struggle to lower the average age of its members. 

[Kiwifrog]

My dad made me buy my first TR at the age of 14 a basket case TR2! Worked on it for a few years and sold it as an unfinished project at the age of 19 to buy first house.

Next was a TR6 at the age of 26 that I kept for a couple of years before leaving New Zealand for Europe.
 

After that was a TR 4 that I imported from the USA when I was 36 and restored over a couple of years then had to sell to cover the bills when I got crook and couldn’t work. Still miss that car.

Next was a 3a imported from the USA at the age of 41 which kept me sane working on during my later radiotherapy in 2013 which is now part of the family, my wife has strictly vetoed the idea of ever selling it.

I also purchased a cheap TR6 in 2019 at the age of 52 that had a "seized engine" that turned out to be an over tight fan belt and a blocked water pump. Still have both these cars at 57

Serial TRumpher

Alan

Edited November 6 by Kiwifrog

[michaeldavis39]

Bought my Tr6 2013- I'm now 55 and feel too young for this - Peugeot 205gti Fiesta Xr2, VW Golf GTi Vauxhall Astra Gte Renault 5 turbo were all cars of my era - not ones I ever owned but some I did have the pleasure of driving regularly as works pool cars- 205 was the favourite it just wanted to go fast all the time- or was it me lol.

[Macleesh]

Mine is 4 years younger than I am, we are more or less contemporaries.

[Steve-B]

I'll be 65(end of Nov) I bought mine in mid-2022 after part-ex'ing it for a high powered Caterham SV we owned for 22 years. My first car was a 65 Spitfire Dad and I bought at a brakers yard, fully restored it. Thoughout my life I lusted ater a TR6 and was never in a situation I could grab one, though I did have TVR Cerbera, M5 and the 1st BMW M-Coupe in England plus some boring other cars.

The 6 bug was one I could never put down, so a combination of a fractured L1 vertabrae in 2014 and SWMBO's fractured shoulder in 2018 meant getting in/out of the Caterham spelled it's end for us, we're now at 2.5 years with the 6 it is a reliable car, and this winter it will get MX5 seats (picking up from Paul on the 17th) for comfortable touring given I am retiring in January.

Edited November 6 by Steve-B

[john.r.davies]

As I've made clear before, I don't own a TR!     I'm here because my current Triumph has the equivalent of a TR6 engine, improved to 170bhp and I value the technical advice here.

I've always had small chassis Triumphs, first in my 20s, a Vitesse convertible.      In my 50s, probably in male menopause, I bought another, rather dilapidated  Vitesse to restore, but put off by the obsessive neurotics who displayed show cars,  I discovered that people raced them!    Two more race Vitesses later (one a false Vitesse as it started as a Herald) I now race one with a 2.6L engine, Lucas Pi and a lot of other mods.   This car was built in '71, has been racing in various hands since the mid-80s and owned by me since 2007.   It is one of less than a handful of race Vitesses in the UK, and in my mid-70s I suspect I will not last as long as it will.

John

[jimt]

Had my first TR6 as a 21 yr old in 1976 - a 3 yr old magenta CR that was my daily driver - we were lucky back then as I can’t imagine it’s possible for the average 21 yr old to have a ‘sports’ car today !!! 
Sold when the family arrived but in ‘86 a TR3a ( BRG /Targo Purple trim) was  acquired and slowly rebuild over the next 15 yrs and 3 major house moves! 2 masters class wins later it was sold ending my TR association and we ventured into 30’s vintage motoring until earlier this year at 69 when we had a hankering for another 6 - this time a ‘72 CP saffron yellow car - and very happy with it we are 

Jim

Edited November 6 by jimt

[Cew]

I bought my first TR4 when I was 20years old in 1972 for £125, (are you still out there 746 EHO, or possibly EHO 746?) it was sold two years later when I married. I then bought my current TR6 in 2008 at the age of 56 when I no longer had the burden of the reason for the sale of the "4".

[iand]

I had at 1500 spitfire, TR7, Dolomite Sprint in my teens and twenties. I brought a TR6 in 2021 at 55, as it's a crime to have an empty garage . . ! 

Edited November 10 by iand
text change

[Richmac]

In my mid twenties I drove a old van that I had to have because of my work. I pined for a clean car to use for evenings and weekends. With a budget of around £500 instead of buying a clapped out fiesta or similar I bought a Morris minor and loved it keeping it many years.

In my early forties I moved to a house with a garage and thought I would buy another old car for fun. I wanted a classic 60s sports car with wood and as many dials as possible. I always liked the look of the TR4a and Austin Healey but couldn't stretch to these so bought a sunbeam alpine which I went on keep for 18 years.

When one day my dad left me 5k I went out and bought a TR6, and this year at the age of 60 I have sold the 6 and the sunbeam and finally got a TR4a in the garage