A partial Mace family auto biography:
1959-64: Dad's Triumph 10 was his only car, was often the family car of
choice (over the Plymouth wagon), and was the choice for several trips
from Albany, NY to Portsmouth, NH to deliver long wooden cases full of
precision instruments. No more trouble than the Plymouth.
1964-71: Dad's Herald 1200 convertible was his commuter and later mine
as well for much of my first year at college. Survived his neglect as
well as my learning-to-drive and learning-to-be-a-hippie-teenager. No
more trouble than Dodge Dart or Ford Country Squire wagons.
1971-late 1975: Spitfire Mk.3 bought used served much the same purposes
as did the Herald above. Ultimately became the infamous 30 miles per quart
of oil, but never let us down, even as it rusted away. As durable as
Ford Country Squire, which exhibited many of same problems (rust, oil) by
the time it was dumped, er, traded.
1975-81: five-year-old GT6+ replaced Spitfire. A but fussier, mostly due
to PO neglect. Nonetheless served well as daily commuter, weekend
autocross and rally, occasional ladder-on-the-roof rack and
bunch-o'-stuff-in-the-back hauler for various tasks. Only rust finally
took it off the road. Almost as useful and just as reliable if not more
so than Volvo wagons then in family.
1989-91: Spitfire 1500, stored for total of 8+ years before final
assembly by me, served as daily car. More problems than any car previous;
most of them attributable to unknown PO ignorance, a few my own fault,
owing to my own neglect. Taken off road only because of purchase of Ford
Explorer and desire to sell a Spitfire I'd never meant to drive anyway
(a story in itself, but not here, not now -- aren't you glad?!).
There have been a few other Triumphs, but this is long enough as it is.
My point is that the only cars in my family that have proven any more
reliable in daily use were/are a 1985 Subaru (too bad the body isn't an
anvil, because the rest of it sure is!) and a 1951 Chevrolet (even the
body is an anvil on that car!). BTW, most Triumphs above averaged anywhere
from 7,000-12,000 miles/year.
Take care of your TR6 as you would any car you rely on, and I can't
imagine it really will be any worse than any other car you could choose
(unless you get hold of a 1985 Subaru or a 1951 Chevrolet!).
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* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* NYS Library phone: (518) 474-8541 (voice) *
* 10D36 CEC, Albany, NY 12230 (518) 486-2152 (fax) *
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* "I was wonderin' why we live so much longer'n our imaginations!" *
* -- Broom Hilda *
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