Hey Martin:
>TAKE HOME MESSAGE: If you love the car, can afford the price, go for it!
>But I alwys advise others to buy the ~best~ car you can afford! If you have
>interest it how I acquired a '73 TR6, then read on! (lengthy!).
>I'm in the same spot that you are considering with the TR6! I've wanted a
>TR6 since 1976 when my cousin offered to sell me his '71 6 but I couldn't
>get the bucks together for the purchase.
>Having restored several MGBs, I thought that perhaps it was time to begin
>the search for an ~affordable~ TR6. Especially after several TR6s beat my
>MGB GT in a local autocross! Problems: very few 6s available in Northern
>CA in my price range ($1,000 to $1,800) and , most importantly, I had more
>time than money!
>Reader's Digest version, I came across a '73 TR6 that had been hit on the
>front/left side. A replacement fibreglass fender was "hanging" there, but
>had never been actually installed. The front valance was completely
>shot...wrinkled to the max. Soft top shot, carpet worn out, tach missing, 4
>American mags in place (very nice!), frame OK, trailing arms OK, Koni shocks
>up front, oversize sway bar. =20
>Car was originally Black Tulip (purple), although had been resprayed dark
>BRG. Car probably looked great in the BRG, but scratches in the paint
>revealed the original purple...not a pretty sight. The car was owned by a
>wrecking yard, although located "off site" in a location that would have
>never been found if someone didn't ask! I asked the wrecking yard owner
>what it would take to get the car running. "Oh, just some gas and a
>battery...I'm sure it will start right up," he said! I've heard THAT one
>before, so I proceeded with a bit of skepticism.
>The key was still in the ignition (a good sign). I added a battery and some
>gas to the car. Believe it or not, the first crank of the engine, it fired
>up! (Later I learned that the rear Stromberg carb was gummed up with
>varnish from old gas and had not even been working during my test!) Also in
>hindsight, I should have cranked the engine over several times to build up
>oil pressure before actually starting the car. I just never ~really
>believed~ that the car would start! Good, even compression in all six
>cylinders. Overdrive!
>The owner was asking $1200 for the car. Some hassles were imminent with
>Nevada license, etc. Finally purchased for $800 and made payments over 6
>months. He even moved it to inside storage after I began to give him money,
>so it (thankfully) missed all the recent CA flooding.
>The car is now in the shop and I'm working on getting it back on the road.
>I have also removed all the trunk contents, since I had the gas tank out
>already. I shot it yesterday with 2 part epoxy primer and will test out my
>paint colour here first!
>I just hat to see these great cars rotting away when they could be giving
>someone a lot of fun. The problem I usually run into is that the previous
>owner thinks the car like this 6 I just purchased is really worth $4,000.
>They just aren't willing to do a reality check, so the car sits and sits.
>Hope this offers you some encouragement!
>Cheers,
Jim Boyd
International Sportscar Components
Paradise, CA
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