What you guys think of an old 66 Triumph?

The TR4 was a cool car. I think they had quit making the TR by 1966, although I am not sure about that. The rest of the Triumphs were pretty junky. The Spitfire is cool looking, but not half the car an MG is. IMHO.

I had a Spitfire 1500 for a while - a very close coupled car. It was so low to the ground I could brush the pavement with the tips of my left hand when I was stopped. It had every malady these cars are infamous for, save one - and that was that it didn't have any rust problems. A fellow bought it from me mainly for the body.

My roommate freshman year at Villanova (1963) had a 1962 TR3B. Bright Red. Mint. Beautiful car.

I've heard those are not bad. I should have limited my comment to the Triumphs that came after the TR4. Those ain't so hot, IMHO.

To each his own, I looked at various MGBs before buying my '71 TR6. I preferred the Triumph styling, 6 cyl engine, and 15" wheels. I considered a MGC which had a 6 cyl and a Porsche 914 but ended up getting a good deal on the TR6. Austin Healey 3000 and of course E-type Jaguars are superior but I couldn't afford them at the time. Any British Leyland car after around 1973 got crude emission kit, rubber bumpers, and raised ride height.

TR4 was produced 1961-65
TR4A - 1965-67
TR250 (USA) - 1967-68
TR6 - 1969-76
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1800226&highlight=TR6#post1800226

It would definitely be a project.

As with every thread in this forum discussing British roadsters . . . you have to stop and ponder why we love and hate these cars so much, usually at the same time.:D

I had a 1968 Midget with the 1275cc engine about 20 years ago and loved every minute of it. I almost cried when I sold it, what a chick magnet.
If you have the space, time and resources, I would say ..go for it!

Mine was a daily driver while I was in school, kept it for six years and it never let me down. Of course it needed some tinkering every few weeks. Wish I had kept it.

YEARS ago, I mean like 45!!!, I remember reading an article in some Sports Car mag all about rebuilding SU carbs.
It said that SU carbs were perfect for "tinkering" because;
1) They were NEVER perfect, so it always seemed that you could improve them, and
2) You could not mess them up so badly that they failed to perform at all.

British sports cars are awesome. If it were me though I'd just get Mazda's take on the British sports car. They're about as fun (not as light weight though but 2200-2400 pounds due to crash standards is still light by my book) and 100000x more reliable and better built. They seem to attract girls too which is always a plus.

Go for it, they are total POS but for some reason its hard to resist a British car.

http://www.racingarchives.org/images/sitephotos/mg.jpg

I know someone who has a red MG like that one, freaken blast! 60mph is OMG the end of the world!:eek::D But its a blast to drive. Clunky horrible thing, but handles like a roller skate, and is a real knuckle dragger!:D It can't help but put a smile on your face.

Cars like this are more fun to drive on public roads, because you can pass the limits and have a blast at just over the speed limit. 60 on a back country road is a pretty wild ride. Its not boring easy speed like in a modern car.


Edit: whatever you get just don't park it on your driveway, because it will stain it if your MB's havn't already.:D

I had a 1970 Midget about 20 years ago, and it was the world's worst POS. I'm too chubby to fit in one now, but even at 6ft, 180 Lbs, it was a squeeze. A bugeye Sprite is a beaut though, and has less interior padding so bigger people fit a little more readily. I was behind a yellow TR250 the other day and was struck by how narrow it was, and just small in general...and that's a lot bigger than a Midget.

Check my sig. I'm not sure what the OP is considering anymore, but I would go for something pre-1970 , if possible. Even if you de-smog a later one, you can't get away from evil things like Stromberg emission carburettors. Triumphs are all (except TR-7) body on frame-everything comes apart. MGs are unibody. Is that being clear enough on a 40 year old, poorly made car?

Early Sprite/Midgets are OK. Triumphs can get very good fuel economy- both of mine can get to 30mpg and provide entertainment.

Rick

To paraphrase,

We were carefree once....and young.

Life was good.;):D