Which one would you keep?
 

Hey all,

I have a quick question for you all but first, here's the scenario:

I might have to sell one of my beloved English sports cars becuase there is a possibility of losing storage. I absolutely love both cars to death (sounds odd coming from an MB guy, I know) but I was curious as to which one any of you would keep if you had to make a decision. The cars are a 1967 MGB-GT (coupe version, rather more rare than roadster, and somewhat practical) and a 1976 Triumph TR6 (hairy chested British roadster, nice that the top goes down but very finicky on maintenance). So: Here are your choices:

A.) Keep the MG and sell the TR6

B.) Keep the TR6 and sell the MG

C.) Are you crazy? Keep 'em both and go rent a storage locker!

It will probably come down to choice "C" in my mind but I'm keen to hear your thoughts...

Jesus dude, do you really have all them cars at your pad??? get rid of something! But if you take any to storage, its better to just sell them cus you will eventually, or they'll just sit and make homes for spiders, unless they're cars that'll appreciate over time. I dunno much about them, but I like the TR6 better

Keep the TR6

Keep the TR-6 and send me the MGB-GT for proper storage and maintenance.

Send money, too. My Bro' owned a Brit car years ago and I remember him having to buy things often.

B

TR-6. Definitely.

I recommend selling them both to me immediately.

Seriously, I think the MG has a bit more character, actually. Thats the first year for the GT if I remember right. The lines of the GT are just perfect, I always preferred mine to the roadster, even though the roadster had wires and the passenger side mirror on the fender, all those British "design" cues/mishaps. Does yours have that flexible map light?

The TR-6 is too new anyway. I love TR-6's though. I always wanted one but they were always just beyond my reach. I've noticed lately these cars seem to have appreciated somewhat. Whenever I see them for sale the price is always way higher than I ever saw when I had mine, like more than double. I blame ebay.

I could write a book no one would read about why the 'GT rocks. There are so many elements to the design you just didn't see in other cars of the period save for the far more exotic and/or expensive.

A prof at school has a nice TR-6. I walked by it the other day and had to peer my head inside to get a whif of that british car smell...

The GT's more collectable - if it's got the OD tranny very. The 70's bumper cars don't cut it.

Very interesting so far. My MG is an early Mk.I car which makes it rare, and yes those rubber bumper MGs are rather more common. Knock off wheels and chrome bumpers are the only way to fly in an MG.

I've debated this many times about what to do....The BGT is a neat car and although you don't see TR6s a lot, you definitely don't see MGB-GTs either. But giving up that Triumph exhaust note would be tough, definitely has Mercedes beat in the "music" department.

I'll keep watching this thread.......

Drive them both on a cold rainy day, for an extended cruise.
See which one's electrical system keeps functioning the longest.
Keep that one, sell the other;)

Personally, I've always wanted a TR-6 too, while the MG's have just been a passing curiosity to me.

Aaron seems like ages! Where you been?

Tough decision. I had a ’70 BGT and it was a true co-dependency. Wonderful to drive. Car had poise, balance, and not too shabby of acceleration. Sure you had to take the knock off wire wheels off every other week and re-grease the splines, plus, while there, re-fill the lever shocks. Plus there was the regular adjustment of the dual carbs and valves. Even with less than 12K miles on the odo, something broke almost every week.

Back in the ‘70s I always wanted a TR6. It was the ultimate expression of British poor man sports cars. They were fast, torquey, oh so sexy.

Years later a touch of wisdom struck me one day and I ended up getting a Datsun Z to replace the then long sold BGT. It was a similar but more developed ride, and caused little damage to my clothing.

I guess because I'm a fan of hatch backs, and still harbor sentimental memories for my task mistress, my vote is to keep the BGT. Car had one of the most powerful heaters of any car I've owned. Probably had something to do with why it went through 4 head gaskets and 2 radiators in 3 years. Yeah. The BGT was a truly great car!!! :cool:

is this a trick question?
 

Trick question, both those cars are junk. Unreliable and virtually undriveable. The mgbgt and the tr6 make fiats look good. Those are in my expeirience two of the worst cars made in britain.

I could understand the quandary if you had to choose between a tr250 and a healy 3000. those were halfway descent brit rides.

Sell both and and start saving for a real sports car: a 300SL. Until you find one just pick up a 560SL, another well built car.

I dont think Aaron needs any more MB's...

I'm watching too. My wife's father has the MGB-GT from his youth sitting in his garage, and he wants to restore it (or have someone restore it...or just have someone weld in a new floorpan) this summer while he can still drive. I didnt think much of it at first (its a hardtop, doenst sound like a whole lot of power, I figured he'd keep it b/c it has been his for so long...)

but now to hear you guys, maybe I will have a renewed interest in getting this thing running again (ran 11yrs ago, just had holes in the floor) It'll be a lot of work but i its for him, I wouldnt mind helping (or telling him who to send it to in the cincinnati area- any suggestions ?

On topic ? lose the GT- it has less power and less sunshine =)

-John

That's the downside

Yes

My ’70 BGT (smog pump removed) regularly blew away a friends restored ’67 B Up hill, down hill and on just hauling

Do the GT V-8 transplant, and surprise all the Triumph owners!:eek: :D

I’d bet most B’s are running around with cracked heads and don’t know it, and that’ll make a world of difference. There performance seems to vary quite a bit from car to car – and unless they’re professionally rebuilt, are mostly way off spec. My OD cars seemed to have different cams than the roadster, but I don’t think they’re really different – gears maybe. For speed – I think the older original motor with one less main spun faster; at least they broke quicker

My BGT has been utterly reliable, believe it or not. The main reasons that it hasn't let me down yet are the Pertronix ignition and the swap to a Weber 32/36 DGV carburettor. I kept the SUs but they are in need of a rebuild so they're boxed and shelved for now. Today the weather in Cincinnati was about 75 and sunny, so the TR6 was the chariot of choice. Just did a major service and she's running sweetly. To be honest about roadsters, I prefer the TR6 much to my 450SL due to the sheer fun factor of driving a car that sounds, feels and rides like a real sports car should. I had a '65 TR4 which I sold back in January and it was a real beauty with only 17K original miles on the clock. A fellow from Minnesota came and picked it up in an enclosed trailer, as it was his "wife's birthday present" --yeah right!! ;)

I would certainly love a Healey 3000 but they are so damn expensive these days, especially for a really nice one. I've looked at and driven some MGAs which are similar in appearance to a Healey but still don't have quite the grunt of the six cylinder car, unless of course you go for the rare MGA twin-cam which requires specialist care because those TC engines are sooooo delicate.

I think maybe I'll sell the 450SL. It's been a member of our family since it was brand new and we just refinished the paintwork in the original Glasurit Signal Red. Dunno, we'll see.....

Howdy All,
Keep the TR-6.

I've posted before about my 'GT experience so this is a bit redundant and I apologize.

I had a '71 'B that was really quite nice and fun, but screwed up mechanically with the electrics/clutch/general finickiness.

I bought the '74 'GT from my mechanic. Totally rust free, no O/D (unfortunately), but most "options" otherwise. All O/D available MG's as I undertsand it, have the electrics for OD, so if you can get an OD trans, you can swap them and plug them in. (Is this right?) White, chrome bumpers. It had about 70K on it, tube shock conversion, and I bought it for $1400.

I drove this car year-round in Chicago for five years, parking on the street (George and Diversey area). Even in -60 degree windchill weather. I can remember digging it out of 1 1/2 feet of snow and it started, while my neighbors BMW 2002 sat idly by. The heater worked well, too.

I drove it all over the Eastern half of the US and settled in New Orleans for 1 yr. I drove it daily and it was allways parked outside. While there, I installed some Hella's (OK, a little cheesy) and kept everything functioning. The locks, wipers, and heater/defroster still worked.

Then I went to St. Louis, driving it daily often long distances. It gave it up when everything stopped working at once. It is now cannibalized and has contributed to many 'GT's still being on the road, I'm sure. But not until I completely stripped it of every part I thought I might need later.

All told, the car had had 130K on it, nothing rebuilt, the locks still worked, the wipers, everything. Except the mechanicals needed some serious attention. Still no rust, save for some bubbling on the rockers. I figured my operating cost for six+ years at around $5500, including purchase price, maintenance and insurance, less gas/oil.

These cars are very reliable if in the right hands or if they have been blessed with good childhoods. I like TRs, and really liked the early GT-6, but I'm too big for the GT-6 and the TR-6 is too narrow for me. The TR-6 is great looking, and with the hardtop looks awesome I think. It can be parked shamelessly next to anything.

The MGB-GT is a different deal, its elegant and rugged, and I think it has a poise and grace beyond its price. You can pick up a 944 turbo for what many ask for a so-so 'GT. The handling and performance, objectively speaking, suck. The car isn't just "not fast", its slow by any standard. But if you're into these cars, you're not after speed or performance anyway, you have a disease. The interior, dash presentation, exhaust note, closed coupe style, ruggedness and reliabilty are the arguments.

I vote again for keeping the 'GT, if only for personal reasons. I'd love to get another one, but the next time I will do it differently because I won't be a starving philosophy degree guy.

As for MGA's, I think the MGA hard top is one of the greatest looking cars ever made. I blab, I know.

John,

If you want to resurrect that BGT, call me at my shop (513) 870-0014. I'll work on it for you.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
 

Aaron,
Which of the British rides has the ORIGINAL paint? (if any)
Which of the two is painted British Racing Green?
Which has not had any cancer treatment?
The '67 BGT happens to be "the ultimate year" for these automobiles......unless one "requires" an early door handle model with the 3 main bearing engine.
The Tr6 happens to have a FANTASTIC exhaust note....especially with a set of headers and a free flow exhaust....Top down motoring has its charms.
The cancer syndrom weighs heavily in this equation.
When you mention your previous Tr4....sounds as though that it was wonderful!
Enough jabber.
I say loose the 450SL IF you must...however, when one has owned a vehicle such as this since NEW, then perhaps that in itself warrants it as a KEEPER.
Otherwise, all things being equal...I would keep the MGB GT, sell the Tr6 (because the Triumph is of a LATER variety).
If ANOTHER Triumph comes into play, I would attempt to locate a 1968 Tr 250 (or even the european Tr 5).....the early Tr4 body has always enamoured itself upon my psyche....when mixed with the early 6 engine, this one year only ride is sweet.
Then again, the 1967 MGB ragtop is quite nice...
We will not even get into early Lotus Elans (1960's) and even the E types and earlier XK's.......my older brother had a 1961 Big Healey (complete with side curtains) as his first car.....As a child my Dad used to borrow it so we could travel from Ct. to Boston and visit my older brother in the early 60's.....That automobile introduced me to TOP DOWN MOTORING:eek:
Best wishes always and we trust that you WILL make the CORRECT decision:D
spo out:cool:

The B needs to stay. TR's are passe'. B's are cool in a E-type kinda way.

Austin Healy 3000's had some wierd handlin' issues. Not a typical british feel at all, especially in the wet. A Mk2 Spryte however...............:D


Favorite Limey stuff.


1.Mini's (the originals, not the wanna be's from BMW)
2.E-types, best looking car to ever have tires.... period
3.Bugeye Sprytes, why not? Cool, funky and wierd, all in one package Kinda a poor mans Morgan.
4.Sunbeam Alpine, there again, wierd. Face it, a car named for a toaster. How much more British does it get? :D


Oh, and for some balance I like 2CV's too. :eek:








Joe

Spo123:

Good insight indeed! The BGT is British Racing Green and the TR6 is Carmine Red (burgundy). Both still wear their original paint (I bought the TR from the original owner). The TR's paint is very very nice, the BGT's could use a freshening up but it's still the original finish. Both cars have black interiors but the BGT's has that awesome red piping, which gives it that look of exotica.

TR6's exhaust note is to die for, the B sounds more tractor-ish but I love 'em both. Whether or not to sell or keep my 450SL is going to be a tough one, but I honestly prefer the Brits to the SL for ultimate top down fun. We'll see.....

TR6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

There is a gentlemen in my parents neighbourhood who has one. He lets his daughter drive his in the later spring/summer period.

This girl is of a calibur of a classic beauty. She is young now, and you know she will be attractive in all her years just by looking at her. She is a younger version Amanda Peet. Amanda Peet is that brunette beauty in the new movie "the whole ten yards" with that dork from the television show "friends" in it.

Okay, picture a younger version of Amanda Peet driving this beautifully redone TR6 in that lovely mustard colour with black interior. Picture her hair blowing around in the wind. Picture her in a lovely summer sundress as she goes through the gears in the manual gearbox and ......................

Everytime I pass her "head-on" down a road in the neighbourhood I always seem to have my pulse race.

I've seen plenty of attractive young women in little miatas and stuff. I am young myself (I think) at 23. I tell ya, that combination of that young brunette and that car is a knockout like no other!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the TR6 brother!!!!!!!!!!

-Mike McKinney

I think they’re still winning their class in SCCA – not sure – but they had a great reputation. I’m just to long legged to make one work, or any Spitfire. That’s another reason I favor MG’s, I can really stretch out. If this were between the GT and a TR-250 I’d run for the 250, but it’s not

Here is a pic of my now gone but much loved 1965 TR4 sitting in my workshop.

I should have found a TR6 engine (I already have two spare gearboxes) and made a TR250 out of it. I hated that Triumph/MASSEY FERGUSON tractor engine in that car!

Paul,

I do have some pics of the TR6 and the BGT, I will transfer them off my camera's memory card and post them up here shortly. I wish I had some better digi pics of the TR4 but when I took the one I put on the board here it was -20 degrees outside and the car wasn't about to venture into that arctic blast ;)

I always liked that TR4s had a hole in the front grille and radiator through which you could insert a crank handle if the starter lunched itself! Only problem was that my '4 had a "fast road" built engine in it and it would be hell to kick that high compression engine over on a cold morning!

By the way, I did have electrical problems with the TR4, voltage stabilizer blew and I was greeted with a cloud of smoke one day while driving.