Happy Friday, Autopians! I decided to throw the budget out the window again today, and look at two nice, low mileage examples of classic six-cylinder sports cars that start with the letter T. They’re from different eras and different countries, but they share the same spirit.
I figured the Saab was going to win yesterday, but I was a bit surprised by the outpouring of love for the Subaru. I didn’t realize the old 2WD ones were that popular. Personally, I like a good Brat, and the little 2 door hatchback from this era was a really cool car, especially with 4WD, but the basic sedan doesn’t inspire much more than a “huh, neat” from me.
As for the Saab’s provenance as a panel wagon, the truth is, I don’t know. I found photos of other 95 panel vans, both with and without the stampings for the side windows, but I have no way of knowing which ones came that way from the factory fifty or sixty years ago, including this one. Doesn’t matter, really; it looks cool now. Give it a nice paint job, find a set of those Sonett “soccer ball” wheels for it, and get rid of those idiotic LED headlights, and you’d have a cool little cruiser.
There is just something wonderful about an inline six-cylinder engine, isn’t there? They’re smooth-running, torquey, and look great under the long hood of a sports car. And they almost always drive the rear wheels. V8s may get all the glory, but just think of all the amazing cars that have had an inline six: the Jaguar E-Type, the Aston-Martin DB4 and 5, the original Corvette, the original Nissan Z, decades of BMWs, and these two: the Triumph TR6 and the Toyota Supra. I’ve found a very nice, very original example of each. Let’s check them out.
1969 Triumph TR6 – $24,995
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5 liter overhead valve inline 6, four-speed manual + overdrive, RWD
Location: Laguna Beach, Ca
Odometer reading: 21,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If you’re counting in Star Wars, it goes 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9. If you’re counting in Triumph sports car, for the US market, it goes 2, 3, 4, 4A, 250, 6, 7, 8. The TR6 was the last “true” TR model, with body-on-frame construction which dated back to the TR2, and four-wheel independent suspension which came along on the TR4A. This car was built in Britain, but it was made for America; nearly ten times as many TR6s were sold in the US than in the UK.
The TR6’s engine is a carryover from the earlier TR250 (TR5 in Great Britain). British home-market cars were equipped with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, but due to emissions regulations, US-market TR6s made do with twin Stromberg carbs. A four-speed manual gearbox sends power to the semi-trailing-arm independent rear axle. This car is equipped with an electric overdrive, which was available in second, third, and fourth gears, making it a spiritual predecessor to the Doug Nash 4+3 transmission in the C4 Corvette. This car is believed to have only 21,000 original miles on it, and it runs and drives flawlessly.
As much of an MG fan as I am, I have to admit that Triumph does interiors better. I just love the flat wood dash on these, and the driving position in a TR6 is as close to perfect as you can get. This one is, of course, in just about perfect condition, and the seller says everything works just fine, so spare your Lucas jokes. It was originally ordered without a radio, and has never had one installed. But if you’ve ever heard a Triumph inline six, you’ll know any extra auditory entertainment isn’t necessary.
Triumph calls this color “Damson Red,” but if you see it in person, it’s really purple. And ever since I first saw it in person, on a 1971 Stag, it has been my favorite Triumph color. This one, with the early slim chrome bumpers, looks especially nice. The reproduction redline tires and 1969-only Rostyle-ish wheel covers give it a Hot Wheels look that’s just too cool.
1987 Toyota Supra Turbo – $19,500
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 3.0 liter dual overhead cam inline 6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Lake Mary, FL
Odometer reading: 87,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
The Toyota Supra started out as a special version of the Celica, with a longer nose to accommodate a six-cylinder engine. But over time, it got less Celica-ish and Supra-er, until this third generation, when the Celica went front-wheel-drive and the Supra became its own model, and it really came into its own as a refined, comfortable grand tourer.
The Supra’s inline six had grown to 3.0 liters by this point, with dual overhead camshafts and 24 valves. But if you wanted to go a step further, you could order a turbocharged model, like this one, which boasts 232 horsepower – Corvette territory in those days. This was a fast car. A five-speed manual was available, but this Supra, like many others I’ve seen, is an automatic. It has just 87,000 miles on it, barely broken-in for a 1980s Toyota, and it runs and drives beautifully.
Toyota interiors in the 80s were probably available in other colors, but in my head, they’re all this burgundy. Considering the era, the dashboard is remarkably restrained for a Japanese grand tourer. Think about how gadget-laden and flashy the dashboard of a 300ZX or a Mitsubishi Starion is in comparison to this. It all looks like it’s in good condition, except for a little wear on the seat bolster, and I assume everything works.
It’s clean as a whistle outside, and it actually looks good in white. These look good in any color, though; it’s such a well-proportioned design. I know the generation after this gets all the love, because of its crazy horsepower and movie connection, but this car looks a whole lot better in my opinion. Maybe it’s just because it’s more of my era.
Yes, you can find examples of either of these cheaper than this. But they won’t be this nice. If you want a good one, you’re going to have to pay for it. But hey, we’re only playing with imaginary money here anyway, so what the hell?
Both great cars. Even though I would go with the Triumph, I thought it would be closer. The interior of the Supra reminds me of the BMW 8 series a little. Seats, dash layout, gauges. I mean, a vague resemblance.
Why are you calling these shit boxes though? They’re both very nice cars I wouldn’t mind having in my garage.
A Supra very similar to this was the first car in which I hit 100mph as the driver. It’s awesome. But that Triumph is perfection, even though it’s not BRG. We’ll take the TR6.
That TR6 looks perfect. Nice find. I loved the era-accurate red sidewalls. It was so sad when they had to federalize the bumpers in the US.
The red cloth interior, the price tag, and the wrong transmission killed the Supra today.
It’s a Triumph for a sweet Triumph!
Third pedal in a landslide (if the Supra was a manual, it’d be a bit closer, but that interior is…not good)
Damson Red pretty much settles it. Damson plums are tasty too.
Who puts an auto in a Supra????? That’s just wrong.
Despite the trauma of wrenching on a couple of TR6’s to earn some $$ in college and living through installing an exhaust system without a lift on one and swapping a clutch by getting the transmission out through the cockpit (because, yeah, no lift) on the other…..it has to be classic British iron all the way.