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?
This was a little difficult, but gotta go Supra. I usually go by which car I like better, and I prefer the “Supra-er” since it’s super! Even though it’s WAY overpriced (it’s internet $ anyway) especially it being auto and a boring color…it’s still an awesome and legendary car…I’d paint it blue and do whatever is necessary to manual swap it- even if the parts are hard to find I would keep looking and not give up. I’ve just never been into the Triumphs even though they are pretty cool classics
TR6 for the manual and because I’ve always wanted a Triumph, especially a roadster.
TR6 largely b/c the Supra is an automatic and without T-Tops.
I’ve never had nostalgia for British roadsters, nor do I desire a convertible.
That said, the TR6 is a beauty and wins it for me today!
I always loved the TR6. A guy I worked with had mint one for sale (20 years ago) and I was hot to buy it. He asked me whether I wanted a car to drive or a car to work on. I said a car to drive. He suggested I buy a Miata instead – which is what he had just done….
The Triumph is beautiful and beautifully kept, but per the ad the first owner died at around 63 and the second at age 62 – both rather early, even by American standards. The Supra’s not as beautiful but almost as beautifully kept, but if it’s going to have the automatic, it should also have the targa roof for the full Japanese boulevardier experience. Despite the possibility of a curse ending my life in a few years, the Triumph takes it.
While that TR6 represents my ideal sidewall to wheel to wheelarch ratio, I can’t have a roadster in the desert with my skin. Supra if it’s my money. I don’t really think there’s a wrong answer here, though.
I have metioned an uncle that owns an RX-7. A different uncle (by marriage, he married my mother’s youngest sister) who had this generation Supra when he started coming around to family events in late 87/early 88. They were married in the summer of 89.
The internet says his was Brown Metallic w/ a Terra Cotta interior.
His was manual. These cars are awesome. The Triumph is cool, but….my heart is full of nostalgia.
Supra!
It’s a lot of imaginary money, but I’ll take the extra pedal in the pretty purple one for more. I guess I’ll just have to get an imaginary second job.
That Triumph is just too beautiful to pass up.
Come on this one should be an easy win for the TR6.
Some are balking at the price, against a $20K Japanese GT? Really?
Looking at auction results the TR6 is right where it should be based on described condition. It’s an earlier model so fewer weird US emission stuff to fail/cause headaches. Meanwhile the Supra is in that jamesmaypointsateverything.gif zone of failure/complexity. Hoses and wires everywhere and no OBD2 to help you out.
Meanwhile the Triumph is still in the “spanner and bailing wire” zone.
I always liked TR6s, but that Supra is cheaper and in amazing condition. Oh, it’s an automatic? TR6.
I want to sit in that Supra so bad. I could really use the comforting feeling of that 80’s goodness right now.
Came to smash the button for the supra, but the purple and the slushbox on the supra changed my mind.
I want both.
Look at the TR6 – Drive the Supra.
As a former owner of both a TR6 and a MGB, can confirm the TR6 has a much nicer interior. As for today’s choices, voted convertible.
Loved every minute with my TR6, right up until the point it burned to the ground.
Lucas Electrics strikes again! In senior year of high school I had an MGB, my friend had a TR6, I always thought his car was better.
You’d think so, but nope! The fuel line popped off the front carburetor and squirted gas all over the exhaust manifold. It was a sad day.
If the Supra was manual, it would have swayed my vote. But since the TR6 is the Triumph I’d want, along with it being manual and a nice colour, it gets my vote.
A Supra with a slush box? No thank you. I have always had a thing for the TR6, and this one is gorgeous. If the Supra was a manual, it would be more expensive, but more appealing. Also, just looking at all those vacuum lines makes me quiver in fear.
I do love those TR6’s!
And this one looks very nice.
The manual transmission was the deciding factor today.
The Triumph is nice, but is it nice enough to warrant the price? Dunno. But I would drive the Supra and prepare a monologue for when someone confuses it with an RX7.
If the Supra was a second generation, it would have been a close call for me. As it is, the Triumph is the way to go.
It’s a really hard choice, but I think I’ll take the Miata since it’s lighter.
Between purple, convertible, and the gorgeous condition, TR6 all the way. I had a purple convertible for a while, a Sunbeam Alpine in metallic purple!
If you’re counting off the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, it goes 1, 2, 5. Sorry, 1, 2, 3, The rabbit had me confused.