Learn me Triumphs

If I were to be looking for an old Triumph project, either a GT6 or Spitfire (hypothetically speaking, of course), what would I need to know when looking one over? Where are common rust areas? Anything to run from?

Thanks in advance.

I believe the answer to the question "Anything to run from?" would be "Triumphs."

unevolved wrote: Where are common rust areas?

old & british - hmm, the metal parts. - for the spit/gt6 - the center support structure/spine - everything hangs off that. They're pretty basic/simple. IIRC there are some rear suspension issues that pop up with the gt6s. SBF conversions are out there.

On the GT6's, that would be the U joints not strong enough to work on your cordless drill.

The chassis (spine) usually survive better than the body structure. Rotted floors are easy to fix, rotted sills and strutures are not.

The usual Lucas/SU/Stromberg issues.

We've got a ClassicMotorsports.net messageboard where this would be more appropriate!

The Rusty Illegitimate Uncle of MG's Porsche's, and Healey's

or "What is something you should run from, besides your mother, Trebeck?" (Sorry, Hess, I had to steal it)

I would stay away from the 1500s on the spits.. people seem to like the 1298s

A friend of mine bought one a couple years ago. A '76 spitfire, 2 owner, full documentation, very clean, only some very light surface rust. He had it re-sprayed, re-did the interior, replaced the carb and intake with something more reliable, and has since put literally 1000's of kms on it with some long (2500+km's) road trips. It's been totally dead nuts reliable. He even has autocrossed it a couple times. It's got the 1500, and he's careful not to wind it out too far as apparently there's only 3 mains and the cranks are weak. IIRC, the only issue he's had is the ignition went south, so he replaced it with a pertronix electronic unit.
Other than that, they're really tiny. I'm only 6'0 and I really don't fit it too well. My knees hit the back of the steering wheel...

Did someone say GT6?

http://www.gt6.ca/

I've been focused on another car lately, but love my GT6.

BTW I'm 6.2 and its like a go-kart

OnewordTR4.

All good info, thanks guys. We've found a few good leads in our area, I'll keep you posted with what we find, as always.

The REAL triumphs are considered to be the TRs... TR-2, 3, 4, 5 (250 in the US) and 6. The TR7 isn't the most loved, but I've seen some good ones. The TR8 has the B-O-P derived aluminum V8, but they didn't make very many.

The 1500 in the Spitire doesn't get a bunch of love. The "small" crank 1296 may be the best of the bunch. The 1976 1500 is the only one that has the higher compression engine.

I love the looks of the early GT6, but they are front end heavy and don't have light handling of the Sptifire. The Mk IV and 1500 Spitfires cured some of the rear wheel tuck with a revised rear spring. A camber compensator for the Mk III and earlier models is the first thing you should spend money on.

Anything with Triumph on it is going to rust, but, except for the TR7 and 8, they are all body on frame and can be fixed. There are precious few parts you can't get for any of them.

TR7s are cheap and so ugly I think they are awesome but then again I still want a Plymouth Cricket. So take that for what it is worth. A TR6 is on my bucket list.

When looking at a TR-6, make sure the IRS mounting points on the frame are not rusted. If they are, walk away. There are plenty of clean ones out there.

I always thought the TR7 was a pretty design.. just very 70s

"The shape of things to come"

I would love a TR7. The dash, man, the dash. I love those big rocker or slide switched spaced out as they are. And the plaid.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3228802090_1def46fc7f.jpg?v=0

Thurst washers on the Spitfire if you want to keep the engine.

If the Spitfire is the 1500, the bottom end isn't the strongest and I would look at modifying it if you were doing any other modifications.

Buy a Spitfire and give it to Jensenman for a few months. You get back one of these.

Stupid fun.