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regarding that Triumph/Shelby "clone" ...wonder who signed the glove box on that project car? Carol Burnett? Reminds me of a mama's family quote which Andre posted one time: "What's your problem Eunice? You riding the cotton pony?"
It's as though the guy who built that clown car doesn't even get the joke. Parked at any car show it stinks up the whole event. Why even socialize with sports car lovers if you want to do that? Crazy.
I suppose people do this to TR6s for the same reason that people dress up in gorilla costumes and rant about things on YouTube--it attracts attention to themselves---and you know, in 2011 America, even unflattering attention is better than none at all.
I don't know WHY TR6s have been singled out for this torment. I mean, you rarely see TR3 Franken-steined, or Jaguar E-Types, or even Bugeye Sprites.
Yes, we see them with roll bars and air dams, but these are *raced* in SCCA or vintage events and look much as they might have when they first raced.
I have no problem with a TR6 modified expertly and genuinely, for vintage racing.
Thast's just it Shifty, TR6s just don't have the classic Brit roadster cachet of those cars you mentioned for several reasons.
-They aren't especially pretty
-They weren't good performers for their era
-They were inferior in many ways to their competition when new. When I decided to buy a new Fiat 124 Sport Spider/1600 in '71 I also considered a 240Z or a 914/4 but not a TR6 but I might have if they'd kept the nicer Michelotti bodies.
You see these cars as "cut-rate Healey 3000s" but to me they're more "shoulda got a 240Zs"
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Of course, the flaw in that logic is that a 240Z wasn't a convertible. So, if you wanted to drive topless, a 240Z wasn't even your radar back then.
I'll admit that some of the photos you posted are of modified TR6's that only their mothers could love. Having said that, the one with the multi-stripe treatment was a factory/dealer option as someone else mentioned. So, even though that's not my cup of tea either, that one can't be included in the clown car count.
I've joined the TR6/TR250 Car Club of America Club website where modifying these cars is widely accepted. Now, having said that, there are varying degrees of modification and most of the hard core owners don't stray too far from stock in terms of exterior cosmetics. But, modifications to the motor and chassis are pretty normal and these guys live and breathe these cars. So, if it's OK by them, I think that speaks volumes.
While a pure stock TR6 would make great subject material for a History Channel documentary, an all original TR6 is merely a to-be-modified car in waiting to a wide range of owners. As we've said with many domestic marques, it gets down to what you're after. If you're part of the lawn chair set at local car shows, then keeping a car alive with factory replacement parts is your bag. But, if you want to maximize your's and your car's quality of life, then you'll lean toward installing upgraded engine, cooling and chassis components when the original ones wear out or leave you stranded by the side of the road.
Personally, I'm looking for a TR6 that looks stock aside from perhaps an upgraded steering wheel and a "tasteful" set of wheels (yes, they do exist), but has some logical/rational upgrades under the hood and sheetmetal. Something like this . . . An ideal TR6 for me
That one's not bad, nice colors inside and out, but I'm sure Mr.S would object to the gold painted wheel centers. That could be fixed with a can of spray paint. The luggage rack was a common acccessory back in the day.
I don't care for the four tail pipes. Those were trademarks of Ferraris from the beginning but now lately everyone's been copying them. IMO they're quite inappropriate for anything but a Ferrari.
Yes that includes you BMW M3 and Corvette!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
As for modifications, I have no problem with *improving* the internals that cannot be seen externally, but garish wheels, body cladding, or different engines are not only a-historical, they are unnecessary.
so many old car guys think they are smarter than factory engineers, and they make modifications to improve one thing and end up, usually, degrading another thing they hadn't counted upon at all.
e.g., they put in a lightened flywheel and then struggle with shifting in city driving; they replace the Strombergs or SUs with Webers, and end up fussing more with those than they did with the originals; they put on a "sport exhaust" and drone themselves to death at 4000 rpms;
Sure, you want to strengthen the differential mounts, maybe some nice Bilsteins, you want to put on a modern ignition perhaps, synthetic oil perhaps, maybe even an overdrive transmission. These things make sense to me.
Being part of a club doesn't necessarily validate what is done to cars. The competition among them often leads to doing really stupid things as well as very clever mods.
Now of course most old cars do not maintain such an exulted place in history, but they ARE part of history, and all I'm saying is that some RESPECT is in order...*some* respect.
There's just a certain arrogance in taking a 50 year old car and saying "oh, I can improve that, and it's mine, so I will".
Surely there is a balance point between fanatical meticulous over-restoration and the other extreme of unabashed barbarity when modifying a historical vehicle.
The roll bar is hideous, by the way. But the install looks very neat and tidy.
Had replaced the stock 260 V-8 with a bored/stroked 302.. :surprise:
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Since I started this thread, I'll keep it going. Guess I forgot to post that in May 2011, I bought a 1-owner 2001 Honda S2000 with just over 67,000 miles. Silver with red interior. Very good (borderline excellent) condition. Still looks new in a lot of respects. Paid $13,500. I've put about 4,000 miles on it. Keep it stored during the winter months. Will be getting it out of hibernation before long. Love it while driving around town. But, on the highway, it's like a bug on the water. Very skidish (though stable) which is the characteristic for this breed. The slightest twitch of the steering wheel and you better alert. I know it's the nature of this car and perhaps a real sports car snob would love this trait, but I HATE the fact it wants to dart to the inside if you lift the throttle in the middle of a sweeping corner. I'd like a more relaxing/comfortable driving experience and more room, so I'm to the point where I'm considering getting rid of it in favor or a nice '04 M-B CLK convertible or a BMW 330Ci convertible. First guy that comes along willing to pay $10,000 will be the proud owner of a very nice S2000.