Classic Brit roadster looks, German sports-saloon muscle
The re-engineering of classic cars with modern drivetrains is a subject that can cause some serious and impassioned debate among large swathes of the classic car community. But sometimes you see something that just seems so right it's hard to argue a coherent case against it, whatever side of the fence you sit on.
This, sure has to be one of those cars. It is (or originally was) a 1973 Triumph TR6, but which has had its 2.5-litre straight-six heart transplanted with the engine from a US-spec E36 M3. If that doesn't sound dribblesome enough, the way in which the vendor has gone about it - with a lightness of touch visually and a seriously thorough approach to engineering - is truly astonishing.
We won't go into the full list of modifications and work done to the car here, largely because we haven't got all day to spend typing one story, but we heartily recommend you take a look at the eBay advert, because the amount of stuff this chap's done to create the TR-M3 is truly jaw-dropping. When he says he's done a full nut-and-bolt restoration, we are inclined to take him literally.
As for what power it's pushing out, we suspect it's somewhere north of the 240hp that the US-spec E36 M3s were delivered with...
If you fancy it, you'll need to dig out £25,500 for the privilege, and then think about getting it over to Blighty (assuming you live in the UK, of course), though the vendor reckons on being able to ship it for just over a thousand dollars, which doesn't seem too bad to us. Better be quick though, because as I type the ad's got less than four hours to run...
1973 Triumph TR6 Price: £25,500 Why you should: It's a beautifully restored TR6, with modern power Why you shouldn't: Some will always feel that original is best
That is gorgeous, makes perfect sense putting that lump in a TR6. I'd go as far as saying I'd rather have than than a Wiesmann! Only thing that lets it down is the ugly, black the scaffold pole roll cage!
What Lovely car. The bloody yanks are a strange bunch mind, your not allowed the full fat M3 but in some states you are allowed to run slick tyres on the road (a fact i learnt on a forum last week)
Only thing that lets it down is the ugly, black the scaffold pole roll cage!
Of which I have serious misgivings concerning its safety on the road (driver and passenger not wearing helmets), too. Apart from that, it gets a big from me.
That engine bay looks beautiful, and there cannot be many TR6 about with shut lines that good. Makes sense compared to the US carburettor engine the TR6 had
Impressive - so long as that roll-over bar/cage isn't too much of an inconvenience...
P.S. 20-odd years ago I was into Triumphs the guy who helped out briefly ran a TR6 with a blueprinted original engine running triple Webers. It made all the right noises and allegedly had more than 200bhp which was more than enough. Very pretty cars. With unlimited funds at my disposal I would ask Mototechnique to make me a facsimilie of one one a spaceframe chassis, but with better panel gaps/shutlines!
from me. 
