TR6 failed MOT

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TTR6

Original Poster:

49 posts

14 months

Monday 27th February 2023
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Just in the process of buying a TR6 and it failed its MOT today for corrosion - 'rear suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength'. What this essentially translates into is some pin holes in the trailing arm which the dealer says he will be sorting in the coming days and a fabricator will be looking at the car tomorrow. Has anyone experienced this and is it likely that the rot is more widespread? It will be my first classic car and I'm fully prepared to understand a 50 year old car will have its issues, but any advice would be welcome

visitinglondon

342 posts

189 months

Monday 27th February 2023
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I’d be looking at another one. Plenty of them around.

hilly10

7,116 posts

228 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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TTR6 said:
Just in the process of buying a TR6 and it failed its MOT today for corrosion - 'rear suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength'. What this essentially translates into is some pin holes in the trailing arm which the dealer says he will be sorting in the coming days and a fabricator will be looking at the car tomorrow. Has anyone experienced this and is it likely that the rot is more widespread? It will be my first classic car and I'm fully prepared to understand a 50 year old car will have its issues, but any advice would be welcome
You really need to check that Chassis, they are a minefield of Wheatabix area’s. Buy one with a dodgy chassis and it will ruin you, unless of course you can do the work yourself.

TTR6

Original Poster:

49 posts

14 months

Monday 6th March 2023
quotequote all
hilly10 said:
You really need to check that Chassis, they are a minefield of Wheatabix area’s. Buy one with a dodgy chassis and it will ruin you, unless of course you can do the work yourself.
No, I won't be able to do the work myself. The car had a full restoration in 2003 and I've asked the fabricator to have a good look underneath. I'm planning on keeping it long term so I expect it will need work eventually, it's something I'm expecting while owing a 50 year old car I guess. What do you mean by 'ruin me'? Financially? I'd imagine most of the costs involving work would be labour costs.

RATATTAK

11,000 posts

189 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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I have a TR6 which is bordering on concours, give me a ring; I might be persuaded. smile

t.boydy

170 posts

62 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Usually it’s not confined to the trailing arm mountings/ outrigger
Check the breastplate for ‘bulging’

⟟ have been restoring try’s as a business for nearly 30 years..

Feel free to drop me a message and I’ll try to help you out. Give me your number and I’ll call you not a problem

Tom

sunbeam alpine

6,945 posts

188 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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visitinglondon said:
I’d be looking at another one. Plenty of them around.
I would echo this. Even if it was completely restored in 2003 that's still 20 years ago.

Consider how many (or few) cars which were new 20 years ago are still on the road, and then adjust for shonky materials/manufacturing quality of the '70's.

hilly10

7,116 posts

228 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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If it’s been used in all weathers and 20 year old resto I would think it’s not pretty, these cars rust for fun. Not so much if only dry running

Those mounting points are a week spot, as are the Diff pins, make sure there is no movement with the diff.

Edited by hilly10 on Monday 6th March 19:57

TTR6

Original Poster:

49 posts

14 months

Monday 6th March 2023
quotequote all
hilly10 said:
If it’s been used in all weathers and 20 year old resto I would think it’s not pretty, these cars rust for fun. Not so much if only dry running
I suppose you can only really go on what you're told when buying a car, but I did track the owner down through the TR register and spoke to him on the phone. It's done very miles in recent years and has been stored in a garage. Looks very clean to a layman but I appreciate all the points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXf_B0MsE5U

hilly10

7,116 posts

228 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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If it’s been a TR Member that’s a plus. Hope all is good they are great cars

Caddyshack

10,789 posts

206 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Get a TR specialist to look at it.

RATATTAK

11,000 posts

189 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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TTR6 said:
That looks lovely ... what a shame it's got problems.

TTR6

Original Poster:

49 posts

14 months

Monday 6th March 2023
quotequote all
RATATTAK said:
That looks lovely ... what a shame it's got problems.
I'm not sure it does have significant problems to be honest. I'll be interested to see the photos of the repairs once they're done and go from there I guess.

I'm grateful it was provided with an MOT though!

hilly10

7,116 posts

228 months

Monday 6th March 2023
quotequote all
It does look a nice car, but as always beware. Not to bang on but just make sure the chassis is good if there are major repairs it’s costly as it’s body off to do properly. Good luck

Yertis

18,046 posts

266 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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TTR6 said:
Just in the process of buying a TR6 and it failed its MOT today for corrosion - 'rear suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength'. What this essentially translates into is some pin holes in the trailing arm which the dealer says he will be sorting in the coming days and a fabricator will be looking at the car tomorrow. Has anyone experienced this and is it likely that the rot is more widespread? It will be my first classic car and I'm fully prepared to understand a 50 year old car will have its issues, but any advice would be welcome
The trailing arm is a big aluminium casting. Is it that or actually the chassis section that the trailing arm is bolted on to? If it's pin holes in the trailing arms I'd guess they're probably casting artefacts and have been there since is was new. On the other hand if the chassis itself is rusty you really do need to get it looked at, or look elsewhere.

Edit to add that I've now looked at the video and can see why you like the car. Before you give up on this one get it checked by a TR specialist, there are plenty about. Or join the TR Register and get a TR4/5/6 owner who knows their chassis to look at it for you. These chassis tend to rot at the back; the front gets covered in oil (along with the driveway) so lasts better

Edited by Yertis on Monday 6th March 21:39

R TOY

1,704 posts

228 months

Tuesday 7th March 2023
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Car looks great from above , new paint ?
If it has failed an mot for corrosion, and it state’s component mounting point so chassis , (not the suspension arm ) then there will almost certainly be other areas of corrosion.
Check its mot history, there should be about 12 yrs on line.
When I bought mine it was on the condition that it passed a mot with no corrosion advisories. It had passed the last 12 yrs without any problems as well and has thankfully passed two more since then .
If corrosion had been mentioned in any I would’ve walked away .
I guess it depends on the price and your expectations.
Best of luck ??
Edit to add

I see it had a corrosion advisory in 2016 .

Edited by R TOY on Tuesday 7th March 22:00

hilly10

7,116 posts

228 months

Tuesday 7th March 2023
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To the OP here is a pic of the rear IRS. The two chassis rails attached to the suspension are known weak points and also the TShirt plates


TTR6

Original Poster:

49 posts

14 months

Tuesday 7th March 2023
quotequote all
R TOY said:
Car looks great from above , new paint ?
If it has failed an mot for corrosion, and it state’s component mounting point so chassis , (not the suspension arm ) then there will almost certainly be other areas of corrosion.
Check its mot history, there should be about 12 yrs on line.
When I bought mine it was on the condition that it passed a mot with no corrosion advisories. It had passed the last 12 yrs without any problems as well and has thankfully passed two more since then .
If corrosion had been mentioned in any I would’ve walked away .
I guess it depends on the price and your expectations.
Best of luck ??
Edit to add

I see it had a corrosion advisory in 2016 .

Edited by R TOY on Tuesday 7th March 22:00
Yes I spoke about the corrosion in 2016 and the rear valance was replaced - I have seen the photos and evidence of this repair. I am fairly confident that it will pass an MOT once the fabrication work has been done.

It's not got new paint, it was done some time ago. The car has not been used a lot in recent years and has a significant history file several inches thick. It has heritage certificates etc and it was interesting to see the price of these only 10-15 years ago.

There are some on the market now for £40k which seems very expensive.

Yertis

18,046 posts

266 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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TTR6 said:
Yes I spoke about the corrosion in 2016 and the rear valance was replaced - I have seen the photos and evidence of this repair. I am fairly confident that it will pass an MOT once the fabrication work has been done.

It's not got new paint, it was done some time ago. The car has not been used a lot in recent years and has a significant history file several inches thick. It has heritage certificates etc and it was interesting to see the price of these only 10-15 years ago.

There are some on the market now for �40k which seems very expensive.
That's crazy money for a TR6.

Unless it's my own of course, in which case it seems about right. biggrin


R TOY

1,704 posts

228 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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If it was me I would want the chassis inspected independently, the mot center maybe ?
I would think there are very few cars on an original chassis that haven’t had some repair work but you really need to know the rest of it is sound . Often difficult when they have a good coat of under seal though !
Looks a lovely car , hope it all works out .
D