Tuesday 24th April 2012

You Know You Want To: Triumph TR6 with M3 power

Classic Brit roadster looks, German sports-saloon muscle

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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...

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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

PHers are already talking about this, why not join them here?

[frogy6]

That's class, engine looks abit wedged in? Could be murder to work on

[Jag-D]

Want!

[vrooom]

I want that! it make sense, classic with modern engine transplant.

[jason61c]

not to piss on his chips but thats the USA spec m3, so 240bhp not 286/321. Not a proper M engine. Looks tidy though.

[Truckosaurus]

And, of course, BMW currently own the Triumph (motorcar) brand, along with others they kept after selling 'Rover' to the Chinese.

[DS3R]

could have just linked to my thread on this yesterday

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Lordbenny]

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!

[SonicShadow]

jason61c said:

not to piss on his chips but thats the USA spec m3, so 240bhp not 286/321. Not a proper M engine. Looks tidy though.

According to the Ad, its running around 300bhp.

[leon9191]

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)

[hwajones]

Fantastic, good pair of hands on whoever built it! I'd think 240 would be a nicer package through that chassis than the 300bhp+ in uk spec!

[900T-R]

Lordbenny said:

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.

[BBS-LM]

Now that is nice.

[Toffer]

Unless you have a penchant for rust, why discard the M3 body?

[TomMc1990]

I bet she purs! Wish I had a few bob that I could sanctimoniously throw at a car without seeing it...

[chickensoup]

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

Bit pricey though

[Riggers]

DS3R said:

could have just linked to my thread on this yesterday

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sorry DS3R! My brain not working properly - I did mean to rather than set it to a new thread. Mouse-clicking on auto=pilot I'm afraid :-/

If you look at the bottom of the article, you'll see a link to your thread there... which was supposed to be the only linked thread...

[Megaflow]

Now that is very cool...

[MogulBoy]

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!

Edited by MogulBoy on Tuesday 24th April 12:47

[red_rover]

I think it'd be more fitting to have a big juicy Jaguar engine since Triumph was part of JRT (Jaguar Rover Triumph) in British Leyland.


P.S BMW sold 'Rover' the marque back to Ford, who then sold it as part of Jaguar Land Rover to Tata. Not the Chinese.

[fentuz]

Don't forget the newly trimmed MX5 mk1 seats...