Moss Motors, Ltd

I started with a Triumph Spitfire in High Scholl in 1964. I bought a used "61 and kept it until '67 and than bought a new one in 1972. I had that one until '91 when I came out of a parts store and saw what was left of it and read a note that said a Moving Truck misjudged a turn and demolished my car. Fortunately he left the company # and in 4 days I had a check for over $2000 . The car had cost me around $2900 new! I had the car fixed and was supposed to pick it up at the body shop but was delayed at work with a patient crisis. I called and asked the owner ,who was a friend, to please park the car out front and keep the keys because I had an extra set. I got to the shop, which was about an hour away, and no car was there! I called the owner at home who seemed legitimately suprised because he had left it as instructed. He was sure I just was in the wrong parking lot and came over to meet me. No Car!! I was heartbroken and the Police were of no help. Even though everything was brand new except the ratty top, they said they would not look for it, but thief would probably make some type of traffic infraction and it would show as stolen and I would get it back. I drove out to that area every night after work and looked for the car to no avail. I "temporarily" bought a MGB from a friend until hopefully my car was found. No Such Luck!! I did not love the temporary "B" and looked for a nice Triumph that I could keep and enjoy and couldn't find anything in good shape so I "settled" for a Miata. I ended up loving it because it handled great, looked great, and I didn't have to fight Lucas, The Prince Of Darkness anymore! I have had absolutely no mechanical problems with this car! I still have the original clutch since 1994. I was always having some kind of problem or another with my Spitfires and that is ok when you are young and it's an adventure, but I am a little older now and am not mechanical and and totaled it last week! I saw a TR-6 on E-bay at a Porsche dealer near me and was totally drawn in! It supposedly has like 15,000 original miles on it and truly was mint. I need you guys to tell me if I am crazy or not! Is the TR-6 more reliable than the Spitfire? Are Parts and qualified mechanics available? I need an objective opinion whether or not I can get a reliable TR-6 to get me to work (15 miles) daily and have fun with on the weekends without spending a fortune on maintenance and searching desperately for parts! I really appreciate your help, thanks, Bob

Hi Bob,

You might want to try re-posting this in the TR6 section (you're currently in the Austin Healy section), just click on "Forums," then scroll almost to the bottom, and you'll see a the TR250-6 section.

Good luck!

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1964 Triumph TR4
2006 Micargi Pantera (beach cruiser bike!)

That's one hell of a first post though!  Welcome to the forum.

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The word "Triumph" caught my eye even though you are in the A-H section. I'd say if dependability is the primary requirement for your next sportscar, then a 30+ year old car may not be the way to go.

 Oh yeah, there are plenty of them considered reliable, but they usually don't come that way. It takes work and money. If you are willing to accept that as part of the challenge of owning one of these old boys, then I'm sure you will find great satisfaction tooling around in a TR6. I know I do. 

The Mazda can never match the "funk factor" of the TR 6.  The Japanese cars are admittedly reliable and well-engineered (I own a Scion to get back and forth to work on most days).  My '74 TR 6 is a hobby; keeping it sorted is relatively easy.  If it wasn't fun, I wouldn't have done it for nine years now.

The satisfaction of keeping a thirty-something sports car on the road is real.  As a former President of the local area Triumph Owners Association I would have to say that the TR 6 is not inherently more reliable than a Spitfire.  Both cars need regular proper maintenance to be reliable.  I think this is the bad wrap British cars got in the fifties and sixties when the big three were making vehicles which could go on for quite a while with poor maintenance.  I was guilty of this with a '67 Impala myself.  One point to consider is that as a machine, the British car runs better when it is used regularly; they like to be exercised.

A guy I work with owns an older Miata and drives it to work regularly, as I do with my TR 6.  Whenever the weather is close to decent, we're doing the top down thing.  I have heard his little red Miata referred to as cute quite a few times; nobody uses the "C" word with respect the TR 6.  "The last of the hairy-chested roadsters" remains above cute.

Hi John. Could I possibly interest you in going into the "Clubhouse Forum" and adding to the "Which Is Better? " debate?

I am on my third TR6.  I have been driving them since 84.  I had a 62 Spitwad.  The TR6 is like a grown up Spit and in many ways it is.  Same kind of frame and body construction, the front suspention just bigger.  Two more cylinders to an engine that looks to just grown a little.  Sometimes I get anoyed when I go out because everytime I stop, someone always say how cool it is or they had one or knew a friend that had one.   It gets to be a real pain, unless she's a little cutie!

The problem I've had with my TRs is that I never had a new one.  I've always had to fix it up so it was always a rolling restoration.  I never really minded it.  But the fact is that it is a 60's vintage car.  Even most US cars from the 60s were considered worn out by 100k miles.  I don't know if it is the engineering or modern lubricants but it is but even most economy cars will go over 200k if reasonably taken care of today.  Remember when it was only 2K miles between oil changes?

I don't know what they are asking for it but probably in the $15k range (hopefuly).  What kind of sports car out there can you buy for that kind of money?  And if you spend a little money in some engine upgrades you can have a lot more power and reliablity.  Plus getting parts for them is easy.  And they are still making new products for them like a supercharger!