Years ago, in my late teens and early twenties, I worked at British Miles in Morrisville, PA as a shipping clerk and shop helper. One day, there was a crazy scramble out in the shop. A couple had arrived to pick up their blue 1974 Triumph TR6. They had provided two sets of keys and the mechanics had misplaced both sets. The workers looked high and low and could not locate them. The shop owner said that we would drop the car off once the keys had been found and the couple proceeded to leave.

Not long after, the keys were unearthed. I and another shipping clerk, Gary, were told to deliver the car to the owner's house near Titusville, NJ. I, being the senior of the two "young-ins" was given the privilege of driving the car. Gary followed in his old beaten down Camaro.

I remember that ride like it was yesterday as it was the only real drive I ever had had in a TR6. Pouring rain and lots of traffic.... The growl of the inline six and the grooves of the "Trenton Makes" bridge under the tires. Me on pins and needles terrified to put a ding into the beautiful car.

I find myself in a different stage of life now. I still have my 1971 MGB Roadster from when I was seventeen and I keep it going on the road. But.... I have always loved that TR6 and have fond memories of the work we did on that beautiful car and the drive to Titusville. I remembered the gentleman's name and Google readily supplied his contact information. He quickly responded to my email that he had parted with with the car a number of years earlier.

I couldn't shake the need to own a TR6. I found a yellow one locally that was pretty hard up. I passed after taking it for a terrifying brakeless (well, there was a handbrake) parking lot test drive. Then, months later I found a clear titled 1971 with overdrive on eBay:

"Non Running Removed From Storage of 8 Plus Years. Has been with Current Owner for 30 Years. Perfect Restoration Candidate. Odometer is inoperative." Up for auction is a 1071 Triumph TR6 project car. This car was last driven about 8 Years ago. It has been with the current owner for the last 30 years. The car appears to be solid with some rust typical for a car this age. It is in non-running condition. It turns over freely and shows oil pressure. It needs the fuel tank drained and maybe cleaned and the ignition system checked. The tires are dated around 2006 and look like new tread wise. This could be made to be a driver or a perfect restoration candidate. The odometer is inoperative. True miles Unknown. I reserve the right to end this auction early as the car is available for sale locally."

I spoke with a gentleman, David of European Car west of the Wichita, KS airport, on March 12th, 2017. He was brokering the sale for the owner. His shop focused on Alpha, BMW/Bentley, etc. The car had hit the 4K reserve and the sale would go off later that day. He said the car:

Okay, what am I doing here? This is nuts! I have a one car garage in a townhouse. My MGB lives at my aunt's house has been part of my life for almost 25 years. I could not ever part with that car (my friend TJ calls her my one true love) but I don't have money to restore it like I want to. I don't have room to keep both.

OK....thinking..... I'll buy the TR6. Fix it up. Drive it and enjoy it a little. Then flip it. Take the profits and dump it into the MG fund. 

Dave seemed like a great, knowledgeable, and honest guy. I entered in my bid towards the end of the auction. I was outbid in the final minutes. In a moment of desperation I upped my bid and won in the final seconds.

A feeling of dread arose in me. What had I done?

Check out the Pre-Sale/Purchase Photo Album.