Tim Mantel's 1971 TR6

It is well documented, that things we do in life, are influenced by our experiences when we were young. As for myself it was the summer of 1965. My sister was dating a guy (we will call him Doug) who owned a TR-4. I have always had an interest in cars, of all kinds, but to me, Sports Cars, are the "creme de la creme". And the more the "Triumph" was around, the more interested I became in it.

In July of that year, Doug and Sis had plans to spend the day at Road America, for the USRRC race there. However, at the last minute, she could not go, and he asked if I would like to go instead. Well, I said "YES!" in world record time, (I would have polished his boots for this opportunity) and I spent a wonderful day watching the likes of McLaren, Grant, Amon, Hall, and some guy named Donahue. But most memorable was the day I spent in the TR-4. And at the end of it all, I said to myself (you guessed it), someday I will own a Triumph.

Fast forward my life to 1989.1 had restored a VW convertible, and intended to sell it to satisfy my ambition of owning a TR-4. But selling a $2500 VW Beetle was no small task. And just when I thought it was impossible, I received a call from a local guy who had a TR-6, and asked if I were interested in a trade. After some negotiation, we agreed on some money and the TR-6 for the Beetle. It wasn't a TR-4, but I was the owner of a Triumph at last.

I knew when I drove it home, that I had some work to do. But I wasn't ready for the task ahead of me. What started as a rather routine restoration, turned into a rather trying labor of love. The car had been in, what appeared to be, 3 major collisions, all on the left side. All of the sheet metal work, as it appeared, had been done by "Slip-Shod Backyard Body and Fender Inc." Not a single panel had been replaced, but only pounded out and "bondo-ed" over. The car had been 6 different colors sometime in the past. There was so much paint on the car that the body-side character line was full of paint, and then recreated with more bondo! Ol' Billy Bob was a real artist!!

Although the frame was surprisingly solid, a frame-off was necessary, to repair the differential mounts, that were damaged probably from repeated "hole shots". As I went along repairing things that needed attention, I could tell just where the prior owner(s) had been by the shabby work. At times it became so depressing that I had to walk away from it for a couple weeks, and then start again. Had it not been for the strong desire to own a driving Triumph, along with the support of fellow ISOA members, the journey would not have been as sweet.

Finally in July, 1995, 30 years after that day at Road America, I drove to my first outing with my Triumph to the VTR convention in Rockford, IL. Since then, every time I participate in a sports car event, I relive that thrill of a simpler time.

by Tim Mantel