Minneapolis Street Sighting: Triumph TR250

I have a thing for British cars, and more often then not, the British beings I spot in Minneapolis are of the Triumph breed--and there's nothing wrong with that. I love them all; most of the ones I see are either TR-6s, or (sadly) the later TR7s, which I abhor. Earlier cars from the brand tickle my fancy, and to me, the TR250 is about one of the best examples of what the Triumph brand stands for.

Lightweight, and a good handler, yes, but fast..erm, no.According to wikipedia, these hit null to sixty in ten-and-a half-seconds, and took nearly forty seconds to hit the magic triple-digits. But, speed is not the point of British roadsters such as this. 

Oddly enough, for not being sold in the US when new apparently, most have made their way over here, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of the 600 left are in the US. I have seen about five or six, so I'd consider myself  very lucky.

I really like this example; the deep navy bodywork looks excellent, and is a standout considering most of the examples I see are either green or white. The tan top is wonderful as well, and definitely goes well with the exterior.  I also am a staunch fan of the luggage carrier, as it looks at home here; normally I decry the addition of such exterior "modifications", but in this case, the rack looks to be a period accessory, thus I don't mind it.

I dig the wire wheels on this one, too, and how could I not? While these cars did come with steelies (painted or otherwise), I feel that proper wire wheels are the way to go here. Wires just look right.

I love finding little British roadsters, and I love shooting them so; I know these pictures are fairly old, but I do think this is one of the better subjects I've shot; I am no expert at Triumph, and each one is a learning experience for me.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Triumph GT6 Coupe

As I said yesterday, I live for finding the rare, and offbeat cars. All the classic cars around here as big, brash luxobarges hailing from Detroit-- or at least made by the big three. Lincolns, big Fords, Chryslers, et al are all cool in their own right-- but on the whole they lack details, lack character. Sure, there's the badges and classy scripts that make up the nameplate, but aside from those few characteristics, they all resemble on another. While a four-door thirty year old Ford is cool, especially in the rustbelt, I tend to gravitate towards the more seldom seen European marques. Whether this is good or bad, it's up to you--but as a car enthusiast who doesn't stick to one particular brand at cars shows, this sameness get quite old after awhile.
Every so often, my scouting the city turns up a worthwhile result; sometimes its close to home, and sometimes it's in a neighborhood I'm unfamiliar with. Cars like MG, old Fiats, Vespas, and even TVRs; they're probably not for everyone, and that's what makes them interesting. In the summer it seems, the other marques tend to come out and play; a popular choice is the Triumph TR-6, and even the earlier TR-3s are fairly common spottings in my area. Let me draw your attention away from those common British staples, and let's look at a nameplate that isn't quite as common, but definitely has all the appeal of its roadster siblings--maybe even more.









Like all Triumphs, the GT-6, while it looks quite stunning, had relatively humble origins; it didn't start out as a fast car--and it never really was intended to be. It was more of a cruiser, anyway. Based on the commonly bashed, and frequently ridiculed Triumph Spitfire, the GT-6 earned the nickname early on as the "poor man's E-Type" and its easy to see why; fastback body, large opening hatch, and a one-piece flip-up front just like the poster-Jag. It also had more style than substance, but don't let that fool you--from what I've read these are decent cars, they just lack in power--a factor that can quickly be remedied with a plethora of aftermarket support for Triumph enthusiasts.
Production began in 1966 if I recall, and lasted until 1973, when the last of the Mark IIIs rolled up the Coventry line; unfortunately, Triumph overestimated how many of their prized coupe would actually sell--and some ended up being sold well into the 1974 model year. Unfortunately for Triumph, the GT6 never sold in the numbers expected, and very few survive, especially in the US.
While not as common as their siblings, the GT6 still remains to have a following, especially in the Triumph circle; the Spitfire which lends itself as the base for this wonderful coupe doesn't quite share it legacy. Sure, its got its followers, but the Spitfire never really had the character, or the "budget Jaguar" stigma that its coupe brethren had developed over the years.
I really like these coupes; to me, they combine the perfect attributes of what British motoring should be; light kerb weight, normally aspirated engine, and rear wheel drive, and the sultry looks only enhance its appeal--after all, what's a great car without exquisite styling, right?

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Triumph TR4

As you can see, I've been on a sports car kick as of late, for good reason. I have always been a sucker for roadsters of yore, and with Minnesota's long, dreary winter starting, I won't see many of these puppies out on the road for a good few months or so, so I'm stocking up. As per the Triumph, I've been growing fonder and fonder of these little guys by the day; honestly, they mark a new turning point as far as my interest in cars goes. While I first took initial interest in the TR-6, I begun to show more interest in the brand as a whole, and I developed an interest in British sports cars as a whole.
The TR-4 carried the Triumph sporting legacy well into the mid 1960s, being used in a variety of races, SCCA and otherwise. Weghing in at a scant 2130 lbs, it appeared the Triumph believed the idea for a sporting driving experience was relatively little in the weight department, and a 4 spd stickshift to provide driving thrills. Ironically, despite being a British sports car, the US was Triumph's biggest market for TR4 sales. Out of over 40,000 cars built between in 1961 and 1965, less than 750 TR4s are still licensed in England. Here, the number definitely greater.
While I usually spot British cars at Quality Coaches, this lucky example was seen just parked in a little neighborhood a few blocks away from my house. Parked on a sidestreet, it was honestly a rather surprising find. I usually expect sidestreet to be home to decaying American classics, or maybe a rotten 1980s FWD car or two, but never a little sports car. I had to take a closer look.
This little roadster looked immaculate. From the glossy red paint, to the all white steel wheels with chrome hubcaps,this specimen was superb. Not a tear or wear spot disgraced the interior, even; clear evidence that whoever owns this awesome little roadster definitely takes amazingly good care of it. I don't blame them, I would too.
I know this is probably cliche by now, but I would most definitely sport this-- and I wouldn't change a single thing about it. It's probably one of the few cars I've blogged that I can outright say that I wouldn't change a thing about. I like this little British roadster just the way it is.