1969 Triumph TR6 Specifics

I bought a TR6 and it ended up being the 1969 version. Little did I know how hard it would be to bring the car back to original condition. This is an attempt to catalog what I've learned so far and gather any and all info about the truly rare 69 Triumph TR6.
The TR6 was introduced in 1969, but right away, the US had several problems with safety, and emissions. Many changes were made before the 1970 release. 53 years later, trying to find parts that were only used once has been a challenge. I've spent 2.5 years so far and a lot of wasted money from bad advice. Hopefully, this will help anyone like-minded.

These are specs I found from 1969:

TR6 TECHNICAL SPECS
Engine, 152 cu. in. (2498 CC).
Bore 2.94 in. (74.7 mm).
Stroke 3.74 in. (95 mm).
Compression ratio 8.5:1.
Full flow oil filter.
TRANSMISSION
4 forward speed all synchromesh gear box.
Diaphragm type 8 1/2" hydraulically operated clutch.
Hypoid final drive beveled gears in cast iron case rubber mounted on chassis.
CHASSIS
Channel steel with cruciform bracing.
Steel disc type 15" x 5 1/2" wheels.
Mag type wheel covers-stainless steel. (Rostyle)
Radial ply red band tires-Goodyear 185 SR 15.
SUSPENSION
Front: Low periodicity independent system incorporating anti-roll bar.
Coil springs and telescopic dampers.
Rear: Semi trailing arm independent with coil springs and piston type dampers.
All rubber mounted.
STEERING
Triumph rack and pinion.
Energy absorbing column.
3 1/2 turns lock to lock.
BRAKES
Vacuum power independent system.
10 7/8" caliper operated discs-front.
9" drums-rear.
ELECTRICS
Negative ground 12 volt system.
57 amp. hours battery.
Twin windtone horns.
Two speed electric windshield wipers.
Electric windshield washers.
Twin back-up lights.
Front and rear marker lights.
Alternator.
BODY
Two seat, two door sports car.
Roll-up windows.
Rust proofed steel body.
Laminated windshield with high impact inter-layer.
Front hinged safety hood.
Locking trunk with courtesy light.
Full anti-burst door locks.
One either-side-up key for door and ignition.
TOP
Zip down rear window panel.
Soft top-vinyl inside and out.
Reflective safety striping around top.
Soft top boot cover.
Velcro strips on soft top and cant rails.
EXTERIOR ACCOUTREMENTS
Wrap around bumpers, front and rear.
External, door mounted rear view mirror.
Magnetic fuel tank cap-5 lb. pressure.
COCKPIT
Internal dipping safety rear view mirror.
Bucket seats with integral folding head restraints.
Padded swivelling sun visors.
Ambla upholstery, perforated on seat facings.
Locking glove compartment with courtesy light.
5" 140 mph speedometer with re-settable trip milometer.
5" tachometer.
Separate fuel, water temperature, oil pressure gauges, and ammeter.
Variable intensity dash illumination, blue light.
Combined ignition lock accessory control, and starter control.
Self cancelling turn signals.
Vents for fresh air ventilation at face and foot level.
Heating and demisting fresh air system.
Leather covered 15" steering wheel rim and matching gear shift knob.
Non-glare walnut finish dash.
4-way hazard flasher.
Quick release seat belts with stowage holster on outside.
Door operated courtesy light.
Wheel Base 88” 2.24M
Ground Clearance 6” .15M
Length 155” 3.94M
Width 58” 1.47M
Height-top up 50” 1.27M
Height-top down 46” 1.17M
Track- front 50 1/4” 1.28M
Track-rear 49 1/4” 1.26M
Turning Circle 33ft 10.1M
Fuel Tank 13 ½ gals 11 /1/4 imp gals 51 litres
Engine sump 9.64 pints 8 imp. Pints 4.52 litres
Gear Box 2.4 pints 2 imp. Pints 1.13 litres
Rear 3 pints 2 ½ imp. Pints 1.42 litres
Cooling system with heater 6.6 qts. 11 imp. Pints 6.2 litres
Weight-dry 2156 lbs. 983 kg.
Weight-with fuel and water etc. 2268 lbs. 1034 kg.
BHP 104 at 4500 rpm
Torque 1710 lb/in at 3000 rpm
Acceleration
Through the gears 0-30 mph 3.5 secs
0-50 mph 8.2 secs
Standing quarter mile 18.5 secs
Standard ratios 4th 3rd 2nd 1st rev
Ratio 1.00 1.33 2.01 3.14 3.22
Overall ratios 3.70 4.92 7.44 11.62 11.90
Engine rpm at 10 mph 482 641 969 1513
O/D O/D O/D
Overdrive ratios 4th 4th 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st
Overdrive ratios. .. ........ .3.03 3.70 4.03 4.92 6.10 7.44 11.62
Engine rpm at 10 mph. 395 482 525 641 794 969 1513

[MikeMcCabe]

Thanks for the video.. Good to see some first year TR6’s still kicking around. I’ve had my ‘69 CC30154 for 16years and counting.

[bodieb.]

Forgot to give a well deserved shout out to Elin at Rusty Beauties. His tutorials are invaluable and every little question I've come across during my quest had been answered by watching his videos.
Thanks. Elin

[cheftush]

Good Video, Thanks for the Shout Out. I have asked a few other very passionate 69 owners to watch and comment on the video as well. Cheers, Tush

[bodieb.]

Very interesting video. I too have a 1969 TR6 but in Royal Blue, It is a California car with 61, 000 original miles that I purchased last November from the Original owner. As so many TR's seem to have a story attached mine also has a wee bit of a tale. The first owner purchased it after returning from Vietnam. He returned the same year I did. A few years after purchasing it he sadly developed cancer do to the agent orange used in VN. He did get better than worse than better but the car sat for many years at a time. This being the reason for such low miles. Changes were made to the car itself but tasteful ones. It does have the optional wire wheels and I've put the original style red-line tires on.
A lovely car to own and drive and one that I feel will increase in value.
His nor My intentions were / are not to keep it original because of improvements. Better Starter motor. aluminum radiator, oil filter base, period correct radio along with a few other items.
Your comment about the car amazed me. I love this car and I'm sure you do yours. We are both quite fortunate.
The Tush-myster is The Man.
I wonder about a trip from Massachusetts to Toronto ???? (This car does run very well but I may do webers in the spring).
Enjoy !

[wsld]

Nice video. I've owned CC26455L since 1986. Your details are very accurate from my perspective. The TR6 decal on a white car is red. I'd love to have a set of the bumble bee hoses, but wow not for $500. My car was 17 years old when I got it and some 69 unique items were already gone. The hub-caps were gone as were the 69 style seats. I've heard those seats were the most comfortable ever made by Triumph. It had Union Jack decals a front air dam which I see you don't have. Mine does have the fender beading. Someone at a car show was very interested in that. Not original, but be sure to add an emergency hood (bonnet) release. There are fancy ones, but IMO it only has to work twice. Once when you install it and then when you need it. I love the floor dimmer switch. When I drive my brother's 73 there's no where to rest my left foot.

[markaluge]

A great shout out to Chef Tush, Mr TR North America.

[jimconklin]

Hi, I also own a '69 TR6. Many of your comments were spot on, some not so much. My TR6 has VIN 27495, it is about a month newer than yours. My tach and speedometer have flat glass, it still has a decal that tells how to reset the trip counter. The doors have a unique steel pull for closing, same as TR4, The washer pump has external connections, male spades and the black cap (Lucas model 55J) says to observe polarity, the container is square, but could be newer. The fuel cap, magnetic, has no seal, so fuel tends to evaporate. 1969 is the only year with no horn relay. Vent doors were used until 1972. High beam/ low beam switch was the same for all years. Original batteries had screw caps to refill electrolyte. The other vacuum servo on the distributor is for retarding the spark, not good to have. My cold vacuum solenoid is missing. No interest either, too expensive. I am not sure of first year for intake air plenum, but they help with cooling and keep the bonnet from raising, if the latch breaks, when driving over 60mph. As someone else pointed out, original tyres were Goodyear redlines, they did have big knobby treads. My TR does not have the finger pull on glove box door, but I like the idea, the door is weighted to the close side not open side, so it requires playing to get it to drop if the light switch spring is not strong. Good luck with yours, drive it, I have not driven mine for a few years. Jim

[ottovonbisquick]

I have CC28790, it's not totally original but has a lot of the original pieces in place. The details are really hard to nail down in the first couple of years because there doesn't seem to be a lot of standardization. Mine has 1 bullet style mirror on the driver side only, no passenger mirror. Hard to say if that is original though, I don't have a good trail of earlier owners.

Thanks for putting this together, a couple of details from your listing/description:
The seat belts clip into loops bolted into the floor, later they were changed so the belts bolt in place. The shoulder strap mount is on the body tub, so it's easy to change to 3-point belts if you prefer.
I don't believe the rear drive ratio changed over time, all US market cars got the 3.45 and the UK market got the 3.70:1 version.
For the steering wheel, I think the video describes the rim as wood, but at least on mine the rim is a foam-covered metal hoop under the outer cover.

[truequan]

Yeah well all I can say is job well done. This 1975' er has nothing but respect for the originals that came before. After I ventured to Elan's Rusty Beaties, that was all she wrote. Proud owner of a 75 Carmine Red since early 2023. Drive it every day on PCH. TrueQuan @ TrueQuan

[boomerang]

I have a '69 TR6, CC28234L I've owned for going on 34 years. I was manufactured @ March 4th of 1969. The steering wheel on the 69's was a larger diameter. Mine was not matt black. It was chromed. The ignition key was still alongside the choke, fan, heater knobs. Later on 70's, etc., it would be moved to alongside the steering wheel. On early 69's the matt black cam back rear was a dealer option (they were body colored leaving the factory). Early 69's has the rather unappealing Rostyle wheel covers. The Michelin X redline radials had a tube. You can buy reproduction from Coker Tire. My '69 had only 1 vacuum advance (they weren't all double). TR6's were suppose to have a 'door pull' like the TR4's. The inside cutout was there but the factory changed the spec to save money so the door panels simply cover up the cutout. The carpeting was nylon but I upgraded mine with aftermarket wool. The '69 seats with the dropdown headrest was only for the 69 model year, as was the flat tonneau cover. I upgraded my vinyl seat covers with aftermarket leather ones. Seat belts were an option. Mine did not have any. I added aftermarket racing ones in 1989 when I bought the car. I upgraded my original vinyl top (which shrinks and cracks over time) with fabric that won't shrink or crack.

[frankmgallo]

Captain
Any update dates or anything new to report

[davidfidler]

Some other 69 only features were, courtesy light between the seats, vacuum switch under the front carb (very expensive to replace IF you can find one!), foot switch for high beams, polished stainless wiper arms/blades.

You have a rare TR6 there, best of luck with the restoration and if I can help in anyway, just holler!

[michaelreillyesq]

The original Rostyle hub caps required rims with the 3 stanchions to attach to and required a special tool to remove. Anyone who tried to remove them with a screwdriver destroyed them. Moreover they rattled like crazy driving me crazy. The 1969 model had a few more bhp than other years due to minimal smog equipment.

[frankmgallo]

Captain
Any updates on your car. I think I found one but not sure if they are going to sell. If I do would it be ok for us to help each other out trying to bring them back from their assembly line days

[timmulrenan]

I am the original owner of a ‘73 TR6, which I still have and drive regularly. The original tires on ‘68 TR250s through ‘73 TR6’s were Dunlops, with a nobby looking tread. To the best of my knowledge they started using the Michelin X redlines as original tires in ‘74. As far as I know you can no longer get the Dunlops or Michelin redlines.

[zekehanscom]

I laud your efforts, but you should upgrade all the rubber to polyurethane, makes for a more positive feedback while driving and doesn't rot. For longevity, get someone to reinforce the weak points on the frame, kits are available online. Also turn your gas cap 90 degrees, there were some pop opens in early accidents caused by G forces. TR sent a notice to dealers about this. The labels for your red lights on the dash, BRAKE / HAZARD, are missing hinting at a possible facia refinishing at some time. The oil cannister and air filter housing should be chrome too. I ditched the 175s and upgraded to SU H6S carbs with K&Ns. My TR6 is a 69 also, CC270001L, completed in December of1968. I would also highly recommend installing an overdrive unit, the drive shaft is the same. I chose a J type that mimics an A type and works in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears. The OD makes for a totally different driving experience and saves on fuel. I did a complete frame off resto that was finished in December 2022. The final body was painted the original new white, w/ Group 44 livery, sans team names and numbers. Tan leather and wool carpet by Heritage Upholstery, Palm Springs, CA.

[MyJon]

Interesting research, if I could I'd choose an early TR6 also. Back in England for the European Market the early cars left the factory with a fuel injection system "Pi" making 150bhp, very quick for its day, the later cars were toned down to 134bhp

[frankmgallo]

Captain
I’ve been looking for the same car. This video is very informative I’m on a search for one myself cause I have a 68 TR250, 70 GT6+ & 74 1/2 TR6
I want to sell the TR6 so I can have three car in Three consecutive years.
So if you decide to change your mind about the your and sell please let me know or 1st right of refusal. Thanks

[JHolewka]

Original redlines were Goodyear G800’s and the Michelin redlines were an option.

[JHolewka]

The door mirrors were installed at the factory and not the dealers. Dealers installed passenger side if customer requested. The ignition wire were green on all years how ever the boots for the plug end were different.