Here's another story about a TR6 to watch out for that
is currently for sale...
The former home of the TR6 I eventually bought, after
a year of searching, was in a private community
outside of Ft. Worth that had its own airstrip. Being
a pilot, I borrowed a friend's plane to fly up from
Houston to look at the car.
Before I left that morning in April of this year, I
saw an ad for a 71 TR6 in Mineola, TX, which was
somewhat on the way to Ft. Worth. I called and the guy
said it was $3800, "restored in the 80's but hasn't
been driven much since my son went to college a few
years back. Other than a starter, wouldn't take much
though to make it perfect again. I know it's worth a
lot more but I just need to get rid of it". Then the
guy said the car was located in his warehouse on the
airport property, so I said what the heck, it must be
fate, I'll drop in and have a look.
The car was sitting on four nearly flat tires. The
interior was full of pieces of farm equipment. The
floorboards had rust holes so big I could stick my arm
through and touch the ground. By the rear suspension
mount on the left side, there was a rust whole so big
in the frame a mouse had built a nest INSIDE the frame
member. The inner fenders had been hacked away with a
cutting torch (why?). The car was so full of dried mud
I could only conclude it had once been completely
submerged in a flood. The diff looked like it had been
a Mineola High School shop class welding project. And
on and on. There was something wrong with every single
piece of the car. Thanks but no thanks, I said.
So imagine my surprise when last week I see this car
advertised on a dealer website in Austin:
http://www.classicstreet.com/1971_tr_6.htm
I'm sure it is the same car, it has the AMCO bars only
on the rear bumper, funny 14" minilites, orangish
color etc. It's now advertised as a "good driver" for
$5500. I feel for whatever poor soul buys that car.
Fortunately the TR6 in Ft. Worth turned out to be the
exact car I was looking for. I sealed the deal and
flew back and remain extremely pleased with my
purchase.
I saw some a lot of other scary and/or overpriced cars
as well in my search. But I still shake when I think
about that Mineola TR6.
William
'74 TR6
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