Thanks for the responses I received on the list and privately concerning my
potential purchase of an MGC last on the road in the mid-70's. Most encouraged
the purchase, given that it was a complete car with a fully-restored body, but
warned of significant parts costs.
As an aside, I also posed the question to the Triumph list (I also own a TR6).
The responses were not nearly as positive, ranging from "don't waste good
Triumph money on a C" to "buy it and put a 302 under the hood" (a serious
suggestion coming from the owner of a beautiful 5.0 TR6). Most of the negative
comments concerning the weight of the engine and handling problems came from
TR4 owners who also consider the TR6 unwieldy.
I used the info gathered to take another look at the car. I got the car well
off the ground and spent some time under it. Despite the current owner's
insistence to the contrary, it does have overdrive! The rust appeared to have
been confined to the floorboards and rockers (all nicely replaced). It is
actually more solid than I had given it credit for! Wire wheels look to have
been professionally restored. Has Koni shocks all around (converted on rear).
Wiring, etc, looks solid with no DPO hacking. Engine turned by hand, one carb
damper stuck, but nothing too exciting wrong.
To test his "firm" price, I made a lower offer, which he refused, but also made
a counteroffer significantly below his "firm" price. I'm letting him think
about it.... we're only a few hundred apart, so barring unforeseen
circumstances, I'll probably end up with it in a couple of weeks.
Again, thanks for the list's help! (And if I do back down, I'll pass along the
contact info.)
Bill Elliott
TR6 looking for a stablemate
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