1969 Triumph TR6
Street/Track, Supra 5-Speed
1-Family Owned, Restored California Car
Back on the market, this beautifully restored, one-family-owned 1969 Triumph TR6 for sale. The car currently starts, runs, and drives, but it needs work. Please read the description below for a full understanding of the build quality, performance upgrades, history, and current diagnosis.
Purchased new by the current owner's sister on April 10th, 1969, directly from Triumph Sales Limited, Canley, Coventry, England. She took delivery, toured Austria in it, then delivered it to the port in Rotterdam, where it was shipped to New York, picked up by her, and driven cross-country to Sebastopol, California, where it has remained since. It was then acquired by her brother, the current owner, in the 1970s, who has owned it since.
Her brother spared no expense, treating it to an exhaustive, 6+ year full restoration and a high-performance engine build with suspension upgrades and a Toyota 5-speed manual transmission for fast, spirited drives and potential track day events. It was commissioned in 1999 and completed around 2005.
It includes the handbook and service manual, original purchase paperwork, bill of lading, manufacturer's statement of origin, original Bill of Sale, registrations, etc. The car has only traveled just a few hundred miles since its exhaustive restoration. When we received the car, we refreshed the braking system, tires, fluids, etc, to make it road-ready.
The custom built 2.5L TR6 engine was bored .60 over with a larger cam. It has a triple Weber Sidedraft set providing unbridled power. Equipped with the Toyota Supra 5-speed transmission and reinforced rear end. Braking, suspension, and steering are tight and extremely responsive, and a new set of tires complements its excellent handling.
The paint and body are outstanding as well. The car is straight, smooth, and rust-free with excellent panel alignments all around. The wheels have been refinished, and it is fitted with a new set of 215/70 R15s all around. A wider set of steel wheels for track days are included as well. The trim, glass, rubber, and lenses look great, along with the cloth softtop that has very good fitment. This is a great-looking TR6 all around.
The interior was replaced as well. New wood, upholstery, rugs, cards, and panels throughout. It has a rollbar installed that adds safety without interfering with the top. The seats are extremely comfortable, and it is wonderful on even the longest drives.
CURRENT STATUS:
We first listed the car in 2024 in the $35k range with no shortage of interest. At the time, we felt the triple Weber carburetors needed to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned, but after going through them, it became clear there was something else going on. Ultimately, we weren’t able to get the car running quite right, so it was set aside.
While we initially suspected a carburetion issue, after a good cleaning and some adjustment, we performed a compression and leak-down test. The results show generally strong engine health, with most cylinders producing solid compression between 150–170 psi and low leak-down values of 6–20%. Cylinders 3, 4, 5, and 6 are performing well, indicating good sealing and combustion efficiency. Cylinder 1 is slightly lower at 140 psi but still acceptable, while cylinder 2 stands out with significantly lower compression (110 psi) and high leak-down (35%), suggesting possible valve leakage, rings, or a head gasket issue that may require attention. We're not sure what has caused this.
Compression & Leak-Down Test Results
Cylinder Leak-Down (%) Compression (psi)
1 10% 140 psi
2 35% 110 psi
3 10% 160 psi
4 6% 170 psi
5 20% 150 psi
6 10% 170 psi
This one-family-owned, beautifully restored early California TR6 has been re-priced accordingly. It could be a valve, head gasket, or piston rings. Repairs may range from an easy fix to something more complicated, depending on what’s found. Inspections are encouraged and welcomed.
This special TR6 has a very short owners list and is ready to add the next one to it! Be sure to check out all 350+ photos and the video at www.leftcoastclassics.com. Call or text Donn with questions, shipping, and financing options. 707-332-8331. For loan pre-approval visit https://www.lightstream.com/apply
