WHAT TO LOOK FOR

LOOK FOR AGEING TRIM

The TR6’S interior trim is straightforward with everything available to buy new if required. Seams can give way in the seat trims and there’s a good chance that there’ll be a tear or two in either the seat covers or door panels. If you need to replace the former, they’re available from £350 per pair while a trim panel set costs from £300. The whole electrical system is Lucas, which means that many components are common to other cars of the period. It also means that they’re all available, which is just as well, because looms and connectors will be giving problems by now. Sometimes only cleaning is required but nearly all new parts are still available.

INSPECT THE BODY CAREFULLY

The TR6’S bodyshell can rust badly, so you need to scrutinise the whole structure and all panels. Starting at the front, the wings can corrode along the top and around the headlamps but you need to lift the bonnet to see the true extent of any potential rot. The base of each B-post can rot where it meets the sill; the seatbelt mounting points’ proximity means that this is an automatic MOT failure.

The doors rust along their base, as well as along the top edge, near the rubber weather seal. Also, check the sills and floorpan, which can both rust badly. Rot is also common in the rear deck; several panels meet here and the multiple seams don’t help because the bodyshell flexes. The rear wings corrode around the wheelarch lips and aft of the rear wheels, while the spare wheel well is as rot-prone as the base of each rear wing.

CHECK HOW THE CAR RUNS

Black exhaust smoke under load suggests that the fuel injection metering is running rich, with attendant steep fuel bills and premature bore wear. Other well-known injection problems involve difficult hot starting, fuel vaporisation and misfiring on startup – all easily fixed by a specialist. Parts are readily available either on an exchange basis or outright, too.