Triumph TR6 Production Years

Production began on 19 September with CC25003L, a carburetted car, on the day the TR5 and TR250 ended. The injected series opened with a prototype and a run of kits, by Rimmer's account, and Canley built the first production TR6 PI, CP25156, on 28 November. Rimmer files the cars of 1968 under the 1969 model year.⁠source 1​source 4

January brought the TR6's introduction, and in America a dock strike on the East and Gulf coasts kept the first cars in harbour for weeks. Jim Dittemore gave it its first win in a national race of the Sports Car Club of America at Sears Point, at the end of March. The first year's cars have Rostyle-type wheel trims, a windscreen (windshield) surround painted in the body colour, a dished steering wheel with black, pierced spokes, a chromed rocker cover and seats that do not recline; American cars have high seat backs with head restraints. Rimmer gives nine paint colours for the 1969 model year, among them Signal Red, Damson, Saffron and Conifer Green.

The 1970 model year began early. Its first injected car by Rimmer's labels, CP50001, was built on 1 September, and its first American car, CC50001L, on 22 November.⁠source 2​source 3​source 5​source 6​source 1

For the 1970 model year the windscreen surround turned black, and there were new wheel trims, seats that recline, a steering wheel with silver spokes and a painted rocker cover. American cars also gained a lock on the steering column, with the ignition switch beside it instead of on the facia, and a new inlet manifold. In June the importer asked the owners of American cars from CC50958 to CC52453 to have two small reflectors fitted below the tail lamps, which might not have met the rules of 1 January 1970. It was the last year of Conifer Green.⁠source 2​source 3​source 7​source 8​source 1

In the middle of the year the gearbox (transmission) gained stronger internals of the Stag's type, from gearbox number CC89817 or CP51163, TR-Register Deutschland says. American cars of the 1971 model year have square reflectors under the tail lamps and, the TR Register says, black spokes on the steering wheel again; British cars of the 1971 model year have the column lock that the law now required. From CP52420 the injected engine's fan had seven blades. Sienna and Sapphire were new colours, and it was the last year of Signal Red, Royal Blue and Laurel. The first car of the American 1972 model year, CC75001L, was built on 20 August.⁠source 3​source 9​source 2​source 10​source 1

The 1972 model year brought American cars a lower compression ratio, at no cost in power, the importer said, and a twin-downpipe exhaust. The Vintage Triumph Register dates a smaller fuel tank to this year, but the importer's own specification for the 1972 model year still gives the old size. From CC78521, the TR Register says, the suffix U replaced the L. Pimento and Emerald were new colours, and the importer announced Mallard too, which Rimmer lists only from 1973; it was the last year of Damson, Jasmine and Saffron. In January the importer recalled the seat belts of one supplier on TR-6s of the 1969 to 1971 model years.

The series changed in the autumn. The first CF, CF1U, was built on 11 September, the last CP, CP77718, on 21 September, and the last CC, CC85737U, on 5 October, though the TR Register gives August; and on 15 November Canley built CR169, its first CR. In October Group 44's TR6 stood on British Leyland's stand at the London Motor Show, for the TR's 20th anniversary.⁠source 11​source 3​source 2​source 1​source 12​source 13

The late car was new from the front: a black spoiler below the bumper and chrome edging on the grille, and, inside, restyled instruments with a battery-condition meter, a column-mounted dip switch and trim that resisted fire. The overdrive was now Laycock's J-type, and the injected engine had a milder camshaft. American cars of the 1973 model year had a Union flag decal on each rear wing (fender) and could have air conditioning fitted by the dealer, and the Vintage Triumph Register dates the move of their commission plate to the left door post to this year. Wire wheels were offered until May. French Blue, Carmine, Mimosa and Magenta were new colours, and Chestnut a new trim.⁠source 14​source 15​source 3​source 1

For the 1974 model year American TR6s had big overriders of synthetic rubber on their bumpers, front and rear, new door panels with easier pulls, an aerial and speakers built in, and self-adjusting belts; a full tonneau cover came as standard, and overdrive was still an option. British cars came with overdrive as standard from CR5000, the TR Register says. Maple, a brown, was the new colour, and it was the last year of Sapphire, Mallard and Magenta. In America, the importer reported in December, demand was outrunning supply, and Aaron Severson names 1974 as the TR6's peak year there.⁠source 16​source 3​source 2​source 17​source 18​source 19​source 1

The TR Register gives a 1974½ model year its own range of numbers, CF27001 to CF31533, and the Vintage Triumph Register runs it to CF35000; Rimmer files them as the first cars of the 1975 model year, from CF27001U, built on 22 August 1974. What made a car a 1974½, the sources read do not say. Severson writes that in the middle of 1974 Leyland had to add overriders to North American TR6s and shim their suspension to bring the bumpers to the regulation height; TR-Register Deutschland dates the big overriders from CF35001.⁠source 2​source 3​source 1​source 19​source 9

February brought the last TR6 PI, CR6701, built on the 7th. For the 1975 model year the American cars' indicators moved below a raised front bumper, the rear bumper became heavier, chrome number-plate (license-plate) holders came as standard, and air injection joined the emission controls. Java, Topaz, Delft and British Racing Green were the new colours, and Beige a new trim, though the Vintage Triumph Register dates Beige a year earlier. In January the TR7 was launched in America, to be sold beside the TR6, and on 2 November John McComb won the D Production championship at Road Atlanta in Group 44's TR6.⁠source 1​source 18​source 3​source 20​source 21

The first car of the 1976 model year, CF50001U, was built on 29 August 1975. The last year's cars have amber lenses on their front indicators, and Inca, Russet Brown and Tahiti Blue were new colours. In June, the importer reported, American dealers delivered 639 TR6s, and on 15 July Canley built the last TR6, CF58328U. On 31 October Paul Newman won the D Production championship at Road Atlanta in McComb's car of the year before.⁠source 1​source 3​source 22​source 23

No. There was no 1977 model year. Some 1976 cars were still unsold "well into the 1977 model year", Moss Motoring wrote, and American cars were titled in the year they were sold, so some carry 1977 on their papers. According to TR-Register Deutschland, 146 TR6s were sold in America in 1977.⁠source 3​source 24​source 9