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[dandet]

Hi Folks!

My name is Dan Detweiler and I am in Canton, Georgia which is about 40 minutes north of Atlanta. I had a 1980 Spitfire about 25 years ago and loved the car but really lusted after a nice TR6.

After many years, I have once again caught the bug and am in the market. I was quite shocked to find that my credit union is willing to finance up to $18,500 on a nice TR6! Not bad for a fourty year old car...at least I wasn't expecting it. I am looking for a really nice daily driver. Not concourse but something that is really solid. I really would like both the factory hardtop and overdrive but I am finding that this combination is pretty rare...especially in good shape. My question is, if faced with a choice between one or the other (hardtop or overdrive), which is going to be the easiest to find and retrofit? I am thinking that it would be easier to find an overdrive unit or rebuilt trany with an overdrive unit on it than it would be to find and restore a factory hardtop. Any thoughts?

I am really looking forward to the shopping process and seeing what is out there. Any references people might have would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help. I am looking forward to meeting everyone on the forum.

Thanks,

Dan

[charley fitch]

In my humble opinion I would  go for the overdrive and look for the hardtop as an add on later.  But then of course there is also the 5 speed  option to consider if you can't find the overdrive.  And there are two conversions for the 5 speed, I personally use the Toyota 5 speed and love that combination.  But an overdrive in good working order is possibly better as you get OD in third gear as well as fourth.  A friend picked up what I believe to be a factory hardtop just last year.  With the freeway speeds we drive at the overdrive is a real pleasure.

You should be able to find a very nice TR6 in very good working order if not mostly restored for above $10,000. 
Good luck in your search.
Charley Fitch 

[Mike V.]

I have a '76 TR-6 with a hard top and overdrive I would be willing to part with for a reasonable price. It runs great, in fact, I just returned from a trip form Houston to Key West and back and it never missed a beat.  The hard top is a different color than the car. The car is French Blue while the top is red as it came from a car that I owned previous to the '76. Let me know if you are interested.

[Glenn K]

If you must choose between them, I recommend the O/D.  I have it and it greatly adds to my driving pleasure.

[tr6canuck]

I have both.  I've driven across the US and Canada and the hardtop is great for reducing noise on the highway.  The o/d is also great for highway driving.  It lowers the rpm about 500 @ 60mph which is less wear on the engine.  I get 33mpg on the highway, same as my sis's 5 speed Miata. 

I'd go for the o/d if you plan on doing a lot of highway driving.

Damian
Windsor,ON
'75 TR6

[08087]

I have a '76 TR-6 with a hard top and overdrive I would be willing to part with for a reasonable price. It runs great, in fact, I just returned from a trip form Houston to Key West and back and it never missed a beat.  The hard top is a different color than the car. The car is French Blue while the top is red as it came from a car that I owned previous to the '76. Let me know if you are interested.

I've got to ask, what is a reasonable price?