Page 51 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

THE BACKSTORY
Triumph TR6
Nip and Tuck
As the TR5 and TR250 approached production in 1967, Triumph had already begun planning for their replacement. Due to other commitments, Giovanni Michelotti, Triumph’s favorite designer, lacked the time to do the job, forcing management to find a substitute who could perform the work in the short time envisioned for its completion. The project was assigned to Germany’s Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, which had established a solid reputation performing production and design work for American Motors, BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen.
With little time and money available, Karmann was instructed to limit any proposed changes to the exterior panels, forcing retention of the inner panels, floors, scuttle, doors and windscreen from the departing TR5/TR250. Even worse, a temporary shortage in British die-making capacity meant that it also had to produce the new model’s manufacturing tooling as well. Fortunately, the restricted time frame focused the company’s efforts, with Triumph approving Karmann’s initial proposal in September 1967. Considering the limits on time and resources, Karmann’s work was nothing short of miraculous.
Endowed with an aggressive stance that reeked of virility, Triumph was able to present the TR6 as an entirely fresh design, rather than merely a freshened TR5/TR250. Through careful alteration of the front and rear ends, while still retaining the old sheet metal between the wheel arches, the aging silhouette had been transformed into a timeless and modern classic. Indeed, Triumph’s only contribution to the whole affair was replacing the Michelotti designed two-piece hardtop with an angular one- piece version. Throughout the late 1960s, manufacturers had been
TOP: Karmann achieved a miraculous result with its styling effort
for the TR6, creating a thoroughly modern profile while retaining the existing understructure, windscreen frame and outer panels between the wheel arches from Michelotti’s TR4 design.
ABOVE: Although the Kamm tail was invented in the 1930s,
it experienced a renaissance in the 1960s. A number of manufacturers from Aston Martin to Ferrari used this aerodynamic aid for their sporting models.
Wayne Carini  Affordable Classics  49