British beauty.

Before British socialism killed off its sports car industry the world was blessed with such delightful creations as the AC, MGB, Sunbeam and Triumph.

Triumph TR6, 1968-76.

America had a great appetite for these when the only homemade options were the porky Thunderbird and the poorly made Corvette.

But British socialism saw to it that “If I can’t have it, you can’t have it”, which seemed to be the mantra of the socialist government, and labor unrest saw to it that all British sport car manufacture ceased at the end of the 1970s. Mazda filed the niche nicely with its superb Miata, manufactured to this day and, unlike its British predecessors, it started every time, did not leak oil and had air conditioning which actually worked.

Of the 91,850 TR6s produced, 83,480 were exported; only 8,370 were sold in the UK, which explains why the above, a neighbor’s car, has left hand drive. My neighbor actually owns two, the other in red and both sport the period-correct red rimmed tires which came with the car. Doubtless he is adopting that tried and true dictate of British car ownership. Own two. One to drive, the other to fix. It probably helps to have two British mechanics also, for when one goes on strike.

In the event the TR6 had a simple, reliable single cam in-line six and a gorgeous body by Italian Giovanni Michelotti, to whom Triumph wisely delegated design.

iPhone 11 Pro snap.