There’s a saying that amuses me: “There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes.” That kind of math applies to Jay Leno‘s 1974 Triumph TR6. The previous owner gave it to him, but Leno ended up paying a price for it anyway because he had it cosmetically and mechanically restored.
As Leno’s master mechanic George Swift explains, the 2.5-liter straight-six engine had burnt valves as well as a burnt piston. Luckily, Moss Motors, which sells parts for a variety of classic British cars, had the hardware Swift needed to rebuild the I6. He ultimately replaced the front disc and rear drum brakes, and the engine and transmission mounts too. Unfortunately, Swift and Leno realized in hindsight that they should have opted for a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive instead of the regular four-speed.
According to Leno, the exterior was refinished in Tahiti Blue, a bright shade that gives the little English roadster a larger presence on the road. During the restoration process, Leno made the wise decision to have the original bumper (which had bulky black rubber bumper guards on it) swapped out for a simpler all-chrome unit.
The new upholstery is all-black, which makes the wood dash fascia all the more noticeable.
Of course, as a seasoned expert, Leno is aware he probably put more money into this Triumph than it is worth. He’s okay with that as he enjoys how vintage the TR6 feels, the “lusty” performance of its big six, and the way 40 mph in it seems like 100. For those reasons and more, Leno is never going to sell his TR6. How could he? He never bought it in the first place.