TriumphTR6 Vs Datsun 240Z

LOVE 240Zs. There are very few cars I would possibly sell my Miata for, and an early Z is one of them.

MUCH closer fight.

I love Triumph, would take a TR3 or 4 over the Z, but not a 6.

Datsun for me.

wow.. the Z is really pushing the TR6 out of the ring.

I really thought this battle would have been closer

mad_machine wrote: wow.. the Z is really pushing the TR6 out of the ring. I really thought this battle would have been closer

The TR6 is the last in a long line of finicky British roadsters (TR7 and TR8 are way different, and the last act of a desperate company). The 240Z is the genesis of an excellent Japanese company that was so good that is challenged established domestic sport(s/y) cars and won.

Think about it. Put a 70 Camaro, 70 Mustang against a 70 240Z and a 70 TR6. I like Camaro's, but stock for stock, I'd take the 240Z every day of the week. Nobody cross shopped TR6's and Camaro's.

Another vote for the 240Z. It revolutionized the modern sports/GT car. The TR6 was just a really nice interpretation of a really outdated type of car.

tuna55 wrote:

mad_machine wrote: wow.. the Z is really pushing the TR6 out of the ring. I really thought this battle would have been closer

The TR6 is the last in a long line of finicky British roadsters (TR7 and TR8 are way different, and the last act of a desperate company). The 240Z is the genesis of an excellent Japanese company that was so good that is challenged established domestic sport(s/y) cars and won.

Reliability is so boring...

Well.. seeing how lopsided this has gotten... lets claim the 240z the winner and move on...

This is a tough one. In 1970 I was trying to get into the Air Force Academy. If I got in, my parents had agreed to buy me a car (although when it looked like I might make it, they said it wouldn't be a new car). My choices were between the TR6 and 240Z. I never could make up my mind, but didn't get into the AFA so it was irrelevant. And to be honest, I still can't make up my mind.

This is almost impossible for me, too. Given a significant price difference I would probably go for the cheaper one, but around where I am a rust-free 240z seems to be as expensive as a TR6. $6500 - $9000. They both look great and the reliability of the Z would be offset by the drop-top and sound of the TR6..

TR6. Because Ragtop.

240z. They're both a little weak for my tastes, and that tractor motor in the TR-6, while sounding great (So does my Ford 3000, BTW), has very little performance potential.

Zed, no question.

For the top down crowd

In reply to racerdave600:

Wow those are ugly!

yea.. they really don't quite work

topless Z is horrible.

I would like this one! http://bringatrailer.com/2011/05/18/flared-and-mean-modified-1972-triumph-tr6/

240Z is one of the best looking cars ever. They are rewarding to drive as well. That's my choice.

Those convertible 240Z's are not appealing. At all.

240Z. For sure.

As a Z-car owning friend of mine once said, the Japanese took the idea of a British car and made it do everything better, including rust. That said, I would take the floppy-body TR6. The sound of a TR6 with triple Webers at full howl is pretty damn nice.

My question is: does the TR6 have any racing pedigree at all compared to what the Z accomplished?....

The two cars are a generation apart, so in terms of performance, it's an apples to oranges comparison. Still, the z when it was new was classed with the tr6 in d production? I forget, but anyway the tr6 beat out the datsun in 1970 or 71.

Tons of racing history, they still do well in vintage events, including some lap records, and all with more style and a ragtop.

The irony is I just saw a TR6 in white driving on a beautiful sunny day in Portland and I did a double take. So same gut reaction as a clean 240z. I remain neutral.

bearmtnmartin wrote: The two cars are a generation apart, so in terms of performance, it's an apples to oranges comparison. Still, the z when it was new was classed with the tr6 in d production? I forget, but anyway the tr6 beat out the datsun in 1970 or 71. Tons of racing history, they still do well in vintage events, including some lap records, and all with more style and a ragtop.

The Z won C Prod from 1970 on until an XKE knocked it off in the early '80's. I believe it was Jim Fitzgerald that drew the lottery to knock the Jag out of the race. He tried on the 1st lap and failed, but the Jag won anyway. But that's another story.

They eventually moved the TR6 to a lower class (DP) I where I believe it picked one, maybe two more titles in the '70's. Paul Newman actually raced a TR6 before he went to Bob Sharp.

Z, no doubt about it.