Every member loves their vehicle(s). Please give us your favorite picture (of you and your vehicle) and tell us the history behind your ownership. For example, is it a “generational car” purchased by a family member and handed down, or a long-running project, or one in a series of Triumphs? Many members had one of these beauties in years past and could never get that car out of their mind. Each car comes with a story. Share with us your pride-and-joy and mention how it came to be with you. Below are some of the cars in the club and their owner’s backstory. Send your picture and descriptive text, such as how and when you acquired it, stories of your ownership, anecdotes about “adventures” with it, etc. to the webmaster. (BurtYale@gmail.com)
Jan Orlow’s TR7
When I was around 8 years old, I would walk by a car lot called Stillwell’s Studebakers and Used Cars on my way to school each day. In the used car section, there was always a plethora of Triumph’s, Healy’s, and MG’s. My older brother Ralph began buying and working on Tr3’s and Tr4’s. Somewhere during that time was when I got my love for British cars. I finally bought my first Triumph, a TR3, in 1987, and that’s when I joined TRSC. I have owned and worked on a string of British cars for over 60 years now, and there’s no stopping it.
John and Jan Roberts’ 1967 TR4A
In 1979 I started looking for my own TR4 after being given a lift to a Christmas party in one. I’d driven friends TR3’s & TR4’s in the sixties while in High School. It took a few months to find my own, but by the Spring of 1980, I was the very excited owner of a 1967 Royal Blue TR4A without the IRS. In 1983 I received a letter from a young Air Force Lieutenant asking if I would be interested in starting a new Los Angeles area Triumph Club. Naturally I said yes, and a few months later we met in El Dorado Park in Long Beach, where SCTOA was born. It was a thriving club until 2017 when it joined with the local TRSC members to form today’s TCSC.
Jim Funkhouser's 1970 Spitfire Mk3 and 1969 GT6+
This is my 1970 Triumph Spitfire Mk3. The relationship started back in the late 70s. When I finally got “Red” running, she became my daily driver for the next two decades until I purchased my 1969 GT6+ and drove her for the next two decades. Both cars have their foibles, but I love them both.
Peter Arakelian’s 1971 TR6
This is my 1971 TR6. I had purchased a ’71 new off the lot but had to let it go after a few years. I bought this one in 1991. It is not a restored car, but it has an excellent drivetrain. The interior is in very good condition with a cloth top and tonneau. The engine bay is rough, and I have no intention of restoring it, for which I pay dearly on Funcours day. Although, I have won gold and silver several times. I love that it shows its age in the patina of old parts, the obvious use in the engine bay, and in many other worn parts. This is a survivor car and daily driver with over 400,000 miles on it. Too bad judging has no provision for survivors. It would draw in a lot of folks who are intimidated by the beautifully restored cars.
Bonny and Rob Bowen's 1980 TR8 EFI
We purchased our TR8 (hmm...little car V-8) in 2010 from another club member, the engine was seized but it came with another complete engine. So I figured a quick rebuild and it would be back on the road, then the dreaded “as long as I'm here” set in, 5+ years later the car was returned to the road. Everything in the car was rebuilt, replaced or handled in some way. The car now sports a 3.9l Rover V-8, rebuilt LT77 5 speed transmission and Ford 8” rear end with Mustang 10.5” disc brakes. Front brakes are Wilwood with 11.5” rotors and soon to have 5 lug hubs with larger bearings, and VTO 15”x7” wheels all around. Approximately 2800 TR8s were built and of those only around 400 were with the hybrid Bosch/Lucas fuel injection system which still fuels our car. The TR8 is a great road car and has been all over California, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale and British Columbia. It easily keeps up with traffic or runs away from it.
Wilton (Wil) Jennings’ 1968 TR5
I bought my TR5 in 2020 (just before the COVID shut down) sight unseen, while working for Boeing in Belfast Ireland. The car was in Newark England and all non-essential travel was shut down. Since I couldn’t get my hands on the car, I had TR Enterprises in Mansfield do a rebuild & upgrade of the engine, consisting of polish & port the heads, lighten & balance crank, rods, flywheel, new clutch, manifold and exhaust. The upgrades resulted in 185 BHP with 170 to the wheels! I retuned home before the work was done and thought I would never drive the car in the UK. But a few weeks before shipment, my work asked me to go back to the UK. This time to Sheffield England, which is about 45 minutes from my TR. I drove the car over there for all of 2021. It was this picture (bottom right) that I used to justify buying the car. I just went with a gut feel and bought it. I had owned a TR4 in college, and then a TR4A after I got my first real job. Later on, I bought a one owner ‘74 TR6 which life events forced me to sell. These cars have been in my blood since I was a teenager. I always wanted a TR250 to complete the ownership of 4, 4A, and 250 Michelotti body through the 6. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever own a 5, and this car has not disappointed me.
David Wasco’s 1976 TR6
This is my third Triumph. In High School, I owned a TR3. Notice the photo of me with long hair leaning my white 1961 TR3. I have been into industrial design since an early age, and I was impressed by the Giovanni Michelotti TR4 body design. After trading away my TR3, I missed it and bought a 1968 TR-250, which was a fantastic car and great fun to drive. I would reach the car's top speed of approximately 110+ mph on the Taconic State Parkway. The photo is from 1973, and although it was only 5 years old, it was in cosmetically rough shape because it was a car from the North-East where they salt the roads in wintertime. Flash forward many years, and I did not own a sports car, but a childhood friend from the East Coast mentioned he was looking for a nice rust-free California sports car. I told him I'd keep my eyes open. At the same time, while driving in my hometown, I was stunned to notice the "Java Green" TR6 for sale on a used car lot. When I looked at it for my friend, I fell in love and bought it for myself. That was about 5 years ago, and I've been doing methodical restoration, step by step.
Julius Abellera’s (389,320 miles) ‘72 TR6
Other than James Bond 007 movies, knew nothing of British Iron. Arroyo Grande, California high school senior in 1967, my 1st car, a factory ordered, brand spanking new Chevelle 327 Malibu owned/driven '67-'79. Moved to Seattle, Washington in 1976. A couple years prior to my 30th birthday, went hunting for a 2 seat sports car. The newspaper ad that caught my attention '72 TR6 original owner, clean & sharp $3000. Informed owner I was searching for 30th birthday present to myself, offered $2600 we settled at $2800. Every 6 months for first 3 years of ownership, I'd drive to his business during lunch, park curbside, he'd come out shake hands, do a walk around, we both smile, shake hands & say Thanks. Together we've seen amazing sights, continue to meet fantastic people, experienced great TRIUMPH Moments during our travels to/through 12 western United States & Canada. (Read more from Julius)
Ted Watson’s 1958 Morgan Plus Four,
1956 TR3, 1954 Swallow Doretti, and much, much, more.
My first British car restoration was a 1955 Morgan Plus Four (Triumph powered). I am the editor of the newsletter for our small Victor Valley British Car Club and wrote a two-part article about the Morgan for our newsletter. It is also being published in the Morgan Club's monthly newsletter. Over the past many years, I have owned 8 TR3s, 2 Dorettis, a Triumph Italia, 3 TR4s, 6 Morgans, a 1948 Alvis Saloon, a 1933 Standard Little Nine Saloon, 3 MGAs, a Triumph GT6, 3 Spitfires and an MGB. Not all were running drivable cars. I currently have a 1960 Jaguar MK2 Saloon that I am restoring. It is about 95% complete and the Doretti restoration is also about 95% complete. Owning cars that all have the same engine (Morgan, Triumph TR3, and Doretti) makes it much easier to maintain an inventory of engine parts. I still have one more TR3A that I want to finish restoring for one of my grandsons. I recently gave the 1956 TR3 to one grandson, the Morgan will go to my son, and I want to complete the remaining TR3A for my other grandson. I rebuilt the engine, have a TR6 gearbox, complete interior kit, all new brake system components, new suspension kits, etc. I just need to make the time to finish all the projects so my son, grandsons and I have a chance to enjoy them.
Tom and Candia Crowley’s 1964 TR4
In 2014 my son Cody Crowley purchased a 1969 Triumph Spitfire MK3 and joined the club. I ended up being his passenger going to many meetings and club drives. Several members kept bugging me "Tom, when are you and your wife going to buy a Triumph?" In October 2017, my wife Candia finally let me buy our 1964 Triumph TR4 after Paul Smock gave the car a good bill of health. Paul told me that the car was solid, but the first thing that will go is the water pump. Sure enough, after Cody and I completed the 2018 New Years Drive, the water let go just as we got home. We pushed the car in garage and that was the first of many repairs and upgrades. Later in 2018 I was approached at a car show by a Movie Picture Car agent and asked if I would be willing to use my car in commercials and photo shoots. Since then, the car has been used in a couple of commercials, a music video, a Ralph Lauren photo shoot and it ended up on the cover of TV Guide celebrating the end of the "The Big Bang Theory". These jobs have been really helpful in paying for upkeep on the car. Through this work, I got a great part-time job being a Movie Picture Car Handler. I get to driving some really cool cars on commercial and photo shoots. Now, being retired, I have more time to work on our TR and get it ready for when our grandkids can finally go for a ride with grandma and grandpa.
Steven Lauria’s 1964 TR4
I have wanted a Triumph car ever since the ‘60s when I was a teenager. Vietnam, school, and work intervened. Now I’m 74 and retired. I got my ‘64 TR4 finally and I’m ready to hit the road.
Gary Hunt’s 1975 TR6
This is “Ol Paint”, my one-owner 1975 TR6. I dreamed of this exact car throughout my high school years and wound up buying it new in ’75 when I was a junior in college. So many good times and numerous adventures, car shows, and fun drives, with more than a few mechanical challenges to overcome in the course of 48-years together! I named it “Paint” because my TR is like a horse in one of those old western movies that follows its owner, never questioning why or where, faithfully getting-on-down-the-road in the style that screams Triumph! Its name also reflects that this is an “old” paint original car on the outside, the only item not having been replaced or renovated is the actual engine, with 141,000 miles and counting! It is a highly polished example of dings, dents, and patina. But it still presents itself well for an old vehicle. This car is driven regularly around south Orange County plus a couple of long-distance trips each year for the Cambria Triumph Tour and other outings celebrating its British heritage. Nancy and I enjoy the friendship and comradery that comes with TCSC community and consider Ol Paint as part of our family. With a Triumph TR6, “Memories and dreams are made here!”
Dan Hoon’s 1974 TR6
I acquired my 1974 TR6 in 2005 just before graduating from Ohio State. I was a valet throughout college and became friendly with our regular customers. One of our regulars, Brian, was a car guy and always made time to talk with the valets. One night he shared that his first car was a TR6 and it had been stored for years in his parents garage on Long Island. I told Brian if he ever wanted to sell it, I’d be interested in taking on the project. He paused for a second, then said “if you want the piece of sh*t, pay for the shipping from Long Island and it’s yours!” Sight unseen, I jumped at the opportunity. I was expecting a rust bucket from the east coast but when it arrived in Ohio, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a solid and very original car. By this point I was approaching graduation and had accepted a position in SoCal. I got to work on the TR6, with the help of my grandfather, to get the car running just so it could be stored during my “short stint” in California. For the next seven years, the TR6 found refuge in friends garages before making its way west. Since it arrived in California, I’ve put in a lot of time and money into keeping my “free car” on the road. I’ve struggled with the Maple Brown color, but I’ve grown to love the period correct “doo-doo-brown” color.
Alan Kawaoka’s 1973 TR6
This is my 1973 Triumph TR6. My girlfriend in high school had a 1975 TR6. I always wanted one but could never afford one at the time. So finally in 2005 I found this one. The engine was burning oil and the transmission would pop out of gear. So, I had the engine rebuilt by Britalia of Fullerton and installed a HVDA Toyota 5 speed transmission. I replaced just about every part of this car, from an all-new interior, roll bar, monza exhaust system, panasport rims, new suspension, lowered springs, front and rear sway bars, stayfast top, suffork leather seats, oil cooler, aluminum radiator and more. The list goes on. I will never sell it. It’s a keeper!
Bob Muzio’s 1962 TR4
This is my third TR4. The first, which I acquired in the mid 60's, was the means of transport from Long Island NY to Los Angeles for my new bride and myself. (Here’s a picture of my first TR4, with my soon to be bride, Fran, perched on its bonnet. We were at Bridgehampton Raceway on Long Island, NY for a Can Am race.) After residing in NY my TR started to turn to brown dust and I sold it in the late 60's. Around 1999 I acquired my second (red) TR4 which, unfortunately, was totaled in a traffic accident around 2010. This led to the purchase of this (green) car which has given me many pleasurable miles. You can correctly assume I like the TR4. It has a classic upright sports car look with some modern touches (roll up windows, dash air vents, etc.) but with a certain dependable simplicity that appeals to me. Yes, it's my favorite TR.
Mark Harrison’s 1976 TR6
This is my 1976 TR6 that I purchased on impulse at an auction in 2019. When it arrived, it leaked from everywhere, plus it backfired and sputtered while cold. We started replacing and repairing the seals, brakes, steering etc. Eventually we replaced the original 4-speed transmission, which I still have, with a new 5-speed from Moss Motors. I had the top and bottom of the engine rebuilt, plus finished-up the suspension etc. I own other cars, but this one is the most fun to drive - as you all know. So, although I kind of fell into this Triumph accidentally, I truly love it. As you can see, my TR6 appeared in a Coach “Pay It Forward” Ad Campaign, with no one other than Jennifer Lopez (aka J. Lo). Until then, I had said, “Nobody can sit on my car!” But when J. Lo showed up… I changed my mind.
Jay and Arleen Barton's TR3 (racer) & GT6
We bought the TR3 about 4 years ago. Arleen and I named it Black Beauty. Though I am a lifelong car guy, Black Beauty was my first British car. It was a former race car, so I have been making my own interior for it. We are very lucky that we have such wonderful weather here to allow us to drive a car with no actual windshield or provision for a top, year-round. More recently we bought our second triumph, a GT6, which we named White Lightning. I picked it up as a project during COVID. Arleen and I love all the events and camaraderie of the British car scene in SoCal, and TCSC is the best! We make it to quite a few events throughout the year, but we try to take a drive, in either triumph, at least once every weekend. One of the pictures is from last year when we drove Black Beauty up to Monterey for Car Week. It was a blast with over 900 miles traveled that week.
Carl Miller’s 1962 TR4
The TR4 is a 1962 registered as a 1964. We bought it for me to build with our daughter as a bribe to get better grades in high school. Didn't work. With the seats removed a TR4 makes a great storage bin. Years passed. I'm a Chevy guy so when I decided to really build the car, it came out with a Chevy V8, automatic transmission and a Camaro differential. Since then, I've added TR6 front suspension with coil-over front shocks, power steering, TR6 power brakes and cruise control. In the near future it will sport an aluminum radiator, air conditioning and Le Mans fender vents for better cooling up front and inside. He's been to Julian, Cambria, Parker & Phoenix AZ and many Triumphests. We expect many more of each!
James Krumwiede’s 1972? Spitfire and 1975 TR6
I have owned this Spitfire since 1983. It was originally a 1978 Spitfire 1500, and I drove it daily for 25 years. Many years later, I bought a very used 1972 GT6 with the intention of restoring it but I was unable to find the time. Eventually, I removed the entire GT6 drivetrain, rebuilt it all, and swapped it into the Spitfire. It is still a work in progress, and the next step is to get it re-painted. I obtained the 1975 TR6 from a fellow TCSC club member in 2019. It’s got Miata seats, Toyota 5-speed (HVDA conversion), and 4-pot front brakes. I’ve been driving it as much as possible since purchase. It’s as reliable as "a stone axe”.
Ronald Avery's 1972 MK3 GT6
I picked the GT6 because I owned and loved a 1974 Spitfire from new. I only owned that car for 6 months, because of the lack of reliability. Since then, I have always felt that the GT6 was an unloved car, because, when you go to a British or Triumph car show you only see one of them, or none. I like an underdog, so the GT6 appeals to me. Plus, I feel the GT6 seems to be 6/8th’s of a Jag E-Type, and I have owned a 1965 jaguar E-Type for 21 years. So, I thought it would be fun to own one. I purchased this car off BringATrailer.com in November 2018 and completed a frame-off restoration by July 2019. The drivetrain was rebuilt by Richard Good (to Triumphtune stage 3 specs) who supplied all the engine parts, which included: GP3 cam; larger valves; stiffer valve springs; ported and flowed head; longer push rods; balanced and blue printed; a header; and triple Stromberg carburetors. The BHP is now over 130 BHP. I changed the car’s color from white, to Porsche Silver, and the interior was changed from black to Touro Red. I also added an overdrive, burlwood dashboard, front vented brake rotors, and an aluminum radiator. With gas adjustable shocks, and larger front anti-sway bar, the Triumph GT6 now has a quicker steering too.
Burt and Diane Yale’s 1973 TR6
This is Burt’s second TR6, and he acquired it in 2004. He had his first TR6 in college (note the mid-70’s picture), and owned it between 1974 and 1982, when he traded it for a watch (it was a nice Rolex, BTW). Between1980 and 2004 life happened, marriage, kids, business, etc., but through many cars, he always remembered his TR. This TR6 is named “Trevor” (we name all our cars) is a Mallard Blue, and went through a ground-up restoration. Burt drives it to the office (7-miles) twice a week (providing it’s not too hot or raining). So, Trevor gets his exercise every week. Burt added a hardtop a few years back to entice Diane to ride in Trevor more often. (It’s working, here’s a recent picture heading to dinner for Valentine’s Day, note the hardtop!)