As summer approaches, a Petrolista’s head turns towards thoughts of top-down motoring. What better way to enjoy the season’s warmth, the scent of air perfumed with blooming flowers wafting through an open cockpit, sweetly-singing birds and burbling exhaust that much more audible through a headliner made of clear blue sky. It’s a much more stimulating and dignified way of getting tan than lying greased-up and full of sand on some crowded beach.
Here we highlight two classic British roadsters that fit the summer fun motoring bill perfectly. Though similar in broad concept, they differ in both era and engine format—the MGA offering perhaps a touch more elegance and sophistication than the more modern, more powerful six-cylinder Triumph.
Hailing from the golden dawn of the popular open-top British sports car, the “A” was MG’s first attempt at what could then be considered a “modern” car, replacing the charming if incredibly antiquated TF. With flowing, graceful lines highlighted in a classic English cream white with contrasting red hides, it’s an undeniably beautiful machine. We’d love to get behind that delicate banjo wheel and flick through the gears on that stubby little wood-topped lever.
From an all-together less refined era comes the suitably brash TR6. With significantly more power on offer from a lovely, rorty, rasping straight-six, the performance it offers is in an entirely different league than the little MGA. This particular 6’s color scheme of deep blue over butterscotch is one of the all-time great combinations, and compliments the car’s strong, masculine lines superbly. Any drive spent behind that burled dashboard with its myriad instruments is our idea of quality time.
Which one floats your boat?
1971 Triumph TR6
Click here for details on this Triumph.
1961 MG MGA 1600 Roadster
