Thinking about getting a Triumph GT6

[graveshaker]

All the cars pictured are beautiful. I would love to own one. What's the price range on these?

[Wishno87]

Kind of hard to say because there are not many out there but there was one somewhat near me in decent condition for 3.5 recently and one on eBay for around 7 right now but projects can be had for 2k or less. It's been looking like prices have started to climb recently though so I'm hoping to get my hands on one in the next couple months. I have been searching CL in every major city in the US for a few weeks now and at any given time there might be 2 or 3 for sale.

[ELVA164]

Wow, talk about British car hate. My first car was a half-'74, half-'80 Spitfire 1500 I built through middle and part of high school. Because I paid attention building it and took good care of it, I was able to drive it every day for more than 3 years with no major issues. The GT6 Mk3 is even better because the inline 6 is both torquier and better-built than the four (the later BL cars were literally thrown together with parts they had left over.) Additionally, getting rid of the downright scary swing axle is a huge improvement. The car is very simple, extremely easy to work on (especially for a British car), and a huge amount of fun. Even though my E30 is faster, roomier, and more utilitarian than my old Spitfire, there is no way it could make me feel the way a little British sports car does.

Looking forward to pics!

Edit: NitroRustler, the first car I ever shifted was a blue split-bumper BGT like yours!

[tim88325is]

Dang, now I feel bad for hatin' on my family TR2.

Yeah, the older British stuff is fun, they kinda always need a little tinkering or adjustment but that is part of the enjoyment.

I think the electrical issues are a bit overblown, the Lucas stuff is really not any worse than any other similar era car.

I would try to get the cleanest shell and frame you can, all other parts are easily found...

http://www.spitbits.com/

[graveshaker]

I can't stop looking at these triumphs. I'm reading more about them and just may pursue one. I'm a huge fan of quirky cars and these are just gorgeous.

[ELVA164]

Im my opinion, the Spitfire (and the GT6 although it's more of a "tourer") is the best choice of all the comparable small British sports cars. It's a bit larger and more reasonably-proportioned than the MG Midget/Austin Healey sprite, the early 1300cc engines in the Mk1-Mk4 are very rev-happy and can be pretty effectively tuned, the later 1500cc engine has enough torque to be fun but only if you add a cam/dual SU carbs/Webers, the looks are much more impressive than the MG counterparts in my opinion, and they sound GREAT with a Monza exhaust!


Only downside is you'll get more middle-aged dudes asking about the car than hot chicks... :(

[Wishno87]

Thanks for the insightful input guys! I haven't even gotten a chance to go look at one yet because they are so scarce but I'm hoping to find one for weekend DD/occasional autox. Finding a clean unmolested example may take a while though but I'm not in much of a hurry. Anyone know what kind of aftermarket suspension parts are available for these cars? I browsed spitbits for a while but it seems to be mostly original replacement parts.

[Jorgen]

I had a 69 Spit for a few years. Only drove it a few times but it was a fun little toy. The added power in a GT6 should make that a really fun little ride to play with.

I'm considering a 73 Jensen Healey that is forsale local now, the silly brits are fun cars to tinker with.

[tim88325is]

Performance stuff...

http://www.tsimportedautomotive.com/spitfire_gt6.html

and check out this...

http://classicmotorsports.net/project-cars/1969-triumph-group-44-gt6/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D66G6vc0AoU

[LateFan]

Nice noise. TR250. Michelotti design, mostly TR6 with a different nose.



(note - NOT high quality, and it doesn't start until halfway thru!)

[ainadude]

Have always lusted after the Mk. 3 -- great, timeless lines and actually a car you can use every day (if you keep up on maintenance). One point: although they look similar, a Spitfire and a GT6 drive very differently. Both are pretty lightweight. However, the heavier engine drastically changes the front/rear bias in the GT6, making it more of a tourer than a nimble sports car like the Spitfire.

And neither one is remotely quick or fast by today's standards. However, they do ooze charm and you're not apt to see another one very often.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

[Ray Smoodiver]

You know what to do.

[Wishno87]

MK1 66-68



MK2 68-70




MK3 70-73

[Hooffenstein HD]

The MK1 GT6 is one of the best looking cars of all time. With an aluminium block M52B28 and some upgraded suspension it would be the ultimate. Maybe even run the M52 on 6 bike carbs, or triple DCOE webers for more of a period correct induction noise.

[E30SPDFRK]

Look for one from a dry area of the country. The main problem with Lucas stuff is that there is no weather-proofing on any of it. If you get one from a wet region be prepared to be fixing a lot of wiring. The rest of the car wasn't very well weather-proofed either, you can find spots in the wheel wells where they completely missed when spraying the undercoat.

The engines are pretty strong and reliable, transmissions like to leak, all of the rubber will be dead by now if it hasn't been replaced yet, etc. Same thing as all cars, save up till you can afford the nicest example.