Thinking about getting a Triumph GT6

[flyboyx]

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/

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.

i've had my share of british sports cars back before i started buying bmws. i really have to say that from my experience anything that has the name lucas electric associated with it is crap. actually, its probably much worse than crap. i still have a few tr7s and tr8's parked in my dads barn in michigan. i really need to sell them because since i fell in love with e30's i will never go back.

don't get me wrong, i love british styling from that era (60's, 70's, 80's) early tr's, mg's, and the jags. these cars are so flimsy compared to an e30 chassis. actually they seem fragile to me. almost like as being made from aluminum foil. getting back to the electrical issues, all the connectors are made so cheap and chintzy. they break/corrode or just generally seem to have ornery days where cooperation is impossible. if the starter/alternator gets some water in it, it will be all corroded to the point it doesn't work in very short order. interiors were always an issue too. everything just seems to be made so cheaply on these cars. seems like a strong wind will make it turn to dust right there on the street leaving your ass to drag across the ground...

had i never had/owned e30's to make a comparison, these concepts probably would have never occurred to me.

don't get me wrong, i am not trying to talk you out of the car. just know what you are getting in to.

[tim88325is]

I would agree in a daily driver situation the British bullet connectors can easily corrode in the elements. In a nice weather driver it is bit less of an issue once you clean and lube everything. I haven't had an problems in a few seasons of driving, not even a burnt out bulb. These cars probably worked fine new for the first few years and then took a nosedive after a few seasons of snow and rain.

Yeah, the older stuff needs so much maintenance compared to new cars. I mean the TRs have like 23 zerk fitting for a grease gun, the need to hand adjust the brakes shoes, lube the generator, etc. Since these cars aren't usually daily drivers it becomes less of an issue but can be off-putting to people used the relative ease of new cars.

Although there is a certain enjoyment in motoring along in a British or any older car, they really are from a different era.

Check this out....

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/soccer-moms-revenge/

[einhander]

Why don't you just set fire to a pile of money?

British sports cars are great to look at, but useless for pretty much anything else.

Get yourself a muscle car - you can use them!

[AndrewBird]

I've never had a single problem with my Lucas electronics, FYI. Maintenance is key. Keep contacts clean and dry and you won't have a problem.

[ELVA164]

Why don't you just set fire to a pile of money?

British sports cars are great to look at, but useless for pretty much anything else.

Get yourself a muscle car - you can use them!

You are obviously not the target audience.

I've never had a single problem with my Lucas electronics, FYI. Maintenance is key. Keep contacts clean and dry and you won't have a problem.

This exactly. Like I said before, I daily drove my Spitfire for about three years, winters and all, and never had a single breakdown. They require more attention than an E30 or a "set it and forget it" Japanese car, but as long as you learn what to check and keep up with it, it'll be a reliable as anything else.

[LJ851]

This exactly. Like I said before, I daily drove my Spitfire for about three years, winters and all, and never had a single breakdown. They require more attention than an E30 or a "set it and forget it" Japanese car, but as long as you learn what to check and keep up with it, it'll be a reliable as anything else.

Truth.

Also, whatever you do, don't let the smoke out of the wires !

[Wh33lhop]

Consult user "irish44j"

[Wishno87]

So basically keep it garaged and avoid driving in the rain? The e30 is still my DD so I should be able to pick and choose when I drive it. How do the gearboxes feel in these cars?

[flyboyx]

its really easy to strip the syncros with a mis shift or two. they weren't built for racing. all if my tr's were purchased with bad tranny's except for one.

[ColinD]

I have a 1970 Triumph GT6 "plus" which I have owned since 1993. I find the Michelotti design to be quite beautiful (the GT6 has been called "the poor man's E-Type"). My car sees mostly summer time use going to shows, local Triumph club events and autocross.
Definitely not fast by modern standards, but entertaining to drive at about 2000 lbs with about 100hp.

The Mk I GT6 had the notorious swing axle set up, but the MK II from mid 1968 (known as the GT6 "plus" in the US) did have the better wishbone rear suspension which continued into the MK III. The downside is the rubber coupling in each halfshaft known as the "Rotoflex" which can wear out very quickly due to low quality replacements available today. There are CV joint axle kits available now, but not cheap.

My car is lightly modified - lowered suspension with Koni shocks, SS sport exhaust, pertronix electronic ignition, K&N air filters, Moto Lita steering wheel and 13" Panasport wheels for autocross.

If you are much above 6 ft tall you might want to try to sit in a GT6 before you buy one.
Also, they get quite toasty inside in hot weather! Good luck with your search.

[ColinD]

Photos of my 1970 Triumph GT6 "plus" and my DD 1986 325es

[ELVA164]

Ugh, every time I come in here I miss LBCs....OP, you can drive the car in the rain if you want. If you're worried about rust that's fair, but especially the later cars are perfectly usable.