43k Original Miles: 1968 Triumph GT6

Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.

The owner of this 1968 triumph GT6 purchased the vehicle twenty-three years ago. In recent times, it has had little use and has clocked a mere three miles in the last six years. That brings its odometer reading to 42,952 original miles. It presents well as a survivor, with no rust or major issues. Rather than seeing it languish in his garage, the owner has decided that the time is right for it to find a new home. Located in Gilbertville, Massachusetts, you will find the Triumph listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has hit $7,000, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

While Triumph had a hit on its hands with its Spitfire, it saw there was an opportunity to extend its sales reach. It contracted Giovanni Michelotti to develop a GT version of the Spitfire. His vision is essentially what we see today as the GT6, but the prototype was powered by the Triumph four-cylinder engine. Due to the weight increase compared to the Spitfire, Triumph found its performance to be lacking, and shelved the project. It eventually slotted a larger engine under that swooping body, and the result was a car that offered respectable performance. Our feature car wears Royal Blue paint, with a white accent on the nose. The paint holds a good shine and remains presentable for an original survivor. There are no significant flaws or defects, while the panels are straight and free from blemishes. One question that potential buyers may raise is whether this car is rust-free. The owner admits that he replaced the floors many years ago, but this was completed to a high standard. There is no other rust in this car, so the vehicle has no immediate needs. The external trim is in good order, and the wire wheels are in a similar state. The owner admits that the tires may be slightly too large for this car because the fronts rub on full steering lock. They are in good condition, so the buyer may choose to replace them once they have worn out. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be much to do but slip behind the wheel and enjoy this classic.

When we tip the hood forward on this Triumph, we expose the defining feature that delayed the production of the GT6. When the prototype returned to the company from Italy, it featured the Spitfire’s four-cylinder engine that produced 75hp. The additional weight of the fastback body blunted performance significantly and motivated Triumph to scrap the project initially. However, the company looked in its parts bin and eventually realized that they could slot the 1,998cc six-cylinder engine from their Vitesse model into the engine bay. Suddenly, the GT6 didn’t have 75hp at its disposal, but the power had soared to 104hp. That power found its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. This British classic may have had little recent use, but that doesn’t mean that it has been neglected. The owner recently fitted a new master cylinder and slave cylinder for the clutch, a gear reduction starter, and a new solenoid. Spent gases exit the engine via an exhaust system that features Glasspack mufflers, while those larger tires are relatively new. The car requires some starting fluid to coax it to life when cold, but once running, it drives perfectly. That would tend to suggest that the carburetors may benefit from a rebuild, although the situation may settle if the car receives regular use. With 43,000 miles on the clock, this vehicle should have plenty of life left to offer its new owner.

The GT6’s interior presents relatively well for an unrestored survivor. The upholstered surfaces are finished in tan vinyl, and while there is some wear and discoloring, there are no signs of physical damage. The carpet is in good order, as are the dash and wheel. It appears that part of the gas pedal is missing, and some loose wiring is hanging under the dash. With those two items addressed, this interior will present well. In typical Triumph fashion, there are few creature comforts inside the GT6. A heater was standard equipment, but there was no space available to fit a radio. Potential buyers may consider adapting an aftermarket unit to mount under the dash. They might also decide that the tune sung by that sweet little six under the hood is all the music they need.

With the bidding on this 1968 triumph GT6 still below the reserve, that leaves plenty of opportunities for potential buyers to throw their hat into the ring with this classic. It is a car that seems to need nothing and could be driven and enjoyed immediately. We can speculate what the seller’s reserve is, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the bidding hit $15,000 before the hammer falls. It could represent a reasonable bargain if it sells for less than that. If you long for a classic British sports car, this auction might be worth watching closely.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. mike

    Like the white nose treatment.Nice GT6

    Like 7
  2. ClassicCarFan

    Looks like a reasonable starting point… Though the fact that they didn’t take the time to remove the wiper motor from the body before painting it ( you can clearly see the wiper motor covered in blue paint) doesn’t suggest a particularly well cared-for car…

    Like 3
  3. Chris

    I’m in love. The probable divorce after buying this might be worth it. Hmmmmmm…

    Like 5
  4. Cobra Steve

    That is the way the accelerator pedal is supposed to look on these cars. Bare metal.

    Like 6
    • TouringFordor

      Yes

      Like 0
  5. Tompdx

    These are awesome little coupes. I had a ‘67 in college, along with a TR250 project. I was broke, so they shared a starter and battery, once I got the 250 rolling. Wonderful cars both!

    Like 2
  6. fordor

    Nice looking, but the carb tops are mounted 90 degrees off, and those cheap foam air filters need to be thrown away.

    Like 1
    • Tompdx

      True. The carbs can spit fuel on the foam and create a potential fire hazard

      Like 0
  7. bobhess bobhessMember

    Nice car. Bet it would start better if the chokes were hooked up to a choke cable. Also, if you take off the glasspack muffler and the Supertrap on the end of the pipe you’d probably gain 10 to 15 hp. Lot of good flow exhausts available for these cars. No comment on the tires but they’d be the first to go.

    Like 0
    • Bruce Ironmonger

      Yep those tires are particularly off

      Like 0
  8. Cobra Steve

    Having owned eight GT6s in my lifetime and presently owning Mark II in a Mark III, I don’t consider myself an authority. The passion (sickness) begin during my college years. My 1969 part 2 served as my daily driver for my part-time jobs and college. IMHO, the Triumph GT6 was the epitome of a classic British sports car coupe. While I have graduated on to Cobras and Ferraris, I recently acquired another GT6 (the Mark II) which has brought back a flood of wonderful memories.

    Without a doubt LBCs (Little British Cars) deliver the biggest bang for the buck. The nearest experience a younger person could relate to would be the Mazda Miata. Having gained 50 plus pounds since college, I don’t fold like I used to but still manage to get in and out of the GT6 without having to grease the door jambs.

    I wish the seller good luck with his sale and the buyer many fun adventures in the future.

    Like 10
  9. A.G.

    With 43k miles the floors have been replaced but there’s no other rust?

    The white painted wire wheels provide a very nice contrast.

    Like 0
  10. Robt

    Yes.
    This would be a welcomed addition to the fold if I had the space. I’ve always coveted a GT6. Simply a fun little runabout. And as a fast back coupe it just does it for me.
    No restoration needed. Clean it up, tune it up and go find some little roads up in the Catskills to put it through its paces.

    Like 1
    • Robt

      Also, as suggested there is no need for a radio with these. The song of the motor and the road is pure entertainment as you throttle down the road.
      Ahhh ….

      Like 1

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.

Barn Finds