Before MG launched its GT into the market, Triumph had cobbled up a hatchback based on the Spitfire. The new car was heavier than the Spitfire, and its inline four-cylinder labored under the extra weight. The project was shelved – until Triumph sleeved its Standard Vanguard inline six-cylinder into the GT6’s engine bay. Tinkering with internals and intake resulted in 95 hp, enough to make the GT6 feel like a real sports car. This example is for sale here on facebook Marketplace, at a price of $19,700. It’s got a few cosmetic warts, but the engine and four-speed overdrive manual have been rebuilt, and the entire suspension is new. Thanks to T.J. for the great tip!
Here’s that 1998 cc six-cylinder, dressed with a couple of Zenith-Stromberg carbs. A video embedded in the listing shows the engine snorting happily through twin exhausts. Overdrive on the four-speed is a plus. The GT6 managed zero to sixty in about 12 seconds, and a top speed of around 107 mph. Yes, it still has that swing-axle rear suspension, which was changed out for Roto-Flex in the Mk II, and then for swing-spring midway through Mk III production.
A GT6 interior can be impressive once spiffed up, with its generous selection of gauges and switches. The dash pad is cracked here, and the wood inset needs attention. There’s no photo of the seats, so I’m going to assume new upholstery would be on the “to do” list. The headliner is a slightly complicated bit – we don’t know how that’s looking, either. The seller does provide views of the fronts of the floors, and other than heavy surface rust on the driver’s side, the sheet metal is acceptable. Externally, the original paint is worn, and a few dents are scattered across the panels.
Giovanni Michelotti – Triumph’s primary designer – worked with the Spitfire’s body to incorporate the sleek hatchback. In fact, the original coupe – rejected as a road car when fitted with the four-cylinder engine – was viewed as promising enough aerodynamically that Triumph made fiberglass tops mimicking the style for the track. That set the stage for marketing the new car once management settled on the bigger engine. Prospective GT6 buyers face a conundrum: which of the series to buy? The Mk I is designed with the hallmark upright grille of Michelotti’s original sketch; the Mk II gained improved suspension but suffered mandated bumper restrictions, and the Mk III offered further – though slight – mechanical evolution. I prefer the Mk I, but each to his own – what do you think?
Always like these cars. The original Spitfire shape always looked a little weird to me but when they put the top on them to make the GT-6 they hit every design nerve I had. To this day I’m not sure if one drove into my driveway with a for sale sign on it I’d own it in a heart beat.