Which is your favorite version of Triumph’s GT6? The early cars with their upright grilles, direct from Michelotti’s pen? The second series, its suspension reformed to tame the swing-axle? Or the Mk III’s modernized sheet metal and roomier cabin? Today’s offering is a GT6+ (Mk II), listed here on eBay and bid to $1775, reserve not met. This car is located in Ventura, California, and it’s had miles of experience carving up Mulholland Drive. It still runs and drives, but needs TLC, mostly in the cosmetics department. Is this car too cheap at the current price? Let’s find out.
In the beginning, the GT6 was fitted with a 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder – an engine that, until then, had only been used to propel the Triumph 2000 and Standard Vanguard saloons. The 2.0-liter was a far better solution than the Spitfire’s four-cylinder – which was tried to no good effect in the GT6 prototype – and a notch above the Vitesse’s smaller 1596 cc six-cylinder – also available off the shelf. At first, output was about 94 hp, later creeping up to 104 thanks to a revised cylinder head, cam, and manifolds. For the US, the cars were delivered wearing Zenith-Stromberg carbs, but these can be changed out for better-breathing SUs. The seller notes that this engine feels tired, so a rebuild might be in store (you can change out the carbs then!) A four-speed manual gearbox was standard; overdrive was optional. This car has an overdrive unit, but it isn’t deployed. The suspension has been improved here, and the clutch is “nearly new.” The wheels are apparently American Racing four-spoke alloys, my absolute favorite wheel in the world – though the tires are old.
The photos don’t do the interior justice – Triumph did come up with a pretty neat arrangement. The coating on the wood dash was toned down from the first iteration of the GT6, to prevent glare. This steering wheel is an aftermarket item, and the rest of the cabin needs freshening. The seller does have a refurbished Blaupunkt radio, new carpet, and other interior parts to sell with the car.
And now we land on the negative side of the ledger – footwell rust, for one thing. The seller also notes that the car has an aftermarket sunroof missing its fittings. The GT6 series has increased in price as collectors begin to appreciate this Triumph’s decent performance and pretty appearance, but it’s still difficult to fit rust repair into a budget here. And if you want a stock roof – well, yikes.
The seller notes that this car has seen several color changes over the years, from what he believes was white with a tan interior to the current combination. No one cares much about cosmetic originality when it comes to these cars, so the new owner can rip this car apart and go with any stock color for the year without putting a ding on its value. Or: you can buy a really nice GT6+ for around $20k and skip the restoration process entirely. What would you do?
These are really neat cars. Good looks, good running gear, and most times good prices. Not knowing the real extent of the rust would set me back a bit. Agree on the wheels Michelle. I’ve got 7 original ’70s American Libres that are going on our vintage race car we are just completing. Car is going to be yellow with green graphics to match the wheels.
I bought a set of “destination unknown” Libras at a swap meet. I had no idea what they would fit – neither did the vendor – or whether I would ever own that car. They hung around looking pretty for years and someone finally told me well, I think those are Datsun, as in 2000-ish. I didn’t have a Datsun 2000 so I sold them. Now I have a Datsun 2000. I’ll never find them again, I’m sure.
Good replicas of the wheels are available.
I’m currently driving my second frame-off restored GT6. If the floor pan rust in the photo is the worst of it, this car would be a great project. Totally fun cars to drive and upgrade but be warned there are other areas that attract rust too. Parts are 100% available.
I definitely like the look of the coupes over the ‘verts. A 2.0l straight six must have the potential for super high revs.
Also lovingly known as “The oven”
I’ve owned dozens of Triumphs, but only one GT6. Not a car for warm climates.
Don’t know why the carb tops would be rotated 90 degrees off? Since they are, one would be advised to look for “other” item that are incorrect
Love these GT6’s. In fact my neighbor had one in the 90’s that got me hooked on Triumphs. Never did get a GT6 but several TR6’s thanks to Jeff
Presently own Mk II & Mk III GT6 cars, and am in the process of building a Spit 6 (GT6 convertible). These cars are a blast to drive and are presently “flying under the radar” at the moment. Let us hope the clowns (posers/investors/opportunists) who don’t know the difference between a torque wrench and a crescent wrench do not start buying up these wonderful machines and ruin our hobby by pricing the average Joe/JoAnn out of the market!
Just as a level set… at this point in time – some 50+ years after the very last new one arrived on these shores – ALL Triumph GT6s are “running projects”… and occasionally they achieve the status of “non-running project”. I know this, I own one, a Mk3. And I can assure everyone that there is never a time when something doesn’t have to be fiddled with. It may be just a minor but annoying thing like a dome light that decides not to… or it could be something more significant like a transmission that decides it doesn’t want to be one anymore… at a most inopportune moment… but it will always be something… and I love it.
I had a ’67, BRG, black interior, back in college. Really fun car, but it was a 20-footer at best. I traded my near perfect ’59 MGA for it. The dealer gave me $1200 plus the GT6. What can I say … I needed the cash!
‘Always love it when Michelle writes up a British car. It’s always refreshing to read somebody who knows WHAT to write as well as HOW to write it. I am reminded of Peter Egan.
What would I do? I’d buy the restoration candidate and take my usual five-to-seven years to do the restoration. Why? No doubt I will go underwater. But it’s a form of installment purchasing – interest-free at that – but substituting sweat-equity for interest. It does spread the cost out over those several years. And if you love the work, as I do, the restoration is just one more of the pleasures derived from ownership. And when you’re done, you know exactly what you have. I wouldn’t have it any other way – even if I could afford to write that $20,000 check all at once.
Wow, thanks for the compliment! Peter Egan is one of my favorites.
Your approach to this GT6 is my typical path, too – take your time, pay-as-you-go, do what you can yourself.
When these were new they held the track record for their class at Mid-Ohio.
Those look like 13×7 Libra wheels. Great period correct wheels!
The wheels appear to be American Racing “Libre” but the writeup says Group 44 Magnesium wheels. If they are, the wheels alone are worth $1500-$5000! Always liked the GT6+
This garage has all the toys!
It’s still at $1,994 (10 bids) with about 5 hours to go, guess there aren’t enough people interested in a halfway-decent GT6 project.
This seems a very manageable and affordable restoration even with a possible new floor pan and engine refresh. I personally live this older body style but would prefer the newer rear axle. Which probably could be done too.
I would weld the aftermarket sunroof hole, paint it British racing green and put stock steelies with dog dish hubcaps on it.
Hmmm… $1994 and reserve not met… wish this wasn’t way over on the other side of the country… or maybe it’s a good thing its way over on the other side of the country ;-)