I’m not normally a Triumph guy, but I love the look and feel of this MKII GT6+ coupe. The GT6+ was an answer to the first generation’s awful handling reputation, due to an archaic suspension system not well matched to the hardtop coupe. This one looks well-sorted and listed for sale with a seemingly knowledgeable seller. Find it here on craigslist in Austin for $9K, and be sure to go here if the ad disappears.
I love the earlier GT6s with the prominent tail lights and huge gas cap on the rear panel – they just seem so much more old-school that way. The body on this GT6 looks quite tidy, and the seller says there is no rust. Featuring the more desirable / predictable Rotoflex rear suspension, this example should provide decent handling with good performance thanks to 104 b.h.p. and a 0-60 time of about ten seconds flat.
The seller says the interior is where the most work is needed, but it’s far from the worst we’ve seen. The description says it will need new carpets and dash pieces as well as some new control arm bushings. The seller claims he is a mechanic and has done all other work himself, which includes: “New master cylinder, calipers and rear wheel cylinders and all lines. New clutch with both master and slave cylinder replaced. Carburetors completely rebuilt including new throttle shaft seals and tuned perfectly.”
While the later GT6s were more aerodynamic and achieved a higher top speed, I just love the details on these MKIIs. The MKIII seems boring by comparison, and this one, sitting on steel wheels with those bugeye taillights, has all sorts of character. The selling price isn’t cheap, but finding one that’s been sorted and is rust-free is a much bigger priority than saving a buck. Thanks to Barn Finds reader notpurple for the find.
It looks like such a fun little toy to tinker with on a Saturday afternoon, but paying that much for it would kinda ruin the fun factor for me. Maybe there worth that now. ..
I had one exactly like this one. My first Triumph. Like driving an oven, even with normal engine temperature.
Neat car, but $9g’s cool? A C3 Corvette could be had for half that, apparently. It’s still a Spitfire on steroids. When I had my MGB, a co-worker had a Mklll, it was a neat car. Like the MGBGT, the fixed fastback really made it seem like a bigger car. You’d think a 6 cylinder would have eaten my MG for lunch, but in a drag race we were dead even. It handled a bit better, but front heavy, and he spun it out a couple of times. No O/D, they holler on the highway, not the best road car. Didn’t see many GT6’s, like 10 Spitfires for every GT6. I always wondered why?
i always wondered why they didn’t put a Webasto over your head to help w/oven bake syndrome. 104 hp seems too low for a six w/twin carbs-hs4’s? torque is probably a bit higher.
I had one of those. I bought it as my second Triumph after driving my TR4 in the rain and my wipers started wiping the hood and I rear ended a Chevy II.
I saw one of these at The Bonneville Speed Week. The engine had been replaced with a Hayabusa motorcycle motor, and when my wife asked (with no irony or sarcasm) where the nitrous was the car owner pointed it out! I bet this car was a little more exciting than when it rolled off the production line.
Love these little coupes , how about a 215 GM or Rover V-8 then silver paint and a deep red interior ..
There’s a website dedicated to that. British V8.org I believe.
These of course won their classes in the SCCA runoffs indicating they can go and hold together, the later suspension at rear ended the outside wheel lift–like many other of our toys Of course, it can sound and look like a smaller XKE and is MUCH easier to maintain!
I have one.
I always said my GT6 was the most reliable, unreliable car I ever owned. It broke all the time but I could always Macgyver it in a matter of minutes. I’m sure it was a result of my college-kid budget. They were actually very simple and sturdy little cars to work on. I scored a factory competition manual from a local Scotsman I use to buy parts from. It showed how to modify stock parts for racing, engine, suspension, electrical, etc. I still have it somewhere.
We have its brother? the Triumph Vitesse same rotoflex chassis and engine but a four seater convertible – the closest Barn finds has come to featuring a Triumph Vitesse is the bond that used vitesse parts. Ours is the Mk2
I was in my early 20’s (69 now) & I bought one of these not running..I lived in N.Y.C. @ the time & I gave up trying to get it running.(timing was off) & sold it to a guy who said he know about these..I warned him to be careful..The whole front end of these raise up to get to the engine..The guy sat on one of the tires trying to get it running, when those 2 side draft carbs spit out liquid gas on fire & caught the guy in the chest..he was severely burned..careful tuning these things.
My brother had one , he spent every weekend “tinkering” on it just so he could be able to get to work I do remember him bowering the family car, a dependable 68 ford fairlane, lol. But as a kid that was a cool car! Funny they seemed bigger as a kid also!
I also drove one in my youth. Just a used car then, and rusty, but always ran. Agreed, always needed tinkering, but never stranded me, and mine was far from a nice example.
That six really sounded awesome, and had ok power. They were nose heavy, but there are lots of options to clean up handling and improve power. GT6 prices have been on a steady rise the last 5 years. If no hidden rust issues here, this could be a good deal.
i actually drove this thing and its in great shape mechanically. also it really has no rust…. not even the battery box is rusty. it drove great.