Description

1973 Triumph GT6 MkIII

Older restoration; reconditioned J-type overdrive gearbox; uprated suspension; many new parts; in regular use

First registered in March 1973, this GT6 MkIII comes with a Heritage Certificate showing that it was built in December 1972. Being a late model MkIII, it has the more reliable non-rotoflex suspension.

Invoices on file show that it was restored in 2002 when it had covered 59,500 miles. This included new floors, wheel arches, sills, cross member, outriggers etc. On the mechanical side it received a new timing chain and tensioner, new crankshaft oil seal, diff pinion oil seals, fast road front suspension springs, new rear shocks and various bushes plus much else besides.
Our vendor acquired the car 10 years ago when it was showing 67,500 miles and he has continued to look after it well. In 2013 at 68,845 miles it was fitted with a reconditioned J-type overdrive gearbox and a new clutch. Other new parts in the current ownership include: new fuel pump; headgasket; decoke set; ball joints; electronic distributor; seat belts; speedo cable; spin-on oil filter; halogen headlight bulbs; alternator; radiator; braided brake hoses; new seat foams and covers. The odometer currently shows 70,700 miles.
While the car looks generally very presentable, the paint on the bonnet is somewhat tired and there are a couple of other areas that could do with attention, as shown in the photos. The underside is very good and has been waxoil treated.

Driven some 50 miles to the sale, the car has an MOT until August 2021 with no advisories recorded (although it is, of course, tax and MOT exempt). The file also contains 15 old MOTs back to 2000 when it had covered 59,168 miles, an owner’s handbook and a spare set of keys.
MODEL HISTORY
Instantly dubbed ‘the poor man’s E-Type’, the wonderful GT6 was styled by Giovanni Michelotti in response to a brief from Triumph to make a GT version of the Spitfire.
So much more than a Spitfire with a hard top, it featured a fastback body that was so aerodynamically efficient it was later copied for the Le Mans Spitfires, and also had the same powerful 2-litre six-cylinder engine as fitted to the Triumph Vitesse. With 105bhp on tap, it could sprint to 60mph in 10 seconds and topped out at 112mph – figures that comfortably trounced the rival MGB.
Launched in 1966, the first cars had the same wayward swing-axle rear suspension as the Spitfire and the Herald but this was ditched in the MkII versions of 1968 for a more conventional reversed lower wishbones set up. The MkIII came out in 1970 with a host of detail improvements which mainly improved crash safety and handling. Only around 41,000 were built in total of which just 13,000 were MkIII models and all are increasingly sought after today.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com