Description

1974 Triumph GT6 MkIII

Recent nut-and-bolt restoration with various modern upgrades; over £18,500 spent on parts alone; overdrive

Instantly dubbed ‘the poor man’s E-Type’, the GT6 was styled by Giovanni Michelotti in response to a brief from Triumph to make a GT version of the Spitfire.
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 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 before production came to an end in 1973, of which just 13,000 were MkIII models and all are increasingly sought after today.
First registered in April 1974, this last-of-the-line GT6 MkIII benefits from all of the upgrades made to the model throughout its life and also has the optional desirable 4-speed overdrive gearbox. It had five owners before our vendor acquired it in early 2017 and immediately set about an extensive restoration which has only recently been completed with invoices for parts alone amounting to over £18,500.
The work carried out is far too extensive to list in full here but highlights include: bodywork restored with various new panels; new bumpers; new windscreen; new door and boot rubbers; new door mirrors; new headlights with daylight running inset; high level brake lights; stainless steel sill tread plates; carbs rebuilt; brakes, steering and suspension fully rebuilt with many new parts; timing chain and sprockets replaced; new fuel lines and pump; waterless coolant; electric cooling fan; electronic ignition; high torque starter motor; Mota-Lita steering wheel; new seat foams and seat covers; new door panels; new carpets; stainless steel exhaust; inertia reel seat belts; alloy wheels with new Pirelli tyres plus much else besides. Basically every pipe, hose, nut and bolt on the car has been renewed or refurbished as required and it even has a reversing camera fitted!
All that really lets the side down is the Magenta paintwork which is rather more silk than gloss in finish. Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with good 60psi oil pressure, it also has an MOT until May 2022 with no advisories recorded.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com