1971 Triumph GT6

Fully rebuilt in 2022. Including, we are told, a body-off respray and engine rebuild, this 1971 Triumph GT6 MK3 shows just 80,219 on the odometer, a reading to which the seller has added barely 150 miles since buying it at the end of last year.

Finished in red (it left the factory painted Saffron Yellow) with a black vinyl interior, the seller has reluctantly concluded he simply doesn’t have the time to get the project completed to the standard it deserves.

This means that ‘SWH 55J’ is available for someone looking for an easy winter project ahead of next year’s show season.

The fresh paintwork looks terrific, doesn’t it? It’s got a helluva shine to it too, something the well-aligned, straight panels show off to perfection. Clearly applied with a great deal of skill and attention to detail, we can’t see anything here for the new owner to do other than to continue to lavish it with love and the odd coat of polish.

We are told new badges were fitted after the respray along with a halogen headlamp conversion. It also wears some lovely black and silver numberplates, and the front bumper overriders are a deep, glossy black.

It is, as you can see, splendid.

It sports very good steel wheels – complete with chrome trims - for extra style points and further good news comes with the fact they’re fitted with a matching set of Firestone Multihawk tyres, all of which still have plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, the glass of the offside rear side window is a bit scuffed. It’s minor but the seller is an honest chap and is keen to make potential bidders aware that it would probably need to be replaced if they wanted to show the car.

In the same vein, while the chromework is acceptable the paintwork is so good we can see the new owner will eventually want to replace or re-chrome it to bring it up to the same standard.

The door locks are also a bit temperamental.

The GT6’s interior offers the new owner the scope and freedom to finish it to his or her own specification. Not that’s it’s in a terrible condition, it’s just the restoration has focussed on the Triumph’s mechanics and bodywork rather than the cabin’s cosmetics.

That said, the rebuild did include fitting a new headlining (and heater vents), so the hardest job is behind you. This leaves you free to do the simple stuff, stuff like cleaning and refurbishing, maybe ordering a few new bits and bobs, and then bolting it all back together.

There’s no hurry though because it is still useable. Then seats are decent, with only a rip to the base of the driver’s seat, so they could probably be reused after being refurbished.

The steering wheel, instruments, and dashboard are in good shape, as are the door cards. That’s even more money saved.

The top of the dashboard is cracked and could do with being replaced though, the trim panels under the dashboard need sorting out, and the gear knob has seen better days.

In summary, the interior is nice but could do with being tidied up to enable to GT6 to fulfil its potential but, let’s face it, this is a welcome excuse to spend time in the garage with the heater on and a glass of something reviving close at hand, isn’t it?

Apart from the usual seals, gaskets, and bushes common to every restoration, the rebuild in 2022 included:

• Steering rack mounts
• Temp gauge
• Flasher unit
• Thermostat housing

There are plenty of receipts for this work in addition some photos of the bodywork, etc.

Since owning it, the seller has commissioned some work to the rear suspension, fixing a sheared bolt and having new rear dampers fitted: “it drives great now!” he enthused.

He also had the car looked over by Dennis Vessey & Co., whose work included:

• A vehicle check including a compression test
• Overhauling the carburettors
• Fitting a Luminition ignition kit
• Replacing the spark plugs
• Setting the valve clearances
• Fixing the exhaust mountings
• Tuning the engine on a rolling road
• Replacing the fuel pipes
• Removing the gearbox top cover to repair fixings

The seller has also fitted the following himself:

• Alternator
• Fan belt
• Water pump with fresh coolant and a new radiator cap
• Indicator switch
• Clutch master and slave cylinder
• K+N air filters
• Battery
• Engine mounts

As you can see, it also starts and revs very well and the seller tells us that he has “never had any trouble out on the road” with it and that it is “fantastic” to drive.

That huge, forward-hinging bonnet gives great access to the straight-six engine, so there’s no excuse for anything less than a well-presented engine bay – which is exactly what you get; everything is nicely ordered and clean and only the most fastidious of owners would feel the need to tidy it much further.

The underside looks good, with plenty of evidence of recent expenditure.

It also comes with a breathable, waterproof car cover that set the owner back £200.

The GT6 doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the change of colour from Saffron Yellow to red.

Cars like the Triumph GT6 offer a beguiling combination of semi-vintage handling allayed to above average performance thanks to that lusty straight-six engine.

Nicely run-in after its after its recent restoration, there are a few jobs here to keep the tinkerer happy – but not so many that you’re going to feel overwhelmed.

With all the hard work done, the cabin is the only area that cries out for attention – and the interior tends to be the cheapest and easiest and most satisfying job of them all.

Which brings us to its value. The seller has sufficient confidence in his GT6 to offer it with no reserve, trusting to the market to value it accurately and fairly.

So, play nicely, eh?

We estimate this car will reach anywhere between £12,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.