1973 Triumph GT6 MkIII

In the care of the vendor for the past year and a half, if this wonderful Triumph GT6 looks familiar it’s because he bought it from us and has spent the intervening time investing a significant sum to bring it to the condition you see today.

Built in November 1972 and first registered by LF Dove of Woking in February 1973, the Heritage Trust certificate shows that it left the factory finished in the slightly lighter shade of Emerald Green rather than the British Racing Green it now wears. Fully Waxoyl’d, the areas under the wings have also been sprayed with glass-reinforced paint rather than underseal, a combination that protects the metalwork as well as it displays it.

But, please don’t think this is nothing but a trailer queen because nothing could be further from the truth because it’s also been fitted with £4,500-worth of Frontline Developments five-speed gearbox. The cylinder head was overhauled in October 2020 by T&L Engineering too, which means it starts and runs beautifully while also driving better than anything that ever came out of the factory in period.

Only being sold because he’s decided he’d quite like to run a convertible next, it is being offered with a very sensible guide price and an even more reasonable reserve, making this is your chance to get your hands on a beautifully prepared Triumph GT6 in time for the coming summer season.

The British Racing Green coachwork looks sensational. Almost like a mini Bullitt Mustang, the combination of body coloured steel wheels and that fastback shape works wonderfully – and the rear view is especially impressive thanks to the glorious twin exhaust pipes.

It all hangs together very well as well with tight shutlines and above-average panel alignment. An almost complete absence of any kind of wear too, with only the lightest of stonechips marring the finish. Mind you, given the owner is so meticulous that he had the whole roof stripped back to bare metal and then resprayed because of a few dust marks in the finish, that’s not a surprise, is it?

What little chrome there is is also excellent, as are the painted steel wheels. The 165/70R13 tyres, which were fitted in 2018, are matching Michelin Energy and all have plenty of tread left on them.

As we will never tire of explaining, our 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.

Other joyous details include the vents in the C-pillars, the black and silver numberplates, a delightful chrome fuel filler cap, a brand-new windscreen, and a period-style metal RAC badge.

Work to do is minimal. There is some unevenness to the finish in a few places (slides #22, #24 and #78 show the sort of thing we mean) plus a small paint run (#64) but these could probably be flatted and polished down, minimizing the flaws without the need for any further fresh paint.

The cloth seats were reupholstered in 2006 with new covers and squabs and they still present well, even after all this time. Plenty of other bits and pieces have also been replaced over the years including the headlining, door cards, centre armrest, sun visors and carpets.

As you might have noticed from the Heritage Certificate, the GT6 left the factory fitted with the optional rear seats, which fold forward to give a large flat area to stow additional luggage when you aren’t carrying passengers back there.

The Mountney leather-clad 3-spoke steering wheel might not be original but it is of the period and fits very well with the GT6’s character; it certainly gives better access to the ignition key than the original, thanks to Triumph’s decision to locate down low between your knees …

Similarly, while the aftermarket glass sunroof might not suit the purists it lets some much-needed daylight into what might otherwise have been a bit of a gloomy cabin.

Lifting the carpets in both the cockpit and the boot shows solid metalwork underneath, which potential bidders should find reassuring given the propensity of British cars of the period to revert to their chemical components with alarming alacrity.

Flaws that are likely to need your attention are few. Some areas of the walnut dashboard have started to crack (#10 and #186) and there is a small hole in the driver’s seat (#9) but these could be sorted as and when money and motivation collide as none of it detracts from the GT6’s ambience.

Fully refurbished in around 2006/07, the GT6 has been steadily improved and upgraded ever since including a recent short-shift, close-ratio, five-speed gearbox conversion and clutch by Frontline Developments of Abingdon at a cost of well over £4,500.

The result is a huge improvement over the original, although the GT6 does come with the complete original gearbox and overdrive unit, complete with solenoid gearstick and overdrive, in the event the new owner values originality over drivability.

The cylinder head was completely overhauled with new unleaded valves and seats plus new valve liners by T&L Engineering last October. It also had a reconditioned differential in 2019 (#351) plus recent rear springs, a replacement radiator, a spin-on oil filter conversion, and a louder horn.

It also benefits from a new steering rack plus track rod ends and ball joints, Polybushed suspension, new water and fuel pumps, plus new rear hub bearings and seals as part of the rear-end rebuild the vendor undertook shortly after buying it.

It also has a complete stainless-steel sports exhaust.

Serviced at 36,552 miles in July 2019 (slide #349 shows the parts used while #347 shows the labour) it starts, runs, and drives as it should with a wonderful rasp from the twin sports exhaust system. Please take the time to listen to the video to hear it for yourselves.

The engine bay is neat and tidily presented without being obsessively so, and the underside is gorgeous thanks to that protective coat of glass-reinforced paint in the wheelarches, something which backs up the undersealed floorpans.

The GT6’s MOT certificate, which is valid until March 2022, was gained without a single advisory point. Not that that’s a surprise by now, is it?

It also comes with plenty of paperwork dating back to the 1980s plus a handbook, a British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate an awful lot of receipts and invoices for more recent work.

It also has a photo album detailing its restoration and this forms an important part of this car’s impressive provenance.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored, improved, and maintained to a very good standard.

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.

And this is a very good example of the breed. Smart enough to be able to rock up at your local classic car show with nothing more than a quick wash, it also drives brilliantly and sounds wonderful – and let’s face it, with cars like this the noise it makes is at least as important as how fast it goes, isn’t it?

With a guide price of somewhere between £11,500 and £18,000 it’s not even going to cost you very much, and given how well thought of the GT6 is, it should hold its value pretty well, too.

Inspection is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.