IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: Triumph GT6 Mk.3
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 лип 2021
- Today's video is on the lesser spotted Triumph GT6 Mk3
IDRIVEACLASSIC is sponsored and insured by Adrian Flux - check them out for your insurance quote on the link below: www.adrianflux.co.uk/influenc...
Dolan Classics have many weird and wonderful cars coming up for sale all the time (including this one!) follow them on Instagram:
dolan_classics
The Triumph GT6 was dubbed the poor man’s E Type, but in today’s video, despite it not quite taking my fancy; it is a great little sports car which could do with a little more airtime.
Now whilst the E Type is out of the reach of many, these GT6s are still available for well under 20k, which means you should definitely be looking at these if you’re looking to invest in a 60s 70s sports car.
The GT6 was made from 1966 until 1973 and just like a lot of the memorable Triumphs, was styled by Michelotti.
Early prototypes were based on the Spitfire and Triumph toyed with different ideas including fitting the Vitesse 1600 engine, but the company put investment into the car and it ended up with the 2 litre 6 cylinder engine you see today.
The GT6 on a good day should be producing 95bhp and a top speed of 112mph and the car will do zero to 60 in just a whisker over 10 seconds.
The car was marketed to come up against the MGB and whilst MG loved playing up to mother’s disapproval, Triumph boldly went to market with the streamline ‘the new one, the hot one…it’s not just a fastback it’s THE fastback’.
But here’s the thing, it didn’t quite cut it with reviewers and early buyers, because whilst that styling was absolutely spot on and the 2 litre was turning heads, the rear suspension was borrowed from the twee, tame little Herald.
Now whilst the swing axle was no problem in the more sedate Herald, the GT6 driver wasn’t out for a leisurely cruise and it was quickly apparent that hard cornering resulting in the car breaking away. Totally acceptable for the car and a reputation that has stuck so much, it was the first thing many people mentioned to me when I said I was testing this GT6!
However, Triumph did try to rectify where they’d gone wrong with the MK2 which arrived three years later in 1969. They used double wishbones and then decided to tweak the power with a new cam and head.
Eagle eyed people would of course notice the bumper change, which was applied for the American market safety criteria. You see this on various cars including the MGB and rubber bumper changeover and the Morris minors going from lowlight to highlight.
Although the MK2 took three years to come to market, the mK3 was quick into the ring and arrived in 1970 which saw new rear end styling akin to the MK4 Spitfire, more revisions to the rear suspension and by 1973, a brake servo was added.
Unlike the MGB, The GT6 isn’t one of those classics you see constantly and the car just sort of faded away in 1973 without much fuss. It wasn’t like the sports car market wasn’t there, because the MGB ran until 1980.
As you’ll see on our test drive, there are some bits which I think fall short and there are bits I think far outperform the MGB, but before we go for a drive, let’s meet TJ from Dolan Classics who will be listing this car for sale in the next week or two.
I had one as my daily driver for 20 years. I do agree with your comments but I absolutely loved it. Great little car.
My older brother owned a GT6 in the 70s, he used to scare the life out me, he floored it everywhere we went...
What a wonderful colour. It's a shame that Triumph is out of business - I absolutely love their cars.
In the 70's, I had them all MGB, MGB GT, Spitfire Mk4, and GT6 Mk 3. Loved them all and wish I'd have been able to keep them.
My Dad had one when i was quite young and he had converted it to the 2500 PI engine out of a Triumph Mk1. Complete with the mechanical timed Injection. 150bhp in that little car was quick !.
American actress Nancy Walker owned a brown GT 6. It was the subject of a few interviews in the 1970's. She was very proud of the Triumph.
.... when this car was made, the traffic was slower - your comment on the 'mess-up' of not fitting an overdrive as standard are unwarranted I feel, as a business selling cars you would have to consider the cost v benefit/saleability and it would not have made sense to fit the overdrive as standard 50 years ago - different story for todays fast moving traffic - other than that little bit , an excellent review as ever - good job Steph
I used to love these GT6 when I was a teenager back in the early seventies even though some of the suspension came from a Triumph Herald. It was a stunning looking car and I think it can still turn heads today. Would still love to have one today.. Thanks Steph another great video, thanks for uploading this one...
This car brings back memories.
I can't fault the styling on that at all. Wooden dashboards as well 8-)
I often wondered what the GT6 was like and how it differed from the Spitfire. Great video. Coincidentally I done a jigsaw today for the first time in ages and it has a red Triumph Spitfire in the picture. These cars are from a time when cars were individual and quirky with their own character and charm and not clones of each other. Thank you for the video, take care and stay safe.
I think that you are spot on with your review. I have driven American versions of the Triumphs, MGs, Austin, etc. The side mirror/ wing window interference was not unique to Triumph. As someone nearly a foot taller than yourself, I did find the footwell fell cramped. Loved the torque of theses engines, but always felt Triumph had an edge over the Austin designed motors. We often eliminated the lockout on the overdrive and used it on the upper three gears. Sometimes third is too low, but fourth a bit high. The heater was something we joked about in all British roadsters but Triumph especially. Your feet always seemed overheated year-round, but coats were not optional in Winter, heater or not. I did find, like the Sprite Mk 1 and my Fiat X1/9, that once inside, it is comfortable. I did find the ride more "jaunty" than the MG due to the independent rear suspension, but like the difference between the TR-4, and the TR-4A, once you were accustomed to the quirks, and did not overreact, the handling was excellent. Great job!
My HA Viva did not have the interference issue with the side mirrors owing to there being no side mirrors. Great review. Good to hear you call out the less-desirable points!
Great review Steph. I had one in the late 90s. MkIII, TR6 block making it 2.5litre with uprated carbs. It was quick, hot inside and absolutely fantastic! Fantastic little cars that truly entertain.
Clamshell bonnet! Nice and easy(ish) to work on. Love the styling - I’d have one of these over a Spitfire.
More desirable I reckon and rarer than an MGB. Lovely example and colour.
One of the best sounding 6 cylinder engines ever, in my opinion! 😁
I had two GT6s and enjoyed both of them immensely. The first had a Webasto sunroof which was noisy both open and closed and, when open, buffeted you about something chronic as soon as you went over 50! My second one had aTR6 2.5 litre engine and optional overdrive and that was a real shifter! No sunroof so much quieter than my first car. Loved them both and would have another like a shot.
Hi Steph, I bought my GT6 back in 1987 so got it with a lot less of the original bits missing than most people experience today - plus I have read a lot on Triumphs and driven several GT6s over the years, so:
Well Steph, you got that one spot on. I lusted after one of these many years ago and about 5 years ago set out to buy one. Fab styling externally but the interior disappoints. Great engine but so SMALL both inside and out (and i am a lightweight 5 ft 9inch). Noisy and the optional overdrive is a must. Gearboxes on the ones I tried were all rubbish as they were designed for a Herald i.e. not the same power. After test driving a few I gave up and bought a Sunbeam Alpine SV instead. Now you would be impressed with that!!! I find it sublime.