Description

1973 Triumph GT6

Pretty coupe in storage and unused for many years; same family owner from new; new brake master cylinder - ready for some gentle recommissioning and use

Dating from May 1973, this late model Triumph GT6 MkIII comes from the final year of production, being among the most ‘sorted’ of the GT6 lineage and is finished in orange and sits upon its original steel wheels.

Under the long, sculpted bonnet we find the 2.0-litre straight-six engine found in all GT6’s, which itself comes from the Vitesse, developing here as a MkIII approx 104bhp. It drives the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission (over drive was optional) which, in the MkIII helped it dash to sixty in 10 seconds and onto a top speed of 112mph, comfortably ahead of its main rival, the MGB GT.

Inside, we find black cloth seats which appear to have worn well with wood dash, manual windows and radio cassette player.  The car shows just 28,795 miles which may, or may not be correct – the history file includes 20+ old MOTs dating back to 1994 at 18,843 miles - the mileage is believed to be genuine.

Our vendor was gifted the car for his 21st birthday in June 2000 by his grand parents who bought the car new, ownership transferring to him in 2000 from his father who had taken title in 1994 (the car has resided with his parents in Hereford for the last decade because our now vendor lives and resides in the USA).  The car has therefore seen very little usage in the last 15 years covering only 100 miles or so in this time, coming out for an MOT most years until 2018 (two advisories for brake pipe covered in grease/other) since when it has remained in storage.

The history file includes the current V5C, numerous old V5C’s and older style log books, the earliest of which states just three former keepers prior to our vendor’s father’s ownership. In addition to these and the 20+ MOTs, we also find a selection of accompanying bills dating back a number of years for the annual MOT and minor remediation works relating to the MOT which in turn relate to the car not being used – freeing off brakes, replacing stuck thermostats, battery, gummed up carbs etc etc. The vendor mentioned he had the car restored in the early 2000s by Quiller Triumph although the only documentation we found relating to this is a selection of estimates for the work and parts required from a Hereford firm who didnt get the job.

Ahead of the sale, the car has been pulled out, treated to a carb strip down and clean, new brake master cylinder, cleaned and bled/freed the clutch master/slave cylinder and general check over at a cost of £470.  The car now starts and seems to run well although it moves around, we note the brakes are still binding a little so we would not recommend driving it home – instead, we suggest a thorough and gentle recommission and then some regular use to which it should respond well.

Its rare to find such an unmolested and well preserved GT6 with what looks to be low mileage and low ownership from single family ownership. We all like this one!

For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com