Lot 078: 1970 Piper GTT

Introduced at the 1967 Racing Car Show, the prototype Piper GT was styled by Tony Hilder. Based around a tubular backbone spaceframe chassis, the sports racer was sold as a chassis / body unit to which Austin-Healey Sprite, Hillman Imp or Ford running gear could be fitted. A former customer turned business partner, Brian Sherwood convinced Piper to produce a fully trimmed roadgoing version of the GT. Christened the GTT, the resultant machine was notably lightweight and aerodynamic extracting exciting performance from the most humdrum of mechanical components. Although, Piper built some cars in-house the majority were supplied in kit form. Finished in white with black upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (interior trim, bodywork, paintwork) or "very good" (engine, five-speed manual gearbox, electrical equipment, chassis, wheels / tyres) condition. Reportedly "one of the last 34 GTTs made before the Piper P2", 'LOY 500J' is understood to have "started life as a road car". Briefly reconfigured as a racer during 1990 and run in the Anglo-American series, the coupe then reverted to street use until last year when it took to the tracks once more. Said to have "recently proved overall winner within the Masters Cloth Cap and the Classic Sports Car series", we are further informed that 'LOY 500J' "could be eligible for the HSCC 70s Sports Car Series with a little modification". Apparently treated to a restoration of its fiberglass bodywork by The Piper Specialist in 1998 not to mention a new chassis, the GTT also boasts "a new FIA plumbed-in fire extinguisher, 3-point seat belts, fresh L-section Dunlop tyres and 'as new' Group 4 Minilite type wheels". Reputedly powered by "an overhauled all-steel, dry-sump, twin 45 DCOE carburetor-fed 1700cc Ford crossflow 170hp engine allied to Quaife five-speed manual transmission" the Piper transmits drive to its rear wheels via "an AP twin clutch and Gripper differential". A potential front runner in the right hands, this sports racer is worthy of close inspection.