Triumph GT6 Mk I

Overview
Produced: 1966-1968, 15818 produced.
Types: Coupe,2 doors, 2+2 seats

The Triumph GT6 made its debut in 1966 and followed the lines of the 1965 Le Mans Spitfires. Which had featured a fastback style body. The GT6 was intended to offer more performance than the 4 cylinder Spitfire and also more practicality than the open model. The engine was the same six cylinder used in the 2000 saloon and Vitesse models and offered plenty of power.

The GT6 looked very elegant and quickly gained praise for being a "poor mans E-type", even if its hairy handling characteristics were in need of improvement. The GT6 Mk I shared the same full width grille styling with the Spitfire 4 and many trim items were also common.

A contributor to Motorbase advises the following:

Giovanni Michelotti was commissioned to style the GT6 BEFORE the 1964 LeMans in which the Spitfires were fielded. It was thought that the styling Michelotti created for the GT6 provided better aerodynamics, and as such, fiberglass fastback tops were created for the Spitfire 4 LeMans effort.

The first prototype of the GT6 was created when Triumph sent a Spitfire 4 to Turin (Michelotti's design house) and he completed car number X691 in 1962.

It is understandable that this is confused, due to the fact that the factory, knowing it would produce the GT6, did nothing to correct this misunderstanding.  If people were left to belive the rumor, it could lend an air of racing history to a car that was just being newly released.

(ref: "Triumph Spitfire and GT6 the complete Story" by James Taylor; Pub. 2000, The Crowood Press Ltd.; ISBN 1 86126 262 0)

Source: Motorbase

http://www.vtr.org/GT6/GT6-buying.html

Source: Motorbase
Engines
CapacityConfigModelBore/StrokeCR
1998ccS6 OHVStandard/Triumph S6 OHV74.7mm x 76mm9.5
Drivetrain and Suspension
DrivetrainSteeringFront SuspensionRear Suspension
Rack-and-pinionIndependent/Coil SpringsIndependent/Transverse leaf spring
Performance
Top Speed0-60SQMMPGEngine PwrComment
109 mph10 s
Auction Sales History
Lot
Num
Description Auctioneer Date Hammer Price Hammer Price
(inc premium)
001 Triumph GT6 Mk1 Artcurial - Briest - Poulain Le Fur 15 Nov 2004 - €6009.00
082 Triumph GT6 (1966) ADT 6 Dec 1993 £10200.00 -
462 Triumph GT6 (1967) Sothebys 10 Jul 1993 £3200.00 -
Books
Magazine Articles
Title Pages Options
Article Hot tin rods
46 View
Publication Classic Cars November 2010
Hot tin rods - Junior GT's from MG and Triumph offer Sixties glamour at surprisingly low prices/  Don you Ray-Bans and take a fresh look a the 'B GT and GT 6
Article Buying Guide 1966-73 Triumph GT6
100 View
Publication Classic Cars November 2009
Buying Guide 1966-73 Triumph GT6- Triumph's GT6 offers upmarket style for a mass-market price and running costs - if you buy a good one.  Here's how.
Article GT6 restoration - The end is nigh - Part five: More body and chassis
76 View
Publication Practical Classics December 2006

GT6 restoration - The end is nigh - Part five: More body and chassis - But not that nigh - this month has been another feast of bending bit sback into shape, fitting new metal and battling with Sixties'  technology.  We're winning, though...

Article Taken For Granted - Group Test
70 View
Publication Practical Classics October 2004
Taken For Granted - Group Test - Some British classics are so much part of the automotive furniture that it’s easy to forget their superb qualities.  Andrew Roberts reports. 1971 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1, 1969 MGC GT, 1965 Rover 2000, 1972 Sunbeam Stiletto, 1967 Triumph GT6 Mk1
Article Buyer's Guide Triumph GT6 (1966-1973)
124 View
Publication Practical Classics July 2003
Buyer's Guide The Poor Man’s E-Type - Triumph GT6: 1966-1973 - Triumph’s mini-GT can be a rich supply of classic fun, if you buy carefully.  Richard Dredge shows you how.
Article Dual Circuit
26 View
Publication Practical Classics December 2002
Dual Circuit - Classic racing is the new rock 'n' roll, but if you'd really like to play, you've got to know what sort of car you want.  Danny Hopkins and Dale Drinnon prepare two very different racers, a dual-purpose GT6 and a racing MGA.
Article Swinging sixes
40 View
Publication Practical Classics September 2001
Swinging Sixes - Triumph's GT6 was an excellent budget sports car from start to finish, claims Mark Dixon.
Article A bit of dearing-do - Triumph GT6
34 View
Publication Classics Monthly March 2012
A bit of dearing-do - Triumph GT6 - Restoring a Triumph GT6 from as many new old stock items as he could source worldwide was a fearless feat for its owner.
Article Buying Guide - How to buy a Triumph GT6
8 View
Publication Classics Monthly November 2011
Buying Guide - How to buy a Triumph GT6 - If you want a stylish, rewarding sportscar on a tight budget, look no further.
Article Buyer's Guide - Triumph GT6
22 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 8 June 2011
Buyer's Guide - Triumph GT6 - Often described as 'the poor man's E-type,' Triumph's handsome GT6 is so much more than just a hardtop Spitfire, says MIKE LE CAPLAIN.
Article The great pretenders
132 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car August 2010
The great pretenders - Opel and Triumph were inspired by success stories from Chevy and Jaguar for their baby GTs.  And today they are classic bargains, says Graeme Hurst.
Article Buying Power - Triumph GT6
32 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 24 February 2010
Buying Power - Triumph GT6 - Following in the footsteps of the pretty Michelotti-designed Spitfire, the GT6 brought six-cylinder grunt and fastback practicality to the party.  MATT GEORGE gives you the lowdown.
Article Buyers guide - Battle of britain
10 View
Publication Classic Car Mart July 2008
Buyers guide - Battle of britain- For too long, Triumph's excellent GT6 has lost out to the MG BGT' in th struggle to win the hearts and minds of classic car owners.  But is the tide beginning to turn?  CCM finds out.
Article Starter classic - Triumph GT6
170 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car March 2006
Starter classic - Triumph GT6 - Simple and tough, the 'baby E-type' makes an ideal first classic sports car, explains Malcolm McKay.
Article Your Classics - 68’ Triumph GT6
154 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car January 2005
Your Classics - 68’ Triumph GT6 Owned by Fred Slezak - Fast lady’s hot hybrid.
Article Buying Power - Triumph GT6
24 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 26th May 2004
Buying Power - Triumph GT6 - Forget all those descriptions of the GT6 as ’a poor man’s E-Type’ or a ’fastback Spitfire’.  PAUL JONES reckons it is a superb car in its own right and needs no comparisons.
Article Classics November 2001 pg 28
28 View
Publication Classics November 2001
Basically Triumphant. The Triumph Vitesse, Triumph GT6 and Bond Equipe all use the same engine and similar running gear. But, asks Tim Morgan, do they all have the same appeal?
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