Triumph GT6 Mk3

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Instantly dubbed ‘the poor man’s E-Type’, the wonderful GT6 was styled by Michelotti in response to a brief from Triumph to make a GT version of the Spitfire.

Much more than a Spitfire with a hard top, it featured a fastback body that was so aerodynamically efficient it was later copied for the Le Mans Spitfires, and also had the same powerful 2-litre six-cylinder engine as fitted to the Triumph Vitesse. With 105bhp on tap, it could sprint to 60mph in 10 seconds and topped out at 112mph – figures that comfortably trounced the rival MGB.

Launched in 1966, the first cars had the same wayward swing-axle rear suspension as the Spitfire and the Herald but this was ditched in the MkII versions of 1968 for a more conventional reversed lower wishbones set up. The MkIII came out in 1970 with a host of detail improvements which mainly improved crash safety and handling. Only around 41,000 were built in total before production came to an end in 1973, of which just 13,000 were MkIII models and all are increasingly sought after today.

This MkIII must be one of the last cars made as it was first registered in November 1973 and was in single family ownership from 1991 to 2018. It comes with a good amount of history from new, invoices showing that it was treated to an extensive renovation in 1990/91 which included a bare metal repaint, rebuilt engine and overdrive gearbox and an interior retrim. There are also 14 old MOTs on file back to 1978 plus the original owner’s handbook and Passport to Service book.

At some point it has been fitted with what is believed to be a larger 2.5-litre engine from a Triumph TR6 but there are no documents to substantiate this so you will have to make your own minds up on that score. The vendor reports that it certainly goes well with the overdrive working as it should and an MOT to January 2020 with no advisories recorded.

Apart from the leading edge of the bonnet which looks a bit frilly, it appears to be in very sound condition both above and below and looks most eye-catching in oh-so-Seventies Magenta. What a lot of fun for not a lot of money!