1973 TRIUMPH GT6 MKIII
ENGINE 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV POWER 104bhp@5300rpm TORQUE 117ft lb@3000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 112mph 0-60mph 10.1sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 24-28mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual MoT July 2018 ODOMETER 22,604 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Electronic ignition means that this car fires up without any issues and quickly settles to an even idle. The ride is soft and comfortable and changes from the recently rebuilt gearbox (which also benefits from a new overdrive harness) are smooth once you get used to the angled lever. There’s no slop in the handling and no rattles or squeaks. The steering is instantly responsive and supported by strong brakes.
BODYWORK CHECK
There’s not much to complain about on the body, which benefits from restored paintwork. Those eagle of eye will spot one or two paint chips, though you have to look extremely closely to spot the tiny one on the offside rear wheelarch. The sills have a few scrapes from kicked-up gravel and stones, but are solid. Chrome shows no pitting and trim is all present and tidy. The aftermarket wire wheels are also in good condition, with each tyre showing deep tread, and there are no scratches on the windows. Not concours, but certainly a head-turner.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The non-standard wooden steering wheel might annoy purists, but then this isn’t a purist’s car, as proven by the auxiliary oil pressure gauge fitted below the dashboard and the handful of USB ports. The carpets show no signs of damp and the floor feels solid. Seats and trim are all in good condition with no tears and all the instruments work as they should. The walnut dashboard shows no signs of fading and there are no cracks in it. Poking around in the boot reveals no signs of rot or damp and the boot floor has been future-proofed with red oxide primer for added anti-corrosion protection.
UNDER THE BONNET
A new fuel pump and K&N air filters were fitted as part of the restoration and the engine bay is clean. The wiring has been attended to with almost obsessive attention to detail, which adds to the feel of a car that has been well restored. All of the electrics appear to work without any gremlins. The aluminium radiator looks recent and a nose around underneath the car throws up no sign of any leaks. It passed its latest MoT with no advisories and comes with an organised file containing receipts dating back to 1994, as well as the original points and air filter housing, spare bulbs, plugs and oil filter.
THE CCW VIEW
This GT6 would be ideal for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of a classic in need of lots of work, and the receipts file adds to the reassurance that the restoration work has been done up to scratch, as well as providing a little bit of history. The fact the car is solid and ready to play with, not to mention aesthetically sound, means the asking price seems fair.