Triumph GT6
1966 is a great year. There’s a big win for England’s football team alongside 33 golds at the Commonwealth games for the Olympic team, Heinz are running their competition to win one of 57 convertible Hornets and of course, Triumph unveiled their new sports car: The Triumph GT6.
The GT6 wasn’t a completely all-new invention and the early cars were first seen at the Earl’s Court Motor Show, where the car was fitted with a 95bhp engine from the Vitesse, a 1998cc unit.
Although it’s never fitted as standard, the overdrive was available as an option from launch, whilst the bumpers and lighting were borrowed from the Spitfire of the time.
The car does well and in 1968, Triumph then come to market with the MK2 - which is a decent step up to say it’s only been two years since initial launch. The car was designed with a new dash, revised cylinder head and a slight update to the rear suspension. The car is fitted with the Rotoflex couplings and wishbones to rear suspension.
There are also styling tweaks from mk1 to mk2, with the louvres on the sides of the bonnet getting removed and raised bumpers to front and rear and of course, the Rostyle wheel trims.
Between the MK2 and MK3, you see a few other bits which I suspect are driven by the American market including the interior padding getting a plusher feel, a revised steering wheel and strengthened structure, which is specifically drafted in to meet the American regulations - much tougher han the UK ones.
The MK3 as we’re testing today comes to market in 1970 and unlike the MK2 where there were big changes, the MK3 has a revised bonnet, a little bit of an update to the rear panels and what is clearly some sort of cost cutting measure, a change to the rear which does away with some of the chrome you see on the mK2.
In 73, the last year of the car, you see a brake servo fitted and the rear brakes are increased in size and for the last of the cars, you see the Rotoflex done away with and the swing-spring rear axle put in - which wasn’t new to the car - it was being used on the Spitfire of the time.
Whilst pitched against the MGB, there aren’t masses of the GT6 ever made and in fact, less than 41,000 were made - with just over 13,000 of the model we’re testing today. It was beaten in sales by MGB, but how does it fare today and which is the better of the 60s/70s sports cars?
Well, let's take a closer look and find out. I would be interested to know your preferences in the comments section below!