1969 Triumph GT6

History

The Triumph GT6 was produced from 1966 through 1973. The GT6 followed on the heels of the Spitfire sports car. The body was a fastback with a rear-opening hatch. The vehicle came from the company as a two-seater, but if requested, additional seating could be placed into the rear, with space accommodating a small child. Under the long hood was a straight six-cylinder that produced just under 100 horsepower. A four-speed manual was standard; overdrive was offered as optional equipment. The top speed was around 106 mph, with zero-to-sixty taking about 11.7 seconds. The fuel economy was respectable. The vehicle's largest downfall was its poor handling in corners. Drivers reported the car had a tendency to break away, much like other models in the Triumph line-up. The extra weight of the vehicle made the Triumph GT6 even worse, and magazines and the press criticized the car rather heavily.

The interior was rather elegant, with a wood dash and complete instrumentation. Heaters and carpets were a luxury at the time, and Triumph offered them as standard equipment.

In 1968 Triumph introduced the GT6 MK2, also known as the GT6+. The spring suspension was replaced with a swing-axle unit with rotoflex couplings resulting in a revised reputation for Triumph. Triumph had finally found a reasonable solution to their Achilles' heel.

As government regulations and safety concerns continued to mount, Triumph conformed to these requirements by raising the bumper. The front end required a little modification due to the bumper changes. Side vents were added to the front wings and rear pillars.

Triumph modified the engine with a new cylinder head, manifolds, and camshafts which boosted horsepower to 104. The top speed was now about 117 mph, with zero-to-sixty taking about 10 seconds. This was faster than its competitor, the MGB GT, which had a 105 mph top speed and 13-second zero-to-sixty mph run. On the interior, a two-speed heater fan was now standard. The dash also received modifications.

The Triumph GT6 MK3 was the final upgrade for the GT6 series; it was introduced in 1970 and lasted until 1973. Triumph revised the body, which brought it inline with the design of the Spitfire. Just before the vehicle was discontinued, the suspension was again revised this time with a swing-spring setup. 1973 brought about other changes, such as cloth seats replacing the previous vinyl. Servo brakes were also added.

The Triumph GT6 was a great sports car, but it never achieved the sales success the company had hoped. The handling was a problem during its early life, but these were quickly rectified. Some have speculated that a convertible option would have helped boost sales.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2006