1969 Triumph GT6

Fastback Coupe
Chassis number: KC57687L

This 1969 GT 6+ won the National SCCA EP Championship at Daytona in November 1969. This was the factory-backed Group 44 car sponsored by Triumph, Quaker State, Champion, and Goodyear.

In 1970, this car sat on the pole for the SCCA Runoff at Road Atlanta and was leading the race when it retired with transmission problems. This vehicle was also Triumph's display car at the 1970 New York Auto Show.

This GT6+ was found in a barn in North Carolina. The car has been restored to the exact livery as it appeared in the Daytona winners circle in 1969. The restoration was performed by the Classic Motorsport magazine staff. In 2009, the car won the Amelia Award at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance before participating in the Monterey Historics that August.

Group 44 Inc.

Group 44 was formed by Bob Tullius and Brian Fuerstenau during the early 1960s. It remains one of America's most successful racing teams. Their cars were renowned for their distinctive green and white liveries, countless victories, and impeccable preparation.

Fastback Coupe

This 1969 Triumph GT6 Plus was built by the Standard-Triumph Company, based in Coventry, England. By 1969, Standard-Triumph had been absorbed by the British Leyland Corporation. This was part of a series of take-overs driven by turbulent labor issues and financial crises. Only about 5,700 GT6 Plus' were built for export outside of the U.K.

The Triumph GT6 Plus was a 'Grand Touring' version of the popular Spitfire, which was created by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. Michelotti also designed cars for Lancia, Maserati, and BMW. For the GT6, Triumph replaced the Spitfire's convertible body with a hardtop style inspired by the Jaguar E-Type. The car was also an off-shoot of Triumph's entries in the 24 Hours of LeMans race.

The GT6 Plus has an inline 6-cylinder engine, replacing the Spitfire's four-cylinder. Its much greater output and high power-to-weight ratio make it an exciting performer. The rear suspension of the 1969 GT6 Plus was also upgraded from the Spitfire's swing axle design, improving the unpredictable handling of earlier models.

This car was discovered in a shed in 1978; nearly all body panels were rusted and damaged beyond repair. New bodywork was ordered from England, and subsequent restoration put this GT6 Plus back on the road.

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 Dan Vaughan