1973 Triumph GT6 Mk3

Description

When the Standard Triumph works competition team fitted an aerodynamic hard top to the Spitfire 4 roadster in the mid-1960s and produced a highly successful campaign at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, Triumph’s marketing people began to think about adding a neat little coupe to the Spitfire line. The result was indeed attractive, but the tiny Spitfire four-cylinder rendered the car woefully underpowered. So, Triumph added the smooth 2.0-liter six from the Vitesse and thus had a fairly refined GT to compete with the newly introduced 1966 MGB GT.

After listening to concerned U.S. dealers and fixing initial rear suspension problems, the 1968 GT6 Mk2 arrived with a set of side vents and a raised front bumper to comply with U.S. safety regulations. More refinements came with the 1971 Mk3, which received a revised (but still effective) rear suspension and a general clean-up by designer Giovanni Michelotti to mirror the Kamm tail of the new Spitfire.   

This final-year 1973 Triumph GT6 Mk3 was reportedly driven last in 1980 and then stored in a garage for more than 40 years. It wears its original paint and interior, and it has 10,196 miles on the odometer, which the consignor believes to be original. 

Highlights 

• This 1973 Triumph GT6 Mk3 has 10,196 miles on the odometer, which the consignor believes to be original 

• Final year of the iconic Triumph GT6 

• Powered by a 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, with twin Zenith-Stromberg carburetors, rated at 79 horsepower 

• Four-speed manual transmission with highly desirable overdrive 

• Finished in Mimosa Yellow (64) paint over black cloth upholstery (C11) 

• Original paint except for the frame in the engine compartment, firewall, and rocker panels 

• Still runs strong on the original 1972 dated spark plug wires 

• Original working factory Clarion AM/FM pushbutton radio 

• Improvements in 2023-2024 include: 

  • Engine was removed, detailed, and reinstalled  

  • Cylinders were cleaned and honed and new rings added 

  • Valves were unstuck, cleaned, and reseated 

  • Radiator flushed and painted 

  • New plugs, coolant hoses, and fan belt 

  • Flywheel surface cleaned 

  • Hydraulics were refreshed 

  • Small metal repair was performed in one bottom corner of the battery box and a small area behind the clutch master cylinder 

  • Gas tank cleaned 

  • New gas line installed along frame 

  • New clutch 

  • New brake booster 

  • New brake and clutch cylinders, as well as new rubber and some metal lines 

  • Front suspension refreshed with new ball joints, tie rods, and bushings 

  • New exhaust 

  • New front carpet 

• The chassis number (KF20753) decodes as: 

  • KF – U.S. market 

  • 20753 – Production number

Features 

• Rear-wheel-drive, two-door hatchback coupe 

• Manufacture date: November 1972 

• Triumph GT6 MK3 badges on hood and trunk 

• Three-spoke steering wheel 

• Woodgrain dash 

• Dash instrumentation: 

  • 140 mph speedometer and odometer (with oil warning light) 

  • Tachometer 

  • Coolant temperature 

  • Fuel level 

• Heater 

• Rear defogger/defroster 

• Manual windows 

• Vent windows in front and rear 

• Sun visors 

• Driver’s side rearview mirror 

• Front disc brakes 

• Rear drum brakes 

• 13-inch factory steel wheels with chrome trim rings 

• Iris Ecoris 175/70R13 tires 

• Front antenna 

• Wheelbase: 83 inches 

• Length: 149 inches 

• Width: 57 inches 

• Height: 47inches 

• Weight: 1,904 pounds 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint flaws on hood 

• Small dent and paint flaws on front edge of hood near passenger side headlight 

• Minor dings and scratches on body (some have been touched up) 

• Pitting on bumper 

• Small dent on the outer edge of driver’s side rear wheel well 

• Paint chips/scrapes on driver’s side floorboard (under the carpet) 

Included 

• Original spare tire with cover 

• Jack 

• GT6 MK III owner’s manual 

• Many of the original factory parts, including tires, ball joints, tie rod ends, brake and clutch cylinders, brake pads and shoes 

Ownership History 

The owner of this mostly original 1973 Triumph GT6 Mk3 purchased the car in April 2023 after it had been in storage since 1980. The engine was stuck, the starter was frozen, some valves and rings were sticky, the fan belt was “petrified,” the front suspension rubber and plastic were degraded/disintegrated, the exhaust was rusted out, and it was still wearing its original Goodyear tires. The consignor notes that all have been replaced.