Description
This Triumph GT6 is like no other with its lightweight hand built aluminium body inspired by the lightweight E Type of the 60s. Mechanically the car is totally early 1970s Triumph and correctly registered as a historic vehicle but subtle styling changes allow beautiful curves to replace the straighter lines of the standard steel body.
All the running gear with the exception of the engine is GT6. In the interests of light weight and handling the six cylinder engine has been replaced by the lighter high performance Spitfire four cylinder. The engine, built by Mark Shillaber at SRD, is bored to 1561cc, lightened and balanced, high-lift camshaft, bespoke forged pistons, big valve gas flowed cylinder head fed by new twin genuine Weber DCOE40s. Power delivery is smooth throughout the rev range with an output of 125bhp at a modest 5, 500rpm.
Drive is through a rebuilt (Mike Papworth) three rail close ratio gearbox with overdrive on third and top gears. Final drive is 3. 89:1 which gives relaxed cruising in overdrive but doesn't take the edge off the acceleration.
The chassis and all associated components have been shot blasted and powder coated. The suspension is fully polybushed and the fragile rotoflex couplings replaced with a C/ V joint conversion from Canley Classics. Uprated springs front and rear and adjustable Gaz dampers. Brake cylinders (master & slave) pipes, shoes and discs were all renewed but kept standard GT6 having much less weight to arrest.
The interior of the car, courtesy Newton Commercial and Park Lane Classics, had a new roof lining, new moulded carpets and reupholstered seats with new foams and black Mercedes leather covers. The walnut veneer dashboard was specially made by Chapman & Cliff. The car is completely re-wired with with each circuit individually fused plus relays for the high consumption components. The comprehensive Smiths instruments were brand new; these instruments are all on plugs and sockets so there are no worries about which wires go where!
The tyres are new Kuhmos in the last 500 miles, the originals being almost unworn but over ten years old. The car is garaged and MoT tested every years, always passing with no advisories.
In short absolutely everything on this car is either brand new or fully reconditioned in the last 6000 miles. It was built up to a specification, not down to a price. It comes with a large box of receipts that don't cover everything done but still total over £18, 000 - and that includes none of work that was a labour of love.
Build History
The bare chassis-up nut and bolt rebuild was completed over a three year period from 2014-2016. The aluminium panels were formed by traditional methods using an English Wheel and welded together by oxy/ acetylene. Labour intensive work carried out by a craftsman. Three thousand hours of time went into producing a really beautiful piece of work.
It was built for both road use and mild competition and has competed twice in the prestigious Coupe Florio Speed Hill Climb held in Saint Brieuc Brittany, first by the builder/ designer in 2015. If you are interested to see how it went search 'La Coupe Florio 2015 Triumph GT4 Lightweight' on YouTube (but note this was on an earlier engine later found to be delivering a meagre 65 bhp at the wheels - the current engine is far more powerful!)
Originally campaigned in bare aluminium on wires and with sliding perspex windows it was painted French Blue (paint codes 126 (numeric) and JAA (alphabetic), also referenced as ST554) to a high standard in 2016 to make it more practical for everyday road use and now looks absolutely stunning on JBW Minilite style wheels and with glass winding windows. In this, its current form it featured on the front cover of the July 2016 edition of Classics Monthly magazine (copy included in sale!).
I am the third owner since the build was completed, we have all maintained the car meticulously and kept in touch with the builder who retains a keen interest in it. (Indeed I have just returned from a very enjoyable short tour of Brittany in it with him.)
The accompanying photos of the build are from 2014, completed in bare aluminium from 2015, and painted from 2016-17. I include one from Prescott last month just to show it remains in unchanged excellent condition. Any inspection very welcome and test drive with appropriate insurance.
In 2017 it had a TSSC valuation of £35, 000, now on offer for half that sum. Only selling because now in my late seventies and quite tall getting in and out is becoming a bit undignified; but am in no hurry to sell.
