1967-74 Triumph GT6

by David Slama

A starter E-type.

A “poor-man’s XKE” is what some call the Triumph GT6. They share a six-cylinder engine and fastback styling, both rarities in English cars of their era. And they both boast independent rear suspensions and relatively luxurious interiors. The fact that the GT6 can be bought for less than one-fifth the price of an E-type coupe makes it an affordable classic worth considering. Triumph built three distinct series of GT6s. The first, or Mk I, was produced from 1967 to 1968. The Mk II, or GT6+ in the US, was produced from 1969 to 1970, while the Mk III was built from 1971 to 1974. All three series used the same 2-liter in-line six from the Vitesse sedan, which varied in output from 95 to 104 hp. The Mk I was built to compete directly with the MGB GT. (Of course, when the Datsun 240Z came along it completely outclassed both cars.) The six-cylinder engine allowed Triumph to meet smog regulations and offer a power advantage over the MGB. Triumph wanted to keep the...