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GT6 GT6 as a track car

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pookie

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I am considering getting a GT6 in need of some rust repair in the floorboards, sills and battery tray. I am thinking about making the car into my track car. We have historic races at two tracks near me. Anyone have any thoughts/pointers on doing something like this? My other consideration is a Lotus 7 replica with only the frame assembled right now. I know both need a lot of work, but the differences is that the Lotus would be up to me to fabricate and complete and it has a Fiat motor and trans. The GT6 I am looking at is complete, but needs the rust repair and reassembly done. The GT6 is 1/3 the price of the Lotus though that is why it is in the running. Anyone using a GT6 as a track or autocross car?

Thanks in advance
 
Hi,

I'm sure a GT6 could be made into a runner. I don't have one, yet, but have done a little research. The factory supported a few on the track, back in their day. The gearbox seems to be an area of concern. Maybe some others will jump in with possible solutions.

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L
 
My GT6 (Mk1) was raced by my father-in-law back in the early 1970s. He's probably forgotten most of how he set the car up but I can put you in touch with him if you think it would help.

I, on the other hand, have slowly been undoing his work to make the car street friendly. He put a taller final drive in the car, some aftermarket cam (that he can't remember the specs of), he put a riser block between the rear leaf spring and differential to change the rear camber, and he either bought shorter front springs or cut them off... I don't remember which. He also disconnected the heater core and installed a roll cage.

I love the car on the highway as it's comfortable and has a pleasant feel and exhaust note. However, I consider the car a bit nose heavy and I'm sure there must be things that can be done to improve that.
 
This is my friends GT6 that he has built up as a track car. He has a Mazda Miata supercharger and this thing really moves. I don't think its as fast in a acceleration as my tiger (seen behind it) but it will definetly out corner it. The suspension/steering design on them are far better than the Tiger.

IMG_3501.sized.jpg


IMG_3465.sized.jpg


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WOW! That is be great! Blower, computerized ignition, fuel injection... your friend has spent a lot of time and effort on that engine! What has he done with that front suspension?
 
I like that GT-6...a real labor of love, especialy the neat intake manifold (I wonder if it's from a TR-5?).
Nevertheless, it wouldn't be my first choice for a track-only car, especially for autocross.

I'd look at an old Formula 440 or Formula 500. These things are great in autocross and are small (easy to store) and decent on road courses too. I've seen plenty of them for under $2500 (if you look hard).

Here's a page with some:

https://www.f500.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PN_zClassifieds&file=index&cat=20

F500 Race Car
DSC_1232.jpg
 
I wish I could find the site but it was about the GT6 and its race history. If I find it I will post the link. But if I remember the GT6 had a good history on the track. The back end once you got use to it did great but it does behave different then most cars. I think you could do alot to the car for very little compare to the other cars. It is a bit nose heavy and you will need to upgrade springs, shocks and stablizer. I would flair the wheel wells and put on some bigger tires. Do some more stuff to the back end as well. Of course I the engine mods will be helpful as well. To me the GT6+ was the best back end but some others will beg to differ and both sides have there points.

I think you would enjoy either car but I think the GT6 has more on and off road fun to it.
 
Hi Tom,

There were a series of special Spitfires built for factory competition. They were sort of the prototype for what eventually became the GT6.

After British Leyland took over Triumph in 1962, they initially dropped factory racing programs. However, in '63 or '64 some of the pre-BL managers must have prevailed and got approval to go racin' again. The cars developed were the special Spits, looking more like a GT6 than a Spit.

Those Spits might be what you are remembering. If so, Google for LeMans and Spitfire and you'll see plenty of info. There's one that's recently been restored, was found fairly intact in a barn in France a few years ago, I believe.

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L
 
Alan,

GT6s did fairly decnetly in the 70s on their own. The Sptifire GTs were something completely different. essintially being a standard spitfire set up for racing and fitted with a fiberglass fast back for aerodynamics.
 
Our GT6 has a sticker on the back that says "GT6, born in Le Mans".

One of the ladies in our local club autocrosses her GT6 quite frequently and does well. Friends in England race one in a very competitive series and the Triumph Sports Six Club (UK) have their own competition class with quite a few GT's competing in them.

I'd say go for it!

RG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Great article, Jeff, I always enjoy Burts writing!

I have a few suggestions for you, Pookie:

1) Its usually cheaper to buy someone's racecar than to build one.
2) Contact the sanctioning body that runs the racing in your area and find out the cutoff year for vintage; here in Canada VARAC cuts off at 1972 so if your car is more recent you may have to run in a group we call 70 plus, lots of high-powered Corvettes, Porsche 911 and 2.8 litre 240zs, no good for the cars you are looking at.
3) The GT6 has more bodywork so in an "incident" will protect its suspension components and the driver better.
4) The Lotus is almost a race car already so will cost much less to prepare, but will need a Ford powertrain. The Kent (pushrod) engines are widely available, the "twink" rarer, more expensive but with greater potential. Suggest you speak to Dave Bean, a Lotus expert, but I would go pushrod.

Finally, there are lots of guys racing GT6s, and they did very well in SCCA racing in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
Simon.
 
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