GT6 GT6 MKIII info - new to site

[venom42]

Hi all! I am new to British cars, and to this site. My 1990 AWD Talon is becoming a dedicated racer (due to an accident), and I am considering a 1972 GT6 as my daily driver. I have always loved these cars, but do not know enough about them. Are they fairly reliable? Was A/C available on them (Atlanta = hot summers)? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[aeronca65t]

Welcome venom:

If I were looking for a nice Brit car for a hot climate (like your's), I'm not sure I'd choose a GT6. They are HOT inside in warm weather and I have personally never seen one with A/C. Another tin-top choice, the MGB-GT was available with A/C, but again, I've never seen one. The B-GT is a little roomier and might be less *stuffy* in hot weather. You could always retro-fit some sort of A/C system, if you really desire a hard top.
Personally, I think a great choice would be a Spitfire or an MGB roadster. A nice way to use these cars in *really* hot weather is with the top up and the rear window zipped out.
What kind of racing are you doing with the Talon?

 

[ObiRichKanobi]

Another choice would be a nice TR7 or TR8. These were available with air conditioning. If you want a coupe, opt for a 1977 or newer, as the brakes on the earlier ones were pretty bad and were improved in 1977.

 

[vagt6]

If you like the GT6, please don't let fear of it being too hot in the cockpit deter you from buying one. If the firewall and tunnel cover are sealed and insulated properly and secured with the correct hardware, the GT6 driver compartment is no hotter than any other (non-convertable) LBC.

A/C was a dealer-installed option on a limited number of GT6s and A/C can be fitted to a GT6, but it's not often encountered. I'd assume that a modern A/C unit could be fitted, but I've never seen one.

Also, a significant number of GT6s were fitted with a factory folding roof. Many of these cars were shipped to Austrailia and S. Africa, but they're rare in the U.S. However, a folding roof with the same dimensions and better quality than the Triumph factory model may be fitted to a GT6 for a fairly resonable cost and it's a great option to have. I plan to install one in my car.

I don't want to sound too obvious, but if you want a convertable, don't buy a GT6. But, if you want an affordable, exciting LBC, the GT6 is an excellent choice. Fast, fun to drive, readily available parts, and lots of resources for repair and maintenance.

Good luck, let us know how it goes, and welcome to this great forum!

 

[Eric]

I'd echo what Vagt6 says. I have a 73 MkIII that I use as a daily driver in the summer. I've replaced the gearbox cover with a fiberglass piece and insulated and sealed it. The car is no hotter than any other non-AC car. And yes, despite being in Canada, we do get hot weather here. In Kamloops it regularly hits 40 C in the summer (where's my calculator? Oh - about 104 F) It's a fun car to drive, and gets lots of attention. Most people under 30 seem to think its a Porsche. ?????????