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GT6 Is $1000 a good deal on a '72 GT6

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Gwilhelm

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I have a friend of a friend of a friend is selling a non-running GT6. I haven't looked at it yet. But I'm very tempted. It looks to be a good car but I don't know much about the GT6. I am told that it has been sitting for 3 years and I would assume does not run. What is the bad areas to look on a GT6? Check out the pictures... I already have 3 cars awaiting restoration... Whats a 4th? I dunno.....

Any thoughts, should I get it? Wait for something better? How many non running cars do I need? Help I can't stop buying cars! ARGHAAAAHHHHH!
Gt6front.jpg

gt6back.jpg

gt6interior.jpg
 
looks like a good opportunity to me, what the heck go for number four!
 
Obviously be concerned about frame rust, will engine
( motor) turn over?
 
For some reason, I can't see the pictures here at work. However, what you want to check for are:

rust;
rust;
rust;
crankshaft play (worn/missing thrust washers);
rust;
gearbox problems (hard to tell on a nonrunner, I know);
potentially expensive problems with Roto-flex couplings and rear suspension in general;
rust; and
rust.

Not that rust is necessarily THE deciding factor, but it can be. Floor and sill areas in particular really should be all-metal, since the body derives a great portion of its strength from the sill area in particular. The chassis is separate, but it's essentially a "backbone." Even with the fixed roof, I've seen body sag on badly rusted GTs when the doors are opened.

That said, a solid GT6 that needs little more than minor mechanical and perhaps cosmetic work could be quite a deal at $1000. The '72 is the first year of the low-compression engine, but it's still a very willing performer!
 
Is the GT6 a somewhat rare car?

What about the Roto-flex suspension? If it has it should I RUN away?
 
I wouldn't call the GT6 rare, but it's certainly less common than a Spitfire. Rare (over here) would be it's sister the Vitesse.

In addition to the warnings above (particularly sill rust), take inventory of how many things appear to be missing or need replacement (as opposed to repair). Buying NOS or good used parts can become quite expensive.
 
From what I know a good GT6 can command a decent price, and if she is solid then $1,000 could be quite a quite a good deal.

They are much less common than Spitfires, and as the guys have indicated above RUST is the primary concern.

The Spitfire & GT6 gearboxes are known to be weak, so ideally you'd want to make it is in good shape.

Parts availability isn't quite as good as with an MGB, but you should be able to find pretty much everything you need.
 
OK....
I made the mistake of calling the guy. Now I'm gonna go look at it tomorrow....

It does run but has a tapping noise. He parked it with the intent to rebuild the motor. He said it is 100% complete and the interior is good. The paint is good, but the bonnet is rusted underneath (bonnet supports?). He said its in great shape for only 59K miles on it. He wasn't sure about the rear end.

He is willing to take reasonable offers? Am I dreaming? Where the heck am I gonna put a 4th car? That would give me 9 total.... I think the wife threatened divorce at 7...I don't know.... keep the wife or get a new GT6? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Any thoughts?
 
For years my in-laws have given me grief about the number of cars my wife and I own (5 until just recently). A friend of mine told me not to worry about it, that you can't have too many cars. It's like having too much money.

Of course, LBCs drain away a lot of money but they are fun projects. For $1000 I don't see how wrong you can go. My GT6 also "ticks" and it's noticeable at lower engine speeds. Like your seller, I've always had intentions of going through the motor but there are always more pressing tasks (for both the cars and the house).

If after seeing and hearing the car you're still interested, why not buy it and do a cursory cleaning and tune-up? Once you've invested just enough money to make it safe and street-able you'll know whether you want to fix it up further or sell it. With 7 other cars, any potential buyers should readily understand that this is a project you decided not to pursue if you decide you don't want to keep it.
 
The in-laws call me "Fred Sanford".
I have no self-control when it comes to cars....
I have "Caritis", the love of cars.... it infectious...

I will post what I find out about the GT6 tomorrow....
 
Good, keep us posted. If it were me, I'd go for it. From the sounds of it you have good potential there.
Dennis
 
Go for it....a solid GT6(assuming it is) Is well worth the $1000...heck even the interior looks pretty good!
I am at 10 cars....I probably give myself the most grief about it, I hate how I have no room anywhere! I hate how our driveway looks more like a long term storage lot, and how I have to spend 10 minutes jockeying cars around before I go anywhere.....I threaten the wife and kids with selling the whole bunch of them(they love these car jsut as much as I do, if not more)...But we all know thats not going to happen,I do love the hobby, and have vowed to never turn down a good deal on a cool car nomatter how many I have. Once I can retire in 4 years I'll have more time to enjoy and collect more cars, and do less complaining about them.
 
Gwilhelm said:
It does run but has a tapping noise....
Click to expand...
I hate to admit this, but....

I once had a '72 GT6 that I enjoyed for several years. It got stored for awhile, though, when I first got married (glad THAT'S over, but I digress....) and then got put up for sale. It ended up being purchased by a friend of mine. I was a bit concerned about the sound of the engine as I sold it, since it was sounding a bit like a big-end bearing was going, even though it otherwise seemed to run very well. My friend soon informed me that I'd somehow gotten two plug wires switched at some point, after which it was JUST FINE! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif
 
It should already be in your garage...sounds like a car that you could be driving this summer without a lot of work...or fix it and sell it and spend the profit on your other projects.

Cars don't have to be perfect to be fun...
 
It looks like a good deal to me.
It's been garaged (look at all the dust on it), the interior is all orginal (except for the door speaker) & not one-black-fits-all replacement, no big rust on the wheels which is another indicator of garaged storage. If the bonnet support you mention as rusted is sort of a bent tube, that's sort of typical due to it's position near puddles & rainwater. You can easily have them sandblasted & repainted, faster still get new ones for a couple of dollars off ebay.

There are no photos of the engine bay, so who knows if something nuts happened like trying to put in a Mopar 440 which would make the whole deal more iffy.

The body & chassis look good, the interior looks like the previous owner was careful with it, & those areas a are where you can spend the most money & time. Even if the engine needs to be rebuilt, that's not such a trial, & at $1000 it looks like a very good deal.
 
Greg,

Assume there is some rust in the floors.
Assume there are some gearbox issues.
Assume the rear end needs work.
Assume the Rotoflex joints need to be replaced.

All of that, and as long as the car isn't all torn up and the parts are mostly there, make him an offer under $1K and buy it. Even if the engine needs work.

Looks like a promising project. Have fun!

Good luck,
 
Heck, if it were offered to me (and closer), I'd jump on it.

First, I'd want to ask the owner lots of questions, the main one being why was it parked 3 years ago.
 
Every GT6 I've ever seen in this price range looked like it had been taken apart and put back together four times, and then taken apart a fifth time(hold the put back together a fifth time).
This one looks refreshingly complete. I think I would go for it.


Adam H.
____________________________________________________________
1973 Triumph Spitfire.
 
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