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GT6 Questions about GT6's...

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IanF

IanF

Jedi Trainee
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Over the past week or so, I've noticed a Triumph GT6 for sale near my house. Always passed by too late at night to stop, though.

Last night, curiousity got the best of me and I decided to stop and take a look at it.

1972, BRG, Black interior (I think), 4 spd w/ elec OD, Minilite style alloy wheels, new headliner, some odd canvas sun-roof, supposedly runs well. Current std registration to 12/06, but no current inspection sticker (required in PA regardless of tag type).

Posted price: $2500.

The body looked good rust-wise. I peaked underneath with my flashlight and found solid, clean, original floors. The rockers look good as well. The paint is marginal, at best. The LR qtr panel appears to have been side-swiped, but a new one is included in the price. Otherwise, it needs a bunch of scratches and dings repaired and a complete respray.

However, something is definitely "funky" up front. For some bazaar reason, a hole has been cut out of the bonnet to allow clearance for the front ZS carb. The panel gaps looked good, so I'm not sure what's up there...

Difficult to tell what kind of condition the interior is in. Mainly because I was distracted by the car's best feature:

It's RIGHT hand drive! Nice looking wood steering wheel and full gauges.

So... the questions: What does a GT6 in "driver" condition typically sell for? Beyond the obvious rust areas, are there any other common GT6 problems to look for if I decide to investigate this car further?

Thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

Edit:

Spotted R6MGS's thread... and gives me somethign to think about... I think overall this car is in better condition and personally I like the look of the later cars over the older "round-tails." This one is badged as a Mk III.

I'm in a similar position: I need another project car like a hole in the head. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif So Id probably give a low-ball offer of $1000-$1500, counting on the fact that most people don't seem to like RHD cars.
 
Sounds like a promising car. OD and the top is more-than-likely a Webasto. Finding a new bonnet and fixing the damage and a respray will not be cheap. Be sure to crawl under it and look for rust.

Considering the negatives, I think the number you are thinking is about right. $2K at the most if you have to have the car.

If you have pre-purchase photos, be sure to send them along (or at least to me!).
 
Sounds...er...interesting. Possibly the hole in the bonnet for clearance has something to do with the wrong engine (or at least wrong intake manifold) having been installed. Perhaps someone jammed a TR6 engine in?

Don't even THINK about spending too much up front without being able to drive it, checking especially for gearbox operation and any rear end noises, vibrations or other problem$, any or all of which can get VERY EXPEN$IVE!

Definitely check thoroughly for rust underneath, especially around the various rear suspension mounts.

It might just turn out to be a bargain...or a nightmare! Me? I'm always overly suspicious of any such car with questionable holes cut in the bodywork. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
I paid 1500. for my 73' GT6 in about the same condition your speaking of, but that was 10 years ago so as CinnTR said about 2k is the going price.
does the engine fire? Drive train?, How bout the electrical systems? Rear end? LOTS to investigate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
Could be a great deal or a money pit...
 
Andy brings up a good point. You could probably find a better car for about the same asking price without holes, etc. A relatively solid $2.5K driver would be a lot better than $1K car that needs expensive work.

As reality is sinking in, this car sounds like a major project. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Agreed. Unfortunately, I own two rusty Volvo 1800ES's and have become well-aware of rust repair issues.

The main things that attract me to this car are it's apparent lack of rust and it being RHD.

I just remembered something was written on the for sale sign about the engine:

"PAECO SRE motor"

According to Google, an engine tuner based in Alabama. Anyone know of them? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Well... I dug some more on the PAECO site and found out what an "SRE" engine is. It's their "Super Reliability Engine" which is more than a Stage 1 but not quite a racing engine. Basically, the most powerful engine they sell that'll run on pump gas (Stage 2 is 11:1 compression)

The lump apparently costs $5,600 and makes 168 hp. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
According to Google, {PAECO is} an engine tuner based in Alabama. Anyone know of them? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]From many horror stories I've heard over the years, your "emoticon" says it all about them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
From many horror stories I've heard over the years, your "emoticon" says it all about them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well.. that's not exactly encouraging... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We'll see... Anyone else know about them?
 
RHD car with Alabama-tuned engine? Hmmm, the plot thickens...

It definitely sounds like it is time to talk to the current owner and take a closer look.

Regarding that company, there are a few AL forum members, especially in the MG forum, that might know more. Maybe a separate post about that company is in order?
 
I've seen various negative comments about Paeco over the years, but I've never known anyone who has one of their engines. I suggest you call Paeco and discuss their SRE engine. It may be too high strung for comfortable use on the street.
The extra hole on the bonnet may be someone's idea for force feeding cool air into the carbs.
In general I would say that a car with a hot rod engine and less than tasteful body modifications may have a dark history and lived a hard life.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've seen various negative comments about Paeco over the years, but I've never known anyone who has one of their engines. I suggest you call Paeco and discuss their SRE engine. It may be too high strung for comfortable use on the street.
The extra hole on the bonnet may be someone's idea for force feeding cool air into the carbs.
In general I would say that a car with a hot rod engine and less than tasteful body modifications may have a dark history and lived a hard life.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, after I know more about the car I may give them a call.

The hole in the bonnet is there for clearance. The front carb's top chamber pokes through. I could have checked the carb's damper oil level. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I have similar concerns about the car's life, regardless of the engine, so chances are my $ offer won't change.

I'm hoping to look at the car in the daytime on Saturday and maybe test drive it. I'll take some pics as well.
 
"The hole in the bonnet is there for clearance. The front carb's top chamber pokes through"
Andy may be correct. It may have a TR6 engine. Didn't the GT6 run 150 CD carbs? The TR6 carbs may not clear. There are quite a few Spit6's running around. At least I think that's their chosen moniker. You may want to search on them to see some pictures of the bonnets.
 
Hmm... so somebody may have build a Spit-6 out of a... 6?

Like he said, "the plot thickens..." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
The GT6 did run 150CDs.

I used to get Paeco catalogs. I only have heard one horror story about them and it can't necessarily be held against them. An acquaintance was helping his friend with a Jensen-Healey engine (delivered in a box) and the heads were supposed to have been rebuilt by Paeco. None of the valves sealed. The PO could have mixed the parts up but the new owner contacted Paeco and they made good on their work by re-cutting the seats and lapping the valves in for free.

It could have been Paeco's fault... it could have been the PO's fault. What impressed me was that Paeco didn't haggle about it. According to my friend they just said, send the heads and we'll sort them out.
 
Are you sure it's a GT6 bonnet, with the bulge, and not one from a Spit? Spit bonnets are easier to find than GT6's, and someone may have gone that route.
Just a thought.
Jeff
 
Be sure to certify that the frame isn't bent. You indicate that the carb has a hole to stick through in the bonnet. This could be a sign that something is out of whack with the front end of the car.

There's precious little clearance between the engine and the bonnet in a GT6. If anything is out of whack with the frame, it generally causes bonnet clearance problems. Clearance problems usually occur where the radiator cap meets the bonnet and the carbs hitting the bonnet. It's very difficult to successfully repair front end frame damage on a GT6 (ask me how I know this!).

Almost everything on a Spit or GT6 is easy to repair, EXCEPT frame damage (well, okay, body work is a pain, too).

Get the car up in the air so you can really look at the frame closely, with good lighting. Note the number of shims in the front suspension, on the engine side of the coil springs: do both sides have the same number of shims??? Is one side shimmed excessively??

Also, look for bulges in the frame members (bondex, welds?) or anomalies in the frame (especially the front end of the frame) that may indicate that the car has been whacked or the frame damaged.

If you don't know how to do this kind of inspection, pay someone who does, if you have to. That's a heck of a lot cheaper than purchasing a car with a damaged frame.

Something about that hole in the bonnet smells funny to me . . . be careful!

And, please let us know.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"The hole in the bonnet is there for clearance. The front carb's top chamber pokes through"

[/ QUOTE ]
Andy may be correct. It may have a TR6 engine. Didn't the GT6 run 150 CD carbs? The TR6 carbs may not clear.

[/ QUOTE ]My thinking is that it's not so much the carbs themselves but the manifold. A 175CD isn't that much bigger than a 150CD, but I think GT6 intake manifolds were designed to actually lower than front carb a bit due to the extremely limited room under the bonnet (even with the "power bulge" that only helped barely clear the valve cover, etc.)!
 
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