Thinking about selling my GT6....should I do this, and/or is anyone interested?

So I have a 1970 Triumph GT6+ that has been in the family since new. It has a lot of sentimental value (it was my dad's first car and also mine), but for the last couple years I've had it stashed away in my back garage collecting dust because I don't much like driving it in this metropolitan area and my wife/kids want nothing to do with it. After doing a lot of work on it a while back, I am kind of over working on British cars, to boot.

The car's situation: It has had some events over its life (accidents, lots of rust, etc). As it sits, the entire floor pan and rockers and rear valences are fiberglass (molded from OEM steel stamped pieces), so the roof, doors, and bonnet are the main original body pieces. Could always find a better body shell for it on ebay or something, IDK.

About 7-8 years ago I took it frame-off, put a new (straight) frame on (sandblasted and epoxy-coated), put on all new suspension stuff all around (with Spax shocks, lowering block in the rear, uprated springs up front, all new bushings, etc). Rebuilt brakes all around. It has staggered Superlite 14" wheels I had custom-sized from Australia that are very nice, sitting on some Sumitomo tires with like 500 miles on them.

Engine is basically all original....never even been opened as far as I know. Has pertronix ignition and fires right up even after sitting for months. The intake manifold is bored out and it has twin SU 1.75s replacing the original Stromberg 1.50s. All wiring was replaced with a new harness about 10 years ago. Radiator (original) was recored then too.

Interior has pretty decent replacement carpet set from about 10 years ago. Currently has some Miata seats in it (I may still have originals). I had the dash custom-made to accommodate extra Smiths gauges and frankly it's my favorite part of the car. Interior could use some work, but overall it pretty decent. Has a nice Momo steering wheel as well.

Body is so-so....body panels don't align all that well, and the whole car is just rattle-canned matte black. It looks good from 20 feet and still gets complements. Has a Monza exhaust with no rust. OVerall the car runs, drives, handles much better than it did stock, and the engine still feels strong. The diff is a bit rumbly - not sure what the deal is since I had a vintage sportscar shop rebuild it less than 10 years ago and it hasn't been driven much in that time.

Also has an original/1970s aftermarket formerly chrome roof rack, an original am/fm radio deck, and most of the original interior features (tunnel knee pads, center bridge, etc) that I rounded up over the years. Plus plenty of stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting.

So IDK...I never drive it, and have other projects that interest me more (both to work on and to drive). I coudl just stash it away for a decade until maybe I'll be interested again, but am kind of thinking that someone else may enjoy it more than I would (and it could help my budget on other project cars).

So anyhow, with what I've said here, any ideas on what kind of ballpark someone might pay for it? It's not all that original, not at all a show car, but a good driver for someone who likes old Brit cars. Like I said it has sentimental value to me, but at this point maybe I'd rather just sell it to someone who might actually enjoy it.

Thoughts?

Ohh, I like it and would daily it. Sadly, It's probably more than I can afford.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Ohh, I like it and would daily it. Sadly, It's probably more than I can afford.

I don't have any misconception that it's worth all that much. I mean, it has some nice parts on it but we all know that the sum of parts isn't what a car is worth at all. I could probably part it out for far more than what I coudl sell it for, but I definitely will not do that (also, trying to do online sales to British car enthusiasts is a lost cause I think, lol). It's not costing me anything to have it here, it just kind of makes me sad to see it sitting there collecting dust. But well aware that it's not worth what an original-condition GT6 would be, whatever that is...

Also have a bunch of spares, a spare hatchback, windows, all kinds of other random stuff for it...

Well it's not costing you anything to keep it. And if you sold it for top dollar whatever that is it's not going to change your life one way or another. Car was in your father's life before you were. Quite honestly it sounds like you're a bit melancholy that there's no one around that wants to carry the torch and the sentimental value of the car. Kind of like staring your own mortality in the face even though you're only what? 41?

How do you think you'll feel in 20 years when the car is almost 70 years old? We you look back and wish you had hung on to it? Tough question but there's your answer

Ovid_and_Flem wrote: Well it's not costing you anything to keep it. And if you sold it for top dollar whatever that is it's not going to change your life one way or another. Car was in your father's life before you were. Quite honestly it sounds like you're a bit melancholy that there's no one around that wants to carry the torch and the sentimental value of the car. Kind of like staring your own mortality in the face even though you're only what? 41? How do you think you'll feel in 20 years when the car is almost 70 years old? We you look back and wish you had hung on to it? Tough question but there's your answer

To be honest, my dad has no sentimental attachment to it at this point. I offered it back to him, but he's not terribly interested in driving it anymore (he's in his upper 60s with hip replacements). This was my first car and my first "project car" as well, it's what I learned to wrench on for better or for worse. But I have other projects now that interest me more and suit my needs and driving interests better. I had some good times in this car, but it has never been my favorite car to drive in all truth. I have a Porsche 924 in the garage that checks most of the same boxes but is easier to live with and safe enough that my wife/kids will actually get in it).

I've thought about just keeping it tucked away until someday I decide I may want to "finish" it or drive it...but my fear is that in 20 years, the car will still be sitting where it is now and I'll be even less inclined to do anything with it then. I'd just as well move it on to someone who will enjoy it and/or improve it. The fact that it would help me complete the Porsche is also a consideration....since when I was growing up THAT was my dream car (not the GT6)....

So, a bit melancholy....perhaps. But in the end it's not one of my kids, it's just a neat old car with some history and really sexy curves. I don't really do "regrets" so that's not a real concern. 41 is a good guess....but I live in the moment and am not very concerned about mortality or whether I'll be around in 20 years. Cant take it with you and Que Sera, Sera. And I have a family, two kids, and a big mortgage to try to pay for while doing other car projects, so some extra project car money would be useful....gotta be realistic about life too lol....

I posted it up on the local CL at a price that is likely way too high, so maybe someone will want it, maybe they won't.....we shall see I guess.

Hey, I'm not psychic...I looked at you profile. Noticed you sold another gt6. How did you feel about that when you sold it?

Let's face it. Your car will likely never be a candidate for a full return to factory original concourse car....and while neat cars I don't see them going to ferrari go status.nevertheless it is a neat fun little car that will be appreciated by an enthusiast....

From what you just posted, let it go then. But hurry cause there aren't that many gt6 enthusiasts being newly minted...lol

Out of curiosity what was your CL I don't wanna sell it asking price?

Oh that's nice. How much do they go for in similar condition as yours?

If you want to sell it, Bring a Trailer is probably the way to go.

I'm guessing it's too unsafe to hang onto until it can be one of your kids' first car? 16 year old me would have been the happiest guy in the world to have that thing!

What about doing something crazy with it? Big roadtrip? Relay it around the country?

Post the CL link. For what it's worth, the GT6 is the featured car for the Vintage Triumph Register national meet this year in Princeton NJ and I know there is a push to get as many as possible to attend, regardless of condition.

I already have a GT6 (and a Spitfire), so I don't really "need" another one, but... if the price is right, I might buy it for the event and move it along afterwards. Either way, I can forward the link and background info to the local Triumph club.

Another option is to take it to Carlisle next month and put it in the corral. That's where I found/bought my GT6 back in 2012.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: If you want to sell it, Bring a Trailer is probably the way to go. I'm guessing it's too unsafe to hang onto until it can be one of your kids' first car? 16 year old me would have been the happiest guy in the world to have that thing! What about doing something crazy with it? Big roadtrip? Relay it around the country?

BaT is an option, but in general, a car needs to be in excellent condition to get top dollar.

As far as a first car, ask yourself that question again after you have kids and think about putting your first born in a car with crash-worthiness about equal to an aluminum can. If you recall, even Mrs Deuce nixed Deucekid#1 driving a first gen Insight - a car with some 4 decades of advancement in crash design.

Craigslist linky

so much want, so close, so not in the budget...damn

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Craigslist linky

Thanks - I've emailed the link to a few Triumph guys I know.

Ovid_and_Flem wrote: Hey, I'm not psychic...I looked at you profile. Noticed you sold another gt6. How did you feel about that when you sold it? Let's face it. Your car will likely never be a candidate for a full return to factory original concourse car....and while neat cars I don't see them going to ferrari go status.nevertheless it is a neat fun little car that will be appreciated by an enthusiast.... From what you just posted, let it go then. But hurry cause there aren't that many gt6 enthusiasts being newly minted...lol Out of curiosity what was your CL I don't wanna sell it asking price?

ah, the other one was just a knee-jerk impulse purchase of a $500 roller off craigslist. I ended up just re-selling it for the same price once I decided it would be too much work to improve. I don't even know why I bought the second one, honestly....just dumb stuff car guys do!

yupididit wrote: Oh that's nice. How much do they go for in similar condition as yours?

no clue, the only two conditions GT6s usually pop up in is "totally restored" and "complete rusty unrestored" haha....

This one has a lot of nice parts and mechanically is pretty nice. But the non-original/fibreglassed tub is the sticking point for any purist. not that it couldn't be replaced with a good tub off a mechanically bad car...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: If you want to sell it, Bring a Trailer is probably the way to go. I'm guessing it's too unsafe to hang onto until it can be one of your kids' first car? 16 year old me would have been the happiest guy in the world to have that thing! What about doing something crazy with it? Big roadtrip? Relay it around the country?

I drove it as a 16-year old so i can attest to that. But in a smaller town, 25 years ago when people drove slower and weren't on cell phones driving giant SUVs. Hell, I stage rally...and driving the GT6 in DC area traffic even makes me fear a bit for my safety, haha...

The Porsche is the planned big roadtrip car when done. I've already gone cross-country twice in the GT6 many years ago. That's sufficient for me.

As to Carlisle, not a bad idea but that involves time and effort, which I am short on at the moment. We'll see when the time comes. I'm not going to put a lot of effort into selling this...or just dump it cut-rate. If it sells it sells, if not, doesn't really hurt anything.

FlightService wrote: so much want, so close, so not in the budget...damn

The price I put on CL is just a nice round number that I figured would dissuade scrappers and scammers from replying. Price is very negotiable for someone that I think would actually enjoy the car and give it some love, lol.

That s not a bad asking price at all. It looks really clean and mechanically sound. If someone we're just looking for a rat rod Style GT6 it would be perfect. I was thinking your ask with spares would be higher. If I weren't so old, tall, and fat I would consider it. Good luck with the sale.

I think your pricing strategy and putting your negotiability deep in the ad is perfectly understandable and may generate some warm it might be a serious buyer. You may want to also talk about how many spares you have to go with it.

GLWS

Timing is everything.

I really like that car but... just squandered all my 2017 project cash on a new bike. It always seems to go that way. Unless you want to trade even for two nice dirt bikes I'm out of contention.

If I were you I'd keep it, but GLWS.

As much as I'm not a fan of them, the car might be a good base for a Spit 6 conversion, since a rust free Spitfire tub is generally easier to source than a rust-free round-tail GT6 tub. Let's face it, in the LBC world a "rust-free, mechanically bad" car is somewhat rare. "Runs great, needs rust repair" is the more common description.

irish44j wrote:

FlightService wrote: so much want, so close, so not in the budget...damn

The price I put on CL is just a nice round number that I figured would dissuade scrappers and scammers from replying. Price is very negotiable for someone that I think would actually enjoy the car and give it some love, lol.

Put it in the non $2017 classifieds here...never can tell. Cool little hot rod...love the Minilites.

I've always wanted a GT6, but I'm flush with British vehicles at the moment. I'll mention it to Ed (not that he needs another one). The local Triumph club is having their annual car show on April 30, so you could show it there.

I think it's awesome

I can't believe no one else in your family does

If you don't use it, and don't have concrete plans to, then sell it

The price doesn't seem too high

Very nice, you should have no trouble selling that.

On the safety part of it, its the reason I'm looking for a Miata instead of an LBC. I can't think of one person who hasn't been in a minor accident here in Chicago. In an LBC, it isn't so minor anymore.

If I was still single I'd be looking for one though.