Minneapolis Street Sighting: Triumph GT6 Coupe

As I said yesterday, I live for finding the rare, and offbeat cars. All the classic cars around here as big, brash luxobarges hailing from Detroit-- or at least made by the big three. Lincolns, big Fords, Chryslers, et al are all cool in their own right-- but on the whole they lack details, lack character. Sure, there's the badges and classy scripts that make up the nameplate, but aside from those few characteristics, they all resemble on another. While a four-door thirty year old Ford is cool, especially in the rustbelt, I tend to gravitate towards the more seldom seen European marques. Whether this is good or bad, it's up to you--but as a car enthusiast who doesn't stick to one particular brand at cars shows, this sameness get quite old after awhile.
Every so often, my scouting the city turns up a worthwhile result; sometimes its close to home, and sometimes it's in a neighborhood I'm unfamiliar with. Cars like MG, old Fiats, Vespas, and even TVRs; they're probably not for everyone, and that's what makes them interesting. In the summer it seems, the other marques tend to come out and play; a popular choice is the Triumph TR-6, and even the earlier TR-3s are fairly common spottings in my area. Let me draw your attention away from those common British staples, and let's look at a nameplate that isn't quite as common, but definitely has all the appeal of its roadster siblings--maybe even more.









Like all Triumphs, the GT-6, while it looks quite stunning, had relatively humble origins; it didn't start out as a fast car--and it never really was intended to be. It was more of a cruiser, anyway. Based on the commonly bashed, and frequently ridiculed Triumph Spitfire, the GT-6 earned the nickname early on as the "poor man's E-Type" and its easy to see why; fastback body, large opening hatch, and a one-piece flip-up front just like the poster-Jag. It also had more style than substance, but don't let that fool you--from what I've read these are decent cars, they just lack in power--a factor that can quickly be remedied with a plethora of aftermarket support for Triumph enthusiasts.
Production began in 1966 if I recall, and lasted until 1973, when the last of the Mark IIIs rolled up the Coventry line; unfortunately, Triumph overestimated how many of their prized coupe would actually sell--and some ended up being sold well into the 1974 model year. Unfortunately for Triumph, the GT6 never sold in the numbers expected, and very few survive, especially in the US.
While not as common as their siblings, the GT6 still remains to have a following, especially in the Triumph circle; the Spitfire which lends itself as the base for this wonderful coupe doesn't quite share it legacy. Sure, its got its followers, but the Spitfire never really had the character, or the "budget Jaguar" stigma that its coupe brethren had developed over the years.
I really like these coupes; to me, they combine the perfect attributes of what British motoring should be; light kerb weight, normally aspirated engine, and rear wheel drive, and the sultry looks only enhance its appeal--after all, what's a great car without exquisite styling, right?