I don't have "The Works Triumphs" (yet) but Robson's "Spitfire & GT6"
has a few paragraphs and photos of the GT6R prototype which was being
prep'd for the 1966 Le Mans race when the project was abandoned due to
costs. Too bad as it certainly was a looker - don't know about
negotiating that tight right hander at the end of the Mulsanne straight
with swing axle and drum brakes at the rear and two litre urging on the
front! As far as any non factory efforts in the late sixteys, I couldn't
find any reference to Triumphs - there were these really nasty German
beasts going under the moniker of Porche that had the two litre classes
pretty well covered (and gave a few frights to some of the big bore boys too)
As well assorted Alphas, Renaults and the odd Dino Ferrari would have
made running a GT6 pretty futile.
Tiddly trivia detail - the hardtop for the le Mans Spits was actually
pulled off the GT6 prototype (well, ok, it was technically a Spitfire
hardtop prototype untill somebody got the bright idea of shoehorning in
the six).
Question - has anyone got/seen the videotape of the Triumphs at Sebring -
I think it's about the Spits and the great flood. I'd be interested in
know if it's worth getting (and if/where it's available)
On Fri, 7 Mar 1997, James Sudduth wrote:
> >Chet asks:
> > Does anyone know of any literature about the
> >appearance of any GT6s at Le Mans? A couple of years ago I attended the
> >vintage races at Watkins Glen and camped next to a blue/yellow striped
> >race prepared GT6 that had plates in it indicating an appearance at Le
> >Mans. Although I photgraphed the car I never spoke to the owner. I
> >know spitfire coupes went to the race and the GT6 came from this I've
> >never seen anything about GT6s there. I wonder if a list of
> >entrants/finishing positions exists from the late '60s that covers the
> >smaller
> >teams.
> >
> >
>
> The most well known book on this is probably Graham Robson"s "The Works
> Triumphs", which covers GT6's at LeMans as well as the whole racing and
> rallying history of Triumph both pre- and post- WWII. Its emphasis is on the
> postwar history. If I remember right it was around $30.00 US but it's worth
> the money - order it from:
>
> Classic Motorbooks
> P.O. Box 1
> Osceola WI 54020-0001
> 1-800-826-6600
>
>
> Jim Sudduth
> jims@autodesk.com
> '74 TR6 CF20076U
> Berkeley, California USA
>
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