Section : General

General GT6 messages

GT6 MkI restoration

Posted By : Andy Smith, 04-Nov-2002, 08:23pm

Hello, I'm a new member to the TSSC, and I am the proud owner of a 1968 MkI GT6. I am beginning the restoration of this car as we speak, it will not be a concours resto cus of lack of funds!!! I intend to get the car roadworthy and looking tidy, then as and when funds become available I will endeavour to have the panels replaced that for now I have had to repair. I am replacing the complete sill sections, rear wings and inner rear arches, doors and the bonnet when I can find one. Mechanically I as yet do not know the condition of the engine or gearbox as yet but I shall overhaul it prior to fitting then keep my fingers crossed. I would like to hear from anybody who is doing the same past or present who could offer advice and help.

Bye for now

Andy. (Coventry)

Followups :

GT6 MkI restoration

Posted By : Ian Southwell, 26-Nov-2002, 10:09am

Andy, I have been restoring a GT6 Mk3 for over ten years and am nearly finished. Your taking the right approach by doing it in phases. I'm also in Coventry so if you get stuck let us know!
Ian
- GT6 MkI restoration
  
  Posted By : Andy Smith, 29-Nov-2002, 10:42pm
  
  Dear Ian,
  
  Thanks for your reply, I've got to the stage where the boot floor is in, after several repairs to the inner wing panels, new boot floor, all sealed up cushti!!!!!. N/s floor pan, lower front bulkhead panel, complete sill set-up in hopefully in the next week.
  
  All parts have been sourced from Canley Classics who have been very helpful.
  
  Once I've finished the main structure of the car I'll begin on the chassis so watch this space.
  
  The cars history is as follows, 1968 NOJ 3F, royal blue (code 56) STILL GOT ORIGINAL ENGINE, needs loadsa work but I'm enjoying the challenge.
  
  Look foward to hearing from you soon, and anyone else who is pulling their hair out doing their resto projects (GT6 MkI especially).
  
  Cheers Andy.
  
  (Coventry)
  - GT6 MkI restoration
    
    Posted By : Stuart Caunt, 16-Dec-2002, 01:02pm
    
    I'm a proud owner of 1968 GT6 MkI which I purchased in the summer. At present the car is garaged over winter but minor repairs are taking place with the seals and the locks. 35 year old seals tend to become brittle and start to leak.
    
    Based in Yorkshire.
    
    Let us know how your getting on.
    
    Stuart.
    - GT6 MkI restoration
      
      Posted By : Andy Smith, 17-Dec-2002, 06:12pm
      
      Hello Stuart,
      Nice to chat to a fellow mk1 owner there does'nt seem to be many of us around. I've just finished putting a new boot floor in, after many other related repairs to the inner wings. The n/s floor pan, and lower A panel repair section will be next to go in along with complete sill assembly. Once there in, the rear outer inner arch and new n/s wing will be mounted. That hopefully will be it for the n/s, then its turn the car round and start all over again on the o/s. Watch this space!!!!!!!!
      - GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Tony Hankin, 12-Jan-2003, 06:36pm
        
        Hi guys,
        
        I've just been and secured the purchase of a Mk1 for restoration. I'm picking her up on Saturday. The guy I've bought from has a yard full of Triumphs. The GT6 I've said I'll have is one of 6. All require some fairly major restoration work, some more than others. He's got a body there (minus chassis) that he reckons is the first one ever built, I didn't check it out as I wanted something a bit more complete.
        
        I found his info on http://www.findit.co.uk, his name is Frank Elkerton and I won't give out his phone number here, but it is on the website. He's a guy based in Lowestoft, though the cars are in a village called Murrow.
        
        Anyway, this is my first restoration, and I'm glad to see there are others around doing the same sort of thing. Can't wait to get started. I'm based in Essex.
        
        Cheers.
        
        GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Andy Smith, 13-Jan-2003, 07:22pm
        
        Dear Tony,
        Many thanks for your follow-up to my MK 1 GT6 story. What year is your new purchase? What level of work is required to restore it? Are you going the full hog and go down the concours route, or just rebuild to good condition? I'll try the website you have mentioned, cheers for that. I am at the stage now of, new boot floor in, complete n/s floor, complete n/s sill assembly, lower A post, and a complete brand new n/s door. Then turn the car round in the garage and start all over again with the o/s before chassis and engine rebuild.Spanner rash rules!!!!!!!! All the best Andy
        
        GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Graham Beal, 13-Jan-2003, 11:51pm
        
        Dear Andy.
        I am currantly restoring a 1967 GT6 Mk1, I obtained the car in september 02 from an elderly gentleman who had started the job and run out of inthusiasm. He has had structural repairs done to the shell ie sills, floors, boot floor, bonnet etc, his skill was in the mechanical side of the restoration this is why he had the body work carried out by a third party.
        The mechanics and chassis have been reconditioned and appear to be sound.
        Since I have had the car the work carried out so for has included generally sorting out the car and assesing what needs to be done and in some sort of order. The bonnet, tailgate and front vallance I have had sand blasted, so these are the areas I to be attended to first.
        The car is in good shape overall but does require a fair ammount of work to be anywere near compleated.
        I was interested to read about your car it sounds as though you have a bigger job on your hands than I. Its good to know somebody else is out there doing the same sort of thing as me, pehaps we can encourage each other to get these cars done.
        Look forward to corresponding with you again.
        Graham Beal.
        
        GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Andy Smith, 14-Jan-2003, 06:20pm
        
        Dear Graham,
        Many thanks for your follow up, YES you are correct i've got a fair old project on my hands but i am enjoying every minute of it! The body work is the major area requiring a total bodyshell build near as dammit!!! I am not restoring the car to show standards but everything is being replaced to give me a strong presentable car that i will definatley keep the local residents awake. Hopefully certain modifications will allow me to endeavour on to the circuits time and money permitting. Keep up the good work and i look forward to further conversations with you. Spanner rash rules!!!!!!!!!!!
        
        GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Tony Hankin, 20-Jan-2003, 08:10pm
        
        Andy,
        I picked up my Signal Red Mk 1 on Saturday. The one I've already talked about. She needs a lot of work done on her, and I'm going to be learning most of it from scratch. I can weld, and I'm confident enough on the mechanical side, but I've never tried bodywork repairs before. Man is there a lot of bodywork repairing to be done. Sometime in the past, the previous owner has started to repair the drivers side sill. He's got to the stage where he cut out the previous sill but no further. My first job therefore, is going to be to replace the entire RH floorpan (that's rotted beyond repair) and then complete the work he's started on the sill.
        Plan is to get her to a nice standard, I'm not foolish enough to go for concourse on my first attempt, and I'd like to give myself the option to tweak a bit later on without feeling guilty about taking her too far from original. It's a pity I can't attach pictures in here, everyone at work is getting sick of seeing what they perceive to be a pile of rust from x different angles.
        
        Cheers.
        
        GT6 MkI restoration
        
        Posted By : Andy Smith, 22-Jan-2003, 06:12pm
        
        Tony,
        Join the club mate, the majority of my family call my car "The scrapheap challenge", but i continue undaunted by their remarks. My wife has seen me complete rebuilds before so knows one day there will be a ROAR from the garage and the beast will be unleashed!!! I have had some very good advice from Karl Dandridge (Canley Classics) who also has some spares. I will hopefully finish my resto by xmas, certain modifications will be carried out once the car is on the road, but i will be fitting rollcage, buckets and harnesses, mk1v rear spring, uprated front rollbar, adjustable suspension etc. I wish you luck Tony stick with it my bodytub is halfway done. Keep in touch.
        Andy
GT6 MkI restoration

Posted By : Neil Pemberton, 25-Feb-2003, 09:51pm

Hi guys,
I have just got hold of a 1967 Mk1 after 10 years of spitfire ownership. am aiming at a rolling restoration. Looking for like minded people to share ideas with and maybe some spare part trading,
Neil