When the Triumph Spitfire debuted in 1962, the fact that it had the small 1147cc Herald-based engine didn’t matter to a market hungry for an Italian-styled pretty little sports car. Unlike its main competitors (the Austin-Healey Sprite/MG Midget tandem) the Spitfire featured wind up windows and independent rear suspension. Unfortunately, the swing-axle IRS came from the Herald and had some handling vices when pushed hard. Cries for more power came quickly. Happily, a smooth 6-cylinder, 2000cc version of the engine as used in the 2000 Mk. I sedan and estate was sitting on the Standard-Triumph shelf. Why not put the two together? The result could be yours from this ebay auction submitted by Barn Finds reader Jim S.

Triumph used the engine in a prototype convertible known as the “Fury” in 1965. For various reasons, possibly including the similar-looking fastback Spitfires that ran at LeMans in 1964 and 1965, a fastback version of the Spitfire was eventually chosen to handle the 6-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, when the GT6 debuted in 1966, the additional front end weight and power highlighted the Spitfire’s perceived handling issues. As a serial Spitfire owner, I can attest to the interesting handling of early models when driven spiritedly.

Triumph’s answer was the GT6+ (known as the GT6 Mk. II in the rest of the world) which featured a completely redesigned rear suspension, including a lower wishbone and rubber/metal doughnuts on the half shafts. If they were good enough for Colin Chapman’s Elan, they were good enough for Triumph! The ad for this example claims a year old 7 restoration with twice yearly starts since. Very little rust appears in the pictures and even the commonly rusted floors look solid. However, I’d want to check the sills just in front of the rear wheels where this model commonly rusts. More troubling is what appears to be bare body filler on the right rear fender and peeling clearcoat over the entire car.

While not original, the interior is probably serviceable for a driver if the red/black color scheme suits you. I have seen nice results from refinishing the original veneered dash, and the padded dash top can be recovered in vinyl or with a hard plastic aftermarket cover. A fiberglass transmission tunnel has replaced the original cardboard one.

The engine bay appears largely stock except for paint, a few odd components, and a wiring harness covered with corrugated tubing. One direction to go with this car would be to source a Spitfire body and create a “Spit-6” as many enthusiasts have done. The GT6 was never offered as a convertible, presumably as it would have been too close to the TR series, but it would be a shame to abandon what seems to be a fairly solid shell of a rarer model just to have a convertible. What would you do?