To my other GT6 pages.
July 5, 2024
Epilog
Exactly five years ago today, I published the first page
of this GT6 restoration Blog. As of today, I'm declaring the
project finished. As with any large project, a handful of minor
loose ends linger, but for all practical purposes, it's done. I've
taken a few drives, and the car goes pretty well. I think I can
improve the idle, and the exhaust is a bit louder than I'd prefer, but
I'm generally happy with how it looks and how it runs.
Finishing a big effort like this is always a little bitter-sweet for me,
because the actual restoration process is the thing I enjoy the
most. Driving is certainly cool too, but it doesn't offer the
creative challenges for me that hands-on wrenching does. For me,
this endeavor was more an engineering project than an automotive
one.
As for cost, I didn't keep detailed records, but an ongoing mental tally
tells me that I've spent a little over $10,000 on parts and
materials. I frankly don't know what the car is worth, and don't care much, but I
believe I've accomplished the goal of not getting upside down
financially on it. I have it insured for an agreed value of
$22,000, but some folks have suggested that this is maybe not enough.
I want to offer a heartfelt thank-you to members of the online forums
and groups who offered encouragement, kind words, and the occasional criticism
throughout the project. Part of the motivation for this work came
from the online community.
So, the GT6 officially becomes a stable-mate to my previous TR6 and
Triumph Daytona motorcycle restorations. And last week, I started
disassembling the MGA.
I put together a few pictures of the finished car, in no particular order. Click them for a larger view.