Triumph TR7 Review The Great British Car Journey
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.ย. 2024
- Following the consolidation of a number of British car manufacturers in 1968, British Layland as it came to be known were looking to replace many of the aging models in there product line including a new sports car. Brirish sports cars had done well in the US market for many years so the new car would crucially have to be able to both compete with cars like the Datsun Z and comply with all the US regulations for safety and emissions.
In 1971 Project Bullet was give the green light for a new prototype sports car with a view to replacing aging designs offered by Triumph and MG, both of whom offered a design concept. The MG was a forward thinking mid engine car while triumph went for a futuristic wedge shape body but with more traditional front engine, rear wheel drive layout which was thought would be more appealing to American buyers.
The Triumph design was chosen and had the likes of Spen King and Harris Mann at the helm who between them had a wealth of experience.
The car was scheduled for launch in the US in 1975 and the following year elsewhere. The wedge shape design proved not to every taste and Italian designer Giugiaro famously saying "Oh my god, they have done the same on the other side as well".
Cars were initially assembled in Speke in the north west of England from 1974-77 but the following quality issues and strike action (one lasting for 17 weeks) the factory was closed and production moved to Coventry in the Midlands from 1778-80, then onto the Solihull plant where the Rover SD1 was produced for 1980 until the end of TR7 production in 1981. The Solihull plant also closed the following year.
1980 saw the TR8 (V8) and convertible models but it was too little too late. Sprint versions with a 16V head were produced as homoligation specials but are incredibly rare with only 61 cars produced.
back in 1972 their had been plans to build other models based around the TR7 of which one prototype Lynx 2+2 coupe was built but no production model was to follow.
TR7's made a few TV/Film appearances inluding Dallas, The Professionals and The New Avengers where one was driven by Purdy portraid by actress Joanna Lumley
The car in this video is a 1998cc four cylinder with a five speed manual transmission (4sp manula and an auto were also produced) and produced 105 bhp and 161Nm of torque at 3500 rpm (US spec cars produced 90bhp, California cars 76 bhp) with a claimed top speed of 110mph and 0-60 time in the region of nine and a half seconds.
This car was filmed and provide by 'Drive Dad's Car' at 'The Great British car journey where you too could visit the museum and perhaps drive this very car or one of the many other classics available. Please see link bellow.
drivedadscar.com/
greatbritishca...
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markonmotoring@yahoo.com
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I have a 1976 TR7 and it's a absolute blast to drive i love the thing 🙂
I do find myself looking on the internet at TR7's for sale. I enjoyed the TR7 more than I had expected to.
I had a 1977 British Racing Green hardtop, and a 1978 gold metallic convertible. They were a ball to drive, and more reliable than their reputation. Wish I still had them.
I was surprised how easy the car was to drive. I only got to.drive the car around an industrial estate but the steering felt very direct, driving position was very good and the car felt responsive. I would love to try one out on the open road.
Thanks Mark for sharing this video , brings back great memories.
I had my first TR7 at the age of 17 , a 1977 (on a R plate) in Yellow with green check interior back in 1983 .
Then my second in 1988 a 1981 (W plate) metallic blue with with matching colour interior and a full wabesto sunroof wow lol .
I loved both of them especially owning them when I was young , I'm now 56 years of age , but unfortunately I'm not in a position to own another one , even though I'd have one tomorrow.
Thank you.
Although prices seem to be on the rise the TR7 still seems to be a bargain. Cheeper than an MGB, Spitfire or TR6 and I certainly thought it drove better than the older MGB.
No time like the present. My dad owned a TR7 in his youth too but it's the car he owned in my teenage years (MK1 Mégane coupe) that I took a chance on and with every penny for the memories it brought flooding back alone.
@@markonmotoring So pleased you were manage to re live some childhood memories.
TR7,s have always held a special place in my heart as it was the very first car I had , just like our first love, this was and is mine .
I still think they look brilliant , even today , and I know they are beautiful to drive .
I've had many other sports cars in my time, but now at my age I drive a smart fortwo that's still great fun and I can get in and out of it lol .
Great video Mark. I remember sitting in the drivers seat of a new TR7 at a country show, when I was a little boy. The great British car journey is on my list of things to do
You will enjoy it, there is a really good selection of cars there.
I must admit I did enjoy the TR7 a lot more than I had anticipated that I would.
Hi Mark, always fancied one of these, seduced by the pop up lights… I recall seeing the Tony Pond driven TR8 in its wonderful red, white and blue factory colours whizzing through the forests as a kid.
I know the car you mean and can picture it in my head.
Pop up lights are very seductive.
Hi Mark, I drove this and the MGB (and then the white Capri) on the same afternoon at the same venue - Drive Dad's Car.
It's the MGB stood out for me. Although older it felt like a ground up designed sports car. The TR7 felt like a saloon in a sports car body. Thanks for the reviews.
Having a go in the Capri had crossed my mind.
I am a little torn over the MG and the triumph. The MG is a much prettier car, practical.with a hood size load are and generally does have the look.of a classic GT car. I did struggle a bit with the driving position though and though it had the most comfortable ride it felt old fashioned compared to the triumph which I suppose should be expected as one was at the end of its life while the other was only a few years into production at that point.. The TR7
I honestly.didn't have very high expectations for but really enjoyed it. Maybe that's largely down to.the fact the car fit me pretty well. I also.found it to be an East car to drive and the steering felt good.
They are great cars Mark !
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The hard-top with the big sunroof, for me is a better choice !
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You can almost pop them in 5th gear and drive them like an automatic !
I did rather enjoy the experience more than I had expected. It would be nice to be able to try one out on the open road. I think you are probably right about the sunroof.
@@markonmotoring Cheers for the reply mate.
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The American versions had A/C which i bet was incredible.... but also the seats were more comfortable with a higher quality velour and better carpets !
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(in my humble opinion .. a convertible is like a speed boat .. great fun but short lived)
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Gor i remember them new in 1975 ... the design put them in the Lotus class and the reliability scandal ?????.. (ive wondered over the years if Ford were the culprits) ???.
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Plus they are FAST !!! .... Even the old 4 speeds could push to 100 mph but were crude sounding !
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But Hey ... Thanks for the Reply !
Cracking review Mark, hoping to get down to the British Car Journey in April when we are down in Sheffield for the week, hoping to drive a car that my dad had.
It's a good day out. Plenty to see in the museum too.
MTR7 was driven from Michigan to California bitter Winter-Snow
I had a 1976 S reg, red, with black vinyl roof, from 84 till 91. Did so much work on it to keep it going, proper rust bucket.
I had engine and gearbox apart. Gearbox had a fibre gear pump in it, obviously full of swarf. My cars gear box was a right cruncher 1-2 gear.
70mph on the motorway the front would lift and steering go very light. When passing fellow TR7 driver would pop headlights.
My dad had one in the late 70's and had a similar experience.
I had a Tr7 Spider. It was a fun car….when it wasn’t broken down on the side of the road. 😂
🚗💨💨💨
I think triumph always wanted the car to be a convertible.
Sorry to hear You're car wasn't reliable.
I owned a 1982 TR7 for 9 years, a beast of a car. Great for pulling the girls too. Reliability issues ruined a otherwise great time and my bank ACCOUNT!!!!!! PX her for a 1990 Porsche 944S2, now I'm talking.
I'd happily take one if each.
With a v8 they are a blast to drive and don't cost the earth to keep on the road.
I didn't really get to stretch the legs of the 2.0 but felt that it would at least keep up with modern traffic. The V8 power would be nice but ultimately it's the sound of the V8 that adds the real magic. I hope it doesn't make the car too nose heavy though?
It's a great shame that the V8 version of this car never really got going ultimately being killed off by the pounds strength against the dollar (as Sterling became a petro currency due to North sea oil) and the dreadful financial position of British Leyland. They finally sorted out most of the quality issues, got the production out of Speke only for the model to be abandoned.
You are absolutely right.
The 7 was rushed out at the wrong time and it''s reputation cost it severely.
A real Shane as they showed they had the potential to get it right in the end. It wasn't just BL this sort of thing inflicted though, Pontiac had a similar scenario a few years later with their Fiero sports car where the initial launch product fell short but came good for the final year of production.
The gear change quality is dependent on oil viscosity. I experimented with ATF then settled with motorbike gear oil.
Fascinating.
I suppose many discoveries like this have been made by owners over the decades to make for a car that's better than factory fresh.
I never fixed my cars 1-2 shift.
some Tr have Saab engines which eqval to sprint or better
I did not know that.
The TR7 viewed from the front is an attractive car, but it seems that this was completed at 4.55pm on a Friday afternoon leaving just 5 minutes to finish the car explaining why the rear has no style whatsoever and is simply ugly. To make things even worse, the rear bumpers an obvious after thought were added achieving the impossible, making it even more awful. As for interior quality, there isn't any.
I agree with you on the styling. The front is very much a design that was looking forward to the 80's but it went a bit wrong towards the back. I think big part of the problem was that they wanted a rag top but fearful that the US were going to ban them opted for a tin top. That cliff edge of a rear window doesn't suit the car but probably allowed cash strapped BL to use the same trunk lid for rather body style. Personally I'd have liked to have seen a sloping rear window or even a wrap around glass House tailgate that could been designed to fit the same opening as the flat trunk lid meaning the same rear wings would have been compatible.
I'm not a fan of the side scallops either.
Must admit though the car drive much nicer than I had expected.
There is proto type at Gayden, version with sloping back.