My local find Triumph TR7...

[Trophy200]

Being Liverpool born, and of an age that means I can remember TR7's parked outside the factory in Speke, I've always hankered after getting as early a Triumph TR7 FHC as I could lay my hands on. The convertible has never quite done it for me, although that's not to rubbish it at all, so a Speke FHC it had to be.

The quest started a few years ago for a Speke car, must be FHC and preferably without a sunroof if possible.

During a chance conversation in 2010 I heard of a car, not 2 miles from where I live, which had been in a barn since 2002 and had a history and specification I could only dream of.

I viewed the car and discussed the possibility of buying it with the owner but he wasn't sure if he wanted to part with it or not but I left my contact details and asked if I could be contacted with first refusal if he ever changed his mind.

Fast forward to eight weeks ago and I get the 'phone call saying it could be for sale. It's surprising how quickly you can cover two miles if you put your mind to it!

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I bought it and here for those of you who are still reading by this stage is a brief spec. and some photo's......

Built January 1977 but not registered until August 1977
No sunroof
5 speed gearbox
2 previous owners (I'll be the third)
Genuine 26,000 miles from new (and 13 stamps in the service book)
Full Ziebart rustproofing from new (holes with rubber bungs everywhere)
Original Unipart branded radio

So to the photo's...

Tucked up in the barn where it's sat for 10 years



Pushed towards the sunlight ready for "the move"



Blinking in the sunshine



Onboard and ready to go



Arrival at its new home



Safely tucked away to await a full examination and sympathetic re-commissioning



I hope you agree it's been worth the searching and waiting.

Trophy200

[mehere]

I hope you tied it on before you were 'ready to go' ...

5-speed is quite unusual for a 1977 car I think ??

[silvagod]

Well worth the wait mate. I hope that you provide more pictures of the beasty as you 'recommission'

[Trophy200]

mehere said:

I hope you tied it on before you were 'ready to go' ...

5-speed is quite unusual for a 1977 car I think ??

I didn't tie it on but the guy transporting it for me did.

From what I've read the 5 speed was available as an option but was very difficult to obtain as the launch of the Rover SD1 meant 5 speed boxes were diverted to meet demand and so became temporarily "unavailable".

I tracked down the cars original owner who still lives locally as I was curious as to why he bought the car from a Manchester dealer, some 35 miles away, when there were lots of nearer local dealers and it appears that he really wanted the 5 speed and this was the only one he could find.

Trophy200

[LotusOmega375D]

Back in the 80s, my old man had a red "S" plate auto. That car was rear-ended and written off, but its number plate lives on to this day on his Midget. He then had a brown T-reg 5 speed and finally a gold X-reg 5 speed convertible that I also used to enjoy driving. According to the DVLA, that one still exists but has had a Rover V8 transplant. Good luck with yours.

[mehere]

Trophy200 said:

I didn't tie it on but the guy transporting it for me did.

From what I've read the 5 speed was available as an option but was very difficult to obtain as the launch of the Rover SD1 meant 5 speed boxes were diverted to meet demand and so became temporarily "unavailable".

I tracked down the cars original owner who still lives locally as I was curious as to why he bought the car from a Manchester dealer, some 35 miles away, when there were lots of nearer local dealers and it appears that he really wanted the 5 speed and this was the only one he could find.

Trophy200

Yes that's how I remember the 5-speed situation at the time too ... it also meant you got bigger brakes and a beafier axle, I think.
The interior will be the original black everything then?

[Trophy200]

mehere said:

Yes that's how I remember the 5-speed situation at the time too ... it also meant you got bigger brakes and a beafier axle, I think.
The interior will be the original black everything then?

Yes, black cord type material everywhere. Seems a bit sombre until you consider that the later alternative was red/green/beige tartan!

Trophy200

[mehere]

Trophy200 said:

Yes, black cord type material everywhere. Seems a bit sombre until you consider that the later alternative was red/green/beige tartan!

Trophy200

ho ho yes - "McNasty" - we used to call it -- the late Coventry models had much nicer insides..

[Aar0sc]

Awesome!

I've got a '77 S triumph too

[Hammer67]

Lucky bleeder. I had an R reg one of these. 5 speed, white and all black interior. RKN677R I think. Sometime around 1990 when I had a mullet and spent most of my time fighting off women with a stick. Unfortunately I knocked the ends out one night on the M20 trying to find out how fast it would go.

[T66ORA]

Great find, i love all Triumphs, had a modded 2500S back in 1980.
I thought the 5 speed shortage was due to demand from the states?
I got given this a couple of Christmas ago, some great tales from the militant Speke factory Well worth the read.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Triumph-TR7-The-Untold-Sto...

[LewG]

What a fantastic original car, especially with such low mileage

[DBSV8]

thats fantastic ,

with that paint scheme , you simply have to turn it in to one of these

[varsas]

Very nice. These are the only Triumph I remember new (i wasn't 'into' cars when young so the acclaim passed me by) . Would really like a go in one, I'd be interested in your driving impressions.

[Hooli]

Blimey it was produced the same month I was, but looks like it's survived in a lot nearer to original condition

[b2hbm]

A great find, we had one of the last FHC's in 1982 & ran if for 4 or 5yrs. The Speke build quality was the big downer for the car's reputation but ours was fine, solid build and as reliable as any car of the period. The only bad point was that it felt under-braked and I did change the dampers after 2yrs but otherwise it was a very practical car.

[mehere]

b2hbm said:

A great find, we had one of the last FHC's in 1982 & ran if for 4 or 5yrs. The Speke build quality was the big downer for the car's reputation but ours was fine, solid build and as reliable as any car of the period. The only bad point was that it felt under-braked and I did change the dampers after 2yrs but otherwise it was a very practical car.

Yes I had a [very] late build FHC car too. It was also reliable, nicely appointed etc. However, BIG problem was the gold paint finish - which would actually rub off in your hand!

[hedgefinder]

unfortunatley they roll like a north sea trawler...

[Trophy200]

hedgefinder said:

unfortunatley they roll like a north sea trawler...

With modern shocks/modified spring rates I'm sure that's one of the easier things to fix without making it look too modified. I'll let you know.

Trophy200

[davepoth]

Trophy200 said:

hedgefinder said:

unfortunatley they roll like a north sea trawler...

With modern shocks/modified spring rates I'm sure that's one of the easier things to fix without making it look too modified. I'll let you know.

Trophy200

Spen King, who did the suspension setup on most of the later Triumphs, as well as the SD1 and Range Rover, liked long spring travel and lower rates. It actually feels pretty decent if the bushes are in decent condition, but if they're worn, and especially the ones on the rear axle, it can make one a little seasick.

Anti roll bar upgrade kits are available for the TR7 which is where I think I would start as it should calm the rolling into the corners without making the ride all crashy.