By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but interest in the wedge-shaped TR7 is stirring again.
The coupe actually went into production 50 years ago and hit the US market in 1975. The new ‘arrival’ used a 1998cc eight-valve engine from the Triumph Dolomite.
UK car buyers had to wait until May 1976 to get their hands on the TR7, a car which would prove a radical shift from the TR sporting line.
The car went on sale for £2,988, nearly £700 cheaper than a Ford Capri, but it was dogged by build quality issues and the wider problems at British Leyland.
In an ironic twist, the car’s launch strap line ‘The shape of things to come’ would sum up the rocky start to life for the TR7.
Working issues at the company’s Speke factory led to production moving to Canley and then Solihull in 1980.
In time, assembly of the TR7 would get better and later models are the more reliable ones to look out for. A convertible was added in 1979, along with a five-speed gearbox as standard.
A more powerful TR8 variant, fitted with a Rover V8 engine, was made with many going to the US.
Over the six-year lifespan of the car, 115,000 TR7 models were built and nearly 2,800 TR8s. Today, only around 500 TR7s are still on UK roads .
In terms of affordability, the TR7 scores high and is attracting growing buyer interest. Good examples start at around £5,000. Fewer right-hand drive TR8s are around and these can go for double this price.
Other cheaper sports car classics from the same era are available, but how many are as striking as this wedge-shaped wonder?
I’m the second person to own this 1976 tr7 with a 4 speed. It get put a garage each winter.
It has about 90000 miles on it. All numbers match. One thing that has been done before I got it was the right fender was dented and repaired. Paint doesn’t match that good. All glass, paint body parts are original. I have had for 24 years. Paint was faded but wax on wax off all by hand No mechanical buffer. I just love driving it around. I’m from Maine so it gets put before snow falls.
A beautiful place to live. I used to live in Wooburn, Boston (USA) and I loved it. I still visit occasionally but live in Yorkshire, UK now. I have 2 friends with TR7’s, One has 5 but his wife only knows about 3 of them!
I have 1980 anniversary edition convertible since ’81. This has been a hard year with regard to repairs but it’s mine until I can’t climb out of it anymore I guess.
I have a lotus elan with roll cage and getting out is increasingly a problem but I’ll never sell it.
stick with a 1975 Triumph TR6