Club Arnage

Club Arnage => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gilles on August 12, 2003, 12:33:43 am



Title: TR7 opportunity
Post by: Gilles on August 12, 2003, 12:33:43 am
Ok I need your advice...

Is a TR7 a valuable car? Is it reliable? funny to drive?

A black with MOt is for sale two blocks from home for 3600 Euros and I begion to have interest in...


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Steve Pyro on August 12, 2003, 12:52:48 am
These are typical quirky British Leyland cars of the 70's and 80's.
Is it a convertible or fixed roof?
The bodies rust (British Steel!!) and the engines can be prone to overheating and cylinder head problems.  Having said that, parts are still available over here and they are a bit different to a normal car with their wedge shaped styling.
3600 euros - about £2000 ???
More like £1000 to £1500 in the UK for a reasonable one.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: hgb on August 12, 2003, 08:42:55 am
British classics are usually a bit more expensive over here on the continent. It's got something to do with the stearing being on the other side and the cars being rarer. However, I would rather go for the more refined TR8 than for the TR7.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Gilles on August 12, 2003, 01:51:17 pm

Is it a convertible or fixed roof?


It's a convertible...

... however I would probably sav a few more money and invest in a Spit or an MGB !


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Matt Harper on August 12, 2003, 07:38:14 pm
"British classics"

Given that nobody else has stepped up to the plate, I feel it incumbant upon myself to point out that there is no way - no frickin' way that the Triumph TR7 can be described as a British classic.
They were shite and there's no getting away from the fact.
Most factory TR8s ended up in US dealers and they were much maligned also. I'm not qualified to slag the factory V8 car, because I've never driven one, but the modified TR7 (with a 3.5 Range Rover engine) was also piss poor.
Each to his own, I suppose, but let's get it straight, the TR7 wasn't, isn't and will never be a British classic, unlike previous TR derivatives (and some of them were pretty ghastly an'all).


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: wishy on August 12, 2003, 08:32:46 pm
Hi Gilles

The TR7 can be a fun car....however,the convertible is more desireable.....Here in the Uk the TR7 was an oddball car which Leyland got the design wrong....so they are not  that collectable over here,but in France it will probably pull the birds!!!!.,...even Texans ;D

Things to be aware of .........the engine is half a Triumph Stag.Check that it has always had antifreeze in the cooling system as the head can have serious corroson damage.The other thing is if the engine has cam chain rattle it will need replacing straight away.

The other thing to look for is body rot.

Apart from that have a look at www.tr7-tr8.com.....and for spares www.rimmerbros.co.uk


Wishy


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: wishy on August 12, 2003, 08:36:11 pm
Sorry Gilles

One other thing the gearboxes can be noisy..........mainly because Triumph use the same box in the early TR's

Wishy


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Matt Harper on August 12, 2003, 11:00:50 pm
Well there you have it.
Sounds like Wishy knows a thing or two about this nail of a car.
Warped/corroded head, flailing cam chain, rowdy gearbox.
He's been kind and not mentioned recalcitrant headlamps, seizing brake calipers, noisy diff, weepy water pump, hood leaks, earthquake-like scuttle shake, flaky heater. Other than that, it's a little jem (assuming the body hasn't rotted off).
A chick magnet it ain't.
This car is a turd, let's just get used to it.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Rhino on August 12, 2003, 11:19:58 pm
Remember the late great Tony Pond in a TR8.
Didn't he complain the car wasn't geared high enough on the Isle of Man because he was on the limiter for much of the time in fith gear!!!!!
What a man.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: pretzel on August 12, 2003, 11:28:32 pm
Have to agree with Wishy and Matt
I suppose it was a classic in a way - i.e. this car was one of the 'classic' achievements of the UK's nationalised motor industry in the Seventies. Poor design, poor development etc. etc. The results speak for themselves.

I had a Triumph from that era - a Dolomite Sprint - and it was exactly the same in a lot of ways.  

Don't do it Gilles, there are many better choices for your Euros.



Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: hgb on August 13, 2003, 08:05:20 am
"British classics"

Given that nobody else has stepped up to the plate, I feel it incumbant upon myself to point out that there is no way - no frickin' way that the Triumph TR7 can be described as a British classic.
They were sh**te and there's no getting away from the fact.
Most factory TR8s ended up in US dealers and they were much maligned also. I'm not qualified to slag the factory V8 car, because I've never driven one, but the modified TR7 (with a 3.5 Range Rover engine) was also piss poor.
Each to his own, I suppose, but let's get it straight, the TR7 wasn't, isn't and will never be a British classic, unlike previous TR derivatives (and some of them were pretty ghastly an'all).

I didn't want to express it that directly. Matt you're right, the TR7/8 is nothing like its predecessors. I have a TR6 and have once driven a TR7. You can tell the difference in the price.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Andy Zarse on August 13, 2003, 10:31:51 am
Oi! Gilles! NO!

The TR7 is the Commer of the sportscar world. Total rubbish! It was designed by a chap called Harris Mann, who was also responsible for the Austin Pricess, need I say more?? Unlike it's predecessor the TR6, which was a bit of a hairy chest motor, the 7 is very limp wristed. It is not even a hairdressers car, it's the hairdresser's receptionists car!

You should look on ebay Uk in the car section to get a feel for price. Many are going for £100, "spares or repairs" or abandonned project cars.

Also many of the early examples were painted in lurid colours, usually lime green or chocolate brown.

Awful, avoid like the plague!


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Gilles on August 13, 2003, 11:59:09 am
....so they are not  that collectable over here,but in France it will probably pull the birds!!!!.,...even Texans ;D



If I really would like to pull the birds, I'ld save my money and invest in a XK120 roadster (but it's quite not the same budget) and as soon as the birds are in my cage, I sell it back and buy a C-Type/D-Type replica !!!


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Kpy on August 13, 2003, 01:33:45 pm
Seriously Gilles -  the car is an Essex hairdresser's car!


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Gilles on August 13, 2003, 05:09:51 pm
Seriously Gilles -  the car is an Essex hairdresser's car!


Did you read the september issue of classiccars magazine... they wrote an article about Essex as the paradise for Ford drivers in the 60's/70's !!!

PS: still no news of my AH subscription. How do you except I improve my english only by reading the French version ?


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Stu on August 13, 2003, 09:21:18 pm
Don't. I can hang my head in shame and admit to owning one once. Terrific understeer and pants handling. I saw a nice convertible this year which did look nice but as it has been pointed out, there are a lot better buys out there. I come to Le Mans with the local TR club and they just laugh when you mention them.

Stu


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: pretzel on August 21, 2003, 03:36:44 pm
Gilles,

A new opportunity in the classic car market has come to my attention.

It's a GRP bodied car with separate chassis, plenty of room inside for entertaining ladies (Texan or otherwise) and with several unique features such as non-closing tailgate, leaky gearbox, overheating engine in hot weather etc. etc.

Same spec. as a TR7 really without the rust problem but with the same sort of street street cred. as Andy Zarse's Commer.

Around 800 euros would secure this beast of a car. You could even start your own enthusiasts club as I don't believe one exists for this particular make and model as yet ;)

All enquiries to Wishywashyman who has recently traded 'The Shed' in for a newer model, already known as 'The Shed II'


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: wishy on August 21, 2003, 03:48:26 pm
Thanks Pretzel

Well.... Gilles the shed in question does 0 - 60 in 2 minutes(fairly close to AZ's Commer) .....but as Prezel says grp body and galvanized chassis 2 litre engine,and a top speed of 105mph.

Yes guys you've guessed it is a 1989 Renault Espace wich has covered 305,000 miles of which 200,00 have been in the last 5 years since I have owned it.

Good idea though to start a french owners club for Espace's though!!

The dealer even gave me £500 trade in for it.......FOOL!!! :)

Wishy


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Mr. Rick on August 21, 2003, 04:38:34 pm
Think we need to start a Shed Owners Club. '96 Pug 806 for me and another of our esteemed forum participants has just acquired a Citroen Synergie.

Fecking marvellous vehicles! I'll be wearing home made cardies and slippers next.


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: wishy on August 21, 2003, 09:47:57 pm
Hi RM

New MPV's are great and the suggestion of an owners club for "people carriers" is a great idea!!!

However is yours capable of doing 305,000 miles on the original engine?

My new one is a year newer eith only 110,000 on the clock with 3 careful owners.......that was until it got into my hands today.......Hence the "shed " reference.


Wishy


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Mr. Rick on August 21, 2003, 09:52:45 pm
Only at a piffling 98K right now!!! I am not worthy!!!!  ;D


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: wishy on August 21, 2003, 09:55:31 pm
I suppose i'm beibng unfair as i dobetween 35-40k a year


Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: pretzel on August 22, 2003, 06:42:35 pm


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Title: Re:TR7 opportunity
Post by: Mr. Rick on August 22, 2003, 07:41:58 pm
Yeah I drive one of these beauties, it's in my Gran Tursimo 2 garage!!! Bit shite round corners though! (or is that just me?)

 ;D