Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) TR7

Searching for my next winter project and a nice TR7 has become available. Not too sure what I think but it’s certainly not a car I’m familiar with. It would make a change from the MGBs and Morris Minors that I’m familiar with and the TR6 that I’d really prefer is way out of my budget with even a rough car being over £10k. Converted TR8s are a possibility but not at all common and conversions can be hit and miss.

Anyone here have any experience of the TR7?

I bought my coupé (brown with black cord interior) new in 1977 for £3,064.06 on the road. We were living in Switzerland at the time, so it was a "personal import". I collected it from the factory at Speke, and drove it straight to Zurich.
We drove over the Alps numerous times, it never missed a beat, and would cruise at 160kph on the Autoroute/Autobahn. BUT after 2 years the winter salt killed it, the headlamp pods were first to go, then the wheel arches and sills. I only sold the car when our daughter was born, as you can't get even a neatly-folded baby in a TR7.
My memories are of a very comfortable car, with smooth suspension and a silky gearbox. The passage of time over the intervening 45 years means I probably wouldn't buy one that hadn't been fully-restored. There are two that I see around here in the New Forest, for whatever reason the rear suspension looks too high on both.

The one I’m interested in is a two owner car with a documented 37k miles. Never been out in the rain and regularly waxoiled. It’s a convertible so I’d have 3 soft-tops which is probably one too many. I’m drawn to it because of it condition and miles and I fancy something different as a change.

I’d probably have to sell the Mazda! Eek!

Sounds good, hope it goes well for you. You could rent a garage for the winter.....? There's currently a coupe for sale https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1638934 which is not local to me, but might be worth you taking a look at as (apart from the roof !) it could be a comparable spec to the one you are interested in. Meanwhile here are some brochures to further whet your appetite

The Speke built TR7's are the ones to avoid, they had a very poor build quality and reliability record and rusted quite badly, the later Canley (Solihull) built cars (metal bonnet badge) are a much better build quality than the earlier cars. I had two cars from new a Speke FHC and a Canley DHC and bought a second hand Canley DHC converted to a V8 with automatic box. The Speke FHC caught fire, there was an issue with the wiring harness. The 2 Canley built DHC were good cars, nothing outstanding in their performance or handling which was very saloon car feel to them clothed in a sports 2 door body.

The DHC I really enjoyed them within their limitations, If you research the TR7/8, the best conversions were by Rimmer and S&S (Ramsbottom), they were a nice car to drive, but a little thirsty for the performance achieved. Their prices have risen sharply for good rust free late Canley models.

I think they had an ali cylinder head so effective antifreeze mix was important to stop the water channels etc furring up, so check head gasket and for radiator blocked etc.

I had one new in 1979; at the time , I thought that it was a great car.
Smooth to drive and comfortable.

Mine had been built to be a press car, so was built at Canley and properly assembled!

Bud
4/4 - Stanley

ps. Excellent information in the previous post from John Harris.

The convertibles were very water tight, easy cars to live with, a good sized boot, decent heater, comfortable seats and a supple smooth ride, with an easy to use 5 speed box (from memory, I think some earlier cars were 4 speed but I could be mistaken) faster than a MGB and did low 30's mpg when touring, about 22-25mpg around town. Not a true sports car from a handling prospective, but a comfortable touring car.

A TR7 convertible is a guilty pleasure of mine. My dad had one new and my son has recently bought one albeit a V8.

They rot badly. My sons is ok though. Sounds glorious.

Not sure about parts availability but I’d have one over an MGB any day.

I’m partial to a TR6 and they’re great cars to restore. I’m on my 8th now.

One of the rarest versions is the early TR7 Sprint which only came in FHC (from memory) It used the dolomite sprint engine tuned to over 200bhp. Only about 60 were made, I remember the local dealer had one in brown with coach work lines all over it similar to the Lotus JPS livery. Went like stink, but chassis set up not that great.

The TR6 was a completely different beast to the TR7, a proper hairy chest sports car (in the Austin Healy mode) a tad unreliable with the fuel pump issues even from new. A work colleague had one, he blue printed and uprated the engine and uprated the brakes and suspension, he often gave me a lift from Heathrow Airport back to the Midlands in the late 70's. One Saturday morning in the early hours along the North Circular he raced an E Type The E Type owner was trying his best, but the TR6 out braked and outhandled it around the islands and could almost match the acceleration upto about 90mph, great night.

Thanks for all the above, the car I’m considering is an 82 convertible so not built in Speke. I’ve had a TR6 and thoroughly enjoyed it and I know the PI quite well, including how to set it up. Whatever I buy needs to fit in my garage with space to work around, that’s the point of it all.

Thanks folks, just an idea at the moment. It’s about 120 miles away so I need to be sure before I drive to see it.