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

Congratulations, the car looks in very good condition for its age and an excellent colour. Whilst the tartan is period, even from new I found it a little too much for my liking, so on my two DHCs I sourced leather seat covers and door trims and it changed the feel and ambiance of the cabin, some cars came with a plain cloth interior.

In my earlier post I mentioned the best V8 conversions where by Rimmer and S&S I meant Grinnall and S&S, Rimmer are the TR7 spare parts supplier.

Keep it, as you can never have too many toys to tinker with!

Agreed, especially if you can keep them all under cover or have a big enough garage

It’s home.



Couple a silly niggles and then out for a 12 mile drive. Furthest it’s driven since 2021! Pleasantly surprised, no knocks or nasty pulls. Bit sluggish but fresh petrol and a carb fettle should sort that. Tracking seems out and there’s a blow on the exhaust. Other than that not bad at all.

You need one more, I’ve got four!

That looks a beauty, they always looked cool and that one has aged well.

When the TR7 were new I could not do anything with them, today I see them as super cool. Absurd how a design changes over the years, in the environment and in perception. The brave forms of the past are more exciting than the retro attempts of the 90s.

Great looking car.

When I had S&S convert my second hand used TR7 into a TR8 with the different subframe etc and a 3.5 Rover engine, I had the car lowered by about an inch or so, and it made quite a difference to the stance and handling especially the look of the back wheel arch gap, which always looked a little high and sat better when eg loaded with luggage.

Its interesting that a version of the US TR7 has fuel injection and a catalytic convertor back in the early 80's, obviously to meet emissions and presumably use unleaded petrol (catalytic convertor don't like lead fuel). If it did run on unleaded I wonder what if anything they did to the head, did they put in hardened valve seats or was the standard head used and therefore potentially capable of running on unleaded petrol. Does anyone know the answer?

Just done a search on the TR Register and apparently the TR7 engine was designed with hardened valve seats to run on unleaded
https://classicsworld.co.uk/guides/triumph-tr7-buyers-guide/

Unfortunately, I have to say, I don't like this automotive door wedge design at all. It doesn’t matter whether it’s called TVR 280i or Triumph TR7. When it comes to Triumph cars, I'm a fan of the Roadster 1800 / 2000, TR3, TR4 and Triumph Italia.

I must admit that I was never a great fan and I'm not certain if that has changed significantly. However I decided that this winters project would be something different that I had no experience of and could be obtained a 'sensible' cost. With the cost of other TRs approaching £20k and even total rust buckets over £10k this was remarkable value at £5k. One drive and I could see the development work that went into the design, its no MX5 but lightyears ahead of the creaky and rattly TR6 that I looked at that was over twice the price. Its solid and as good in the flesh as in the pics with just the right amount of jobs to keep occupied until next spring.

Also, I intend to use it over the winter months when the weather is too inclement for the Morgan to go out and play as long as the roads aren't salted.

John, I believe the valve seats are hardened and I've spoken with Steve (Parker?) of S&S and this car has his personal approval.

Well, I haven't spoken to Steve, for over 30 years, he knows TR7's, I remember his workshop in Stubbins Vale was full of corroded TR7's awaiting various repairs and cars in for V8 conversions, so he knows his TR7's inside out. I've confirmed from 2 separate sources they are hardened...the debate about E5 or E10 compliant is for a different day. This was an interesting article with some background history.

https://classicsworld.co.uk/guides/triumph-tr7-buyers-guide/

Thanks for posting this discussion. its rekindled my interest in TR7's...I need to scratch an itch........enjoy the car, check the density of the antifreeze..........dependant upon its service history I would flush the radiator and replenish the antifreeze.