What Would You Do???

[Steve-LPS-Thomas]

I was just asked this question...


How is it going with the ex Dick-Adams car, he was one of my members in Norfolk, and I was impressed with the racer. Did you get his old pics from Willhire 24 etc.

This was my reply...

The car is exactly the same as the day I bought it. Dick-Adams had returned the car to it's ex-safety devices Red/Blue/White colour scheme prior to sale and got a few works stickers on it. I've so far done nothing with it except finish off the rally stickers. (it was never rallied of course, it became a works-assisted privateer circuit racer).

He gave me a few pix and a DVD of the car competing in the Willhire 24. There must be so much more history/pix etc. out there, if you know anything about the car I would be pleased to hear/see it. I did get a 1975 Italian TR7 launch brochure which features the car throughout and when I get time these pix of it's first incarnation will be up on my website etc.

So it remains one of the oldest TR7's in existance, still in "race trim", rust-free and showing just 16,000 miles on the clock. As far as I am aware it's never had an MOT. Plans for it? Not to change it, Not to spoil it! It should be on the TR Drivers Club stand at Stonleigh in Feb, it's first (and probably only) public appearance for years. If WAC275S ever gets finished then this car might get an MOT and a little fettling so it can get out a little more!

This got me thinking... When I bought the car Dick-Adams told me that were he keeping it he would have no hesitation about dropping a V8 into it. Question is then, if this was your car what would you do with it?



more pix... http://www.croyde-bay.com/mye778p.htm



<ul><b><li>Ex BL Development TR8 (Rally Replica).</li>
<li>The First and Only UK TR7 "Victory Edition" (Now Sold) </li>
<li>Ex-BL/Safety Devices Development 8v Rally Car.</li>
<li>"The Shape of things to Come" Trailer.</b></li></ul>

<b><font color="blue">http://www.croyde-bay.com/triumph.htm</font id="blue"></b>

<b><font color="blue">croydebay@aol.com</b></font id="blue">

[richards]

A tidy V8 conversion is not iriversable, nor is it out of character for the vehicle. If it is what <u>you</u> want in a car then go for it. You could also consider a sprint conversion as that was what the early rally cars ran and had a tidy 200 bhp. But dont let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do to your car.

By the way that is the one and only time i have seen a 7 look good on steel rims!

Get a lifestyle
Get a TR7!

www.ttr7.co.uk

[Steve-LPS-Thomas]

Dont worry, I won't be bossed around! I would value the opinion of others though... it currently has a 2L 8V engine supplied by BL Motorsport Dept (from a standard car being used in the Rally program..which one I wonder, not an ACN or Sprint obviously). This has been bluprinted by Don Moore and also feature a BL Motorsport Cam of which only two were made. All this is supported by paperwork.
So, there are strong arguements to leave well alone, convert to 16v as the livery suggests or go V8 as BL did.

The regs required the car to remain fairly standard, MOT-able and presumably retain it's original steel wheels. Dick had a selection of cars during his race career spanning 3 decades, I believe his "trademark" was gold wheels. I do want to put minilites on it, I rear gold ones though will not look good! Like I said, I would value peoples opinion.

<ul><b><li>Ex BL Development TR8 (Rally Replica).</li>
<li>The First and Only UK TR7 "Victory Edition" (Now Sold) </li>
<li>Ex-BL/Safety Devices Development 8v Rally Car.</li>
<li>"The Shape of things to Come" Trailer.</b></li></ul>

<b><font color="blue">http://www.croyde-bay.com/triumph.htm</font id="blue"></b>

<b><font color="blue">croydebay@aol.com</b></font id="blue">

[john 215]

Hi,
IMHO, i would leave totaly alone, i know a bit rich from someone who has converted 2 TR7's to V8 but if i was lucky enough to have such a rare car than it would stay 'as raced' just like if i had a real TR8 then it would be completely standard or any special editions ect just my view sure others will disagree [;)]
Look forward to seeing it at Stoneleigh,not long now [:D] [:D]
Cheers John.
Ps. Great web site very impressed.
LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC Soon to be a 4.6 fire breather!!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

[Beans]

I would leave it as it is. Not that many Don Moore 8 valve engines around.
And you already have a V8 to play with [:p]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="blue"></center>

[Chris Turner]

Steve, I would keep it as it is, It may be an idea to fit a sprint engine, this would enable you to preserve the irreplaceable original engine.

www.triumphtr.co.uk
SJW 539S TR7 sprint
1980 TR7 Premium.

[Wayne S]

I would plead with you to keep it as is. Only from a selfish point of view that people like me would value seeing the car and hearing about its spec to learn how BL went about tuning the standard lump for competition purposes. Id love to have a real delve into the specs employed on this engine!

However, if you do V8 it though please let me buy the engine from you, I would love it, care for it and have it in a running car again ASAP haha [:D]

Looks awesome.

Purple 2.0 Litre DHC Grinnal

[TR Tony]

Steve, although MYE started out as a standard car & was used for the launch of the 7 (I recently got one of the original French brochures showing MYE), I do think that what you have is a unique part of TR7 history in it's current form, so if it were mine (well I can dream[:)]) I would keep it just as it is.

Chris does make a good point about the Don Moore engine but unless you plan to use it in anger then the current engine should be unlikely to fail, I would think, & that engine is a very important piece of the car's history.

You could try the minilites I guess as that would be simple to change back! Expensive if you don't like them though.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">

[Launie]

From my uneducated (re. these special TR7s[:I]) I think it is a stunning beauty as-is! It would be nice to keep it that way, both from aesthetic point of view and historical. I even like the gold, steel wheels. A nice colour balance overall, and speaks loads!

Launie
'76 TR7 FHC
'86 Renault Alliance (daily driver)
'77 Chev Silverado
'86 BMW 635CSi

[FI Spyder]

I would leave it as it is. It's got a "unique history". Once changed it will unlikely ever be changed back to were it is now. (Parts get lost ,traded, sold, forgotten, left behind). There are hundreds of TR7's out there that can be upgraded, engine swamped, etc., etc. that that have been bodged, expermented on, whatever. were what ever you do to them the balance of the universe will not change.
Once a rare version of a TR7 (either through production or after production history) is changed it is likely gone forever.

Bear in mind, out of the over 35,000 Messerschmidt 109's that were produced only two are flying now (and I think they are Spanish produced models). A lot of people wished they would have saved a few more for posterity when they had the chance.

Once gone they are gone forever.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[paul w]

Its a unique wedge.If it were mine,i'd leave well alone including the
steel wheels.Cant wait to see it at Stoneleigh,a piece of BL history.
Cars like this need to be seen to be believed.AWESOME!

See ya. Paul

[Beans]

Wait a minute, didn't we have this discussion last year on another forum [:p]



I think I'll vote fore MYE's ealier guise [:D]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="blue"></center>

[paul w]

You vote for the car and i'll vote for the girl in the 'hot pants',Beans!!

See ya. Paul

[samco]

I concun with the rest. Leave it as it is, there is something quite pure about an unmolested car and your pic makes it look perfect. I like many of the others have a 7 converted to a V8 but that will give me pleasure because I want to drive a V8 wedge. That car would give me pleasure because of its heritage. We might not be very good at lots of things in this country, but one thing we do very well is motoring heritage.

If it doesn't fit you obviously need a bigger hammer.

www.metronewquay.co.uk www.wheelintheheel.co.uk

Check out my album

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/samco_bucket/

My youtube progress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMDqLU1N7Y



1980 Californian import converted to right hand drive V8. Under construction.

[Shauniedawn]

It's your car - do what you like with it!

Many will say keep it as it is. If you're bothered about history and maintaining a value on it, then leave it as it is.

I'll modify anything, how I want it - 'cos it's me who's earned the dosh to pay for it. So no-one else's opinion matters really.

You're only here once mate, it can be restored a 1000 times, and will out-live you...

So, what would I do...use it!

Shaun [;)]


<i>PS
Look forward to having a gander at it at Stoneleigh mind - thanks for taking it.</i>



http://www.flickr.com/photos/12691409@N08/