Why Chrome?

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Does anyone know why BL put any chrome on the TR7/8s at all? Just the windscreen trim, antenna and luggage rack. I feel it should have all been black. Door handles are aluminum, but on the Range Rovers, they used the same handles, but in black.

Just wondering.

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

[Beans]

nothing wrong with a few polished stainless trim pieces ...



<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>

[Odd]

On my Midas gold '8 I've changed out the door handle units to the all black version (from the Discovery)
- and without the key lock in the passenger door. Looks the part I'd say.
Haven't dared go keyless in the drivers door yet, but I have it stashed away for when I do. (I don't trust
the keyless entry kit to be 100% failure proof yet...)

Next step I guess is to powder coat the luggage rack and antenna foot black.
The windscreen strip is a tougher case as it's stuck in that glass fastening goo. Will have to wait until it's
time to brake loose the glass...

The three versions of door handles:

All black, Discovery rear door handle fitted to passenger door in the ´8:

[92rrrandall]

This photo does not do it justice; but I just sanded it with Scotchbrite and then sprayed it with Duplicolor Trim Paint. Easy to do and maintain.

Randall

[stevie_a]

<font color="purple"><b>I changed my door handles to Morris marina rear handles <u>no</u> keyholes </b> </font id="purple">






<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

[92rrrandall]

This photo does not do it justice; but I just sanded it with Scotchbrite and then sprayed it with Duplicolor Trim Paint. Easy to do and maintain.

[mikehardwick]

Hey, Randall - where did those cool - er, sorry, kewl - door mirrors come from? You've probably told us before, but at my age, the old memory, you know.............

Mike

1981 TR7V8 DHC

TSSC N. Yorks A.O.

[paul w]

Never could understand British Leyland thinking when it came to the
cosmetics.Certainly some parts were made for the 70's,esp.the early
tartan cloth in the lurid greens and reds.The strip around the wind
screen sticks out,surely should be black like Odd and Randall say.
The wedge is a modern design,why put chrome on it - to please the
'old school' Tr6 brigade? Did'nt work,did it! Having said that,Beans
fhc looks good with the extra brightwork and its ok to me on my v8,
must be something to do with dark body colours,yet on my white auto
i think it'd be better black,so thanks Randall for the tip - i'm off
in the morning to buy some 'Rattle cans'!!

See ya. Paul

[stevie_a]

<b><font color="purple">Randall Where are your window wipers?

I could not work out why the window looked so uncluttered </font id="purple"> </b>



<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

[Underdog]

Randall, I like the look. Wish I had done that before having the WS installed. I also like the hidden wipers or are they missing?

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[92rrrandall]

Not driving this car in the rain; and if it does rain then I have RainX on the windshield. Have to reinstall them for safety inspection.

These mirrors are much better than the original type. The mirrors are K-Source part# 0601 which I bought off the shelf at Autozone, or http://www.jcwhitney.com/BLACK-FLAG-STY ... _10614.jcw

I made two 1/2" thick plastic mounting pads with two holes for attaching the mirror. On the window side of the mounting pads there is mounting tape. This is foam material with VHB acrylic adhesive on both side of the tape. Mounting tape is pricey but is amazingly effective. The window glass is not flat so the foam tape is required.

You can buy black radio antennas that are a direct replacement.

Have not yet painted or replaced the door handles with Discovery handles. But they are not chrome. Too much work to replace right now.

Also I replaced my luggage rack with custom made plastic pads with cover the holes until my next paint job. Have I ever mentioned that I own a machine shop that specializes in plastics?

Randall

[moestr7v8]

Hi Randal I also like your door mirrors what is the trade name for the foam pads you used as if I can get it or equivilant in UK I would like to change the original mirrors to the type on your car.
Regards Moe

[92rrrandall]

Let me try again explaining what I did to attach these mirrors to the glass:

I made two 1/2" thick plastic parts to bond to the side windows. I used VHB(very high bond)mounting tape to attach the plastic parts to the windows. 3M makes mounting tape and you can find it in the adhesive section of a hardware store. The plastic pads have threaded holes for screwing the mirror base to the pads.

If you have access to a machine shop you could make the pads out of aluminum. If you have access to woodworking equipment you could make the pads out of plastic material. Just make a paper pattern and then do some cutting.

Randall

[XSeries]

I can't think of any chrome on the TR7 or 8 - so the answer is that it was only done to a few cars. The windscreen surrounds are stainless steel not chrome. There was an early experimental injected drophead (13E engine series) that went to the US (Az) and Canada for hot and cold weather testing that had the lower panel chromed to (sort of) match. Thankfully that was never taken on, as it looked overly bright!

B

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Chrome, Shome! You know, that shiny stuff!