Will we have fewer decent TR7s than other TRs?

[emwmarine]

With the current economic crisis I am seeing lots more TR7 wrecks going on Ebay, that presumably end up for spares or breaking.

I was thinking that if this carries on, we will end up with a number of restored or well preservecd TR7s, that probably are owned by members of this forum, members of the TR register and Drivers club. In a few years most of the rest will have gone to car heaven or hell, with a small number still in barns or garages.

So despite the 7 being the highest seller, we might end up with just a few hundred good examples of the car, maybe fewer than the number of TR6s and 5s and 4s. It's ironic but the 7 might end up being the rare one!

[Wayne S]

I think you'll find thats pretty much already the case.

Although the wedges outsold every other TR ever made, the survival rate has been fairly devastating so there are a lot less wedges on the road now than TR6's for example.



<b>FOR SALE!!!!Purple 2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall</b>
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)

[TR Tony]

I think you could well be right. I would guess the number of surviving 7s & 8s as a percentage of overall production must be smaller than any of the other TR models.

I know it is an old fact but a few years ago an enquiry was made of the DVLA here in the UK, asking how many TR7s were on their records (on the road or not). There were just over 2,000 if I recall, or around 10% of UK spec production, & given the attrition rate since then that number will have shrunk considerably.

I wonder how many survive in the rest of the world?

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!</font id="size1">

[tr7jim]

emwmarine,

I agree totally with Wayne S the TR7 is the most scrapped TR in the range. I would say there about 1500 to 2000 TR7 left in the uk, which are on Sorn or Road Taxed at present. Its been the general snub this car been getting over many years. E.g. its not really a classic or True TR etc, which as always left the price banding low, against the other early TR's.

Hopefully this will change long term if we can still get petrol and the EU hasn't made us scrap the TR7 with no Road tax or Sorn.

Jim

[emwmarine]

Thinking might change over time. Around twenty five years ago I had a 4a an a bit later had a 6. The looks of the 7 have grown and grown on me over the years and my half assembled red FHC in the garage looks to me one of the best cars on the road.

Most of the remaining ones will have had the quality gremlins ironed out and I suppose with the suspension and brake mods available are pretty fun cars compared to the modern offerings.

[windy one]

I have one that will be goin to the scrap yard unless someone has the energy to repair it. Too much rust for me to try to tackle. Stripped parts off of it and plan to sell the body-shell. If it dont sell, one less in the world

Johnny

[Chris Turner]

In 2001 I went to the TR Drivers club National weekend at Billing with my sons pageant blue TR7 FHC. There was a display to celebrate 25 years since the cars UK launch. We were parked next to a really nice carnelian red FHC which was at least as good as our car. Two years ago I bought that same red FHC in a sorry state, next week I will be breaking it up for some parts we need for the Coca Cola car. This shows that a good TR7 can deteriorate rapidly when neglected, I could not believe it when the seller showed me the photograph taken in 2001 at Billing.

www.triumphtr.co.uk
TR8 FHC
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

[FI Spyder]

It may happen. With restored TR's going from $10,000 to $18,000 it makes no financial sense to do a TR7. It is done for personnal driving pleasure only. At last years Van Dusen ABFM with 600 British cars (about 40+ MGB's, that years featured marque) there were only 3, that's three, TR7's. I just paid my entry fee so this year there may be four.


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

[tr7inc]

Blimey Chris that is sad, i can only quess that with the cost of living these days etc, not many of the average joe like myself can afford to have the luxury of owning a classic, for my 7 to get the parts and keep it running i work extra hours at work and that little bit extra goes in my little pot, that way i have a little for my 7 and at the same time keeps my good lady happy as it isnt money coming out of our housekeeping.


Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

[Mowog73]

If my step-son is any indication, more TR7s might start getting restored. Although he likes my MGBGT and Spitfire, it's the look and the lines and the shape , and its a FHC, not A DHC, TR7 that does it for him. He feels that it's a more modern looking car and more of his generation than any other lbc.

Mind you we are scarifying one to get the other on the road, but both were headed for the scrap yard.

Mark

1973 MGBGT, 1976 TR7, 1980 Spitfire 1500

[PeterTR7V8]

2000 in the UK? That's an eye opener.

I would guess at about 200 in NZ which means we have more per capita. NZ often has more per capita of most things you can think of.

Our government web site can only tell me how many Triumphs were imported recently which works out to about 8 per year. I've emailed them to get info about the number of Triumphs & TR7s we actually have.

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[macmattom]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"></font id="Comic Sans MS"><font size="5"></font id="size5"><font color="blue"></font id="blue">[V]Well, obviously it is sad with more of these cars going to the big scrapheap in the sky, but I'm busy doing my bit. Currently about to put the engine back in my FHC, after 2 years doing what is almost a nut & bolt restoration with my 15 year old son. Now on hold due to a spot of burst appendix, but we'll get there. My hope is threefold - 1, that my son wants the car as his first car when he passes his test; 2, that it lasts that long, especially relevant given some of the earlier comments in this topic and 3, my wife will allow me progress to a DHC next.

The only positive about fewer models around is that prices of our TRs must start to go up soon, although I'll never recoup anywhere near what I've spent on mine, especially the time. Even that has a down side though - so will any TR7/8 that we wish to take on later. It's definitely a labour of love. Does anybody a figure more accurate than "1500 - 2000"? Would the TR7 owners club be able to find out?

The pheonix rises from the ashes - just give it time.

[busheytrader]

Our cars cost much the same as the other TR's to restore but their resulting value is a lot less than the rebuild cost. In the last few years I believe many bought as a cheap classic 2 seater.

As these cars deteriorate with age, lack of maintenance and fail the MOT, those not as enthusiastic as us will give them up. FHC's may fare worse than DHC's since there's more driving romance associated with convertibles in the summertime. (as quoted by classic car dealers, not me)

Older MX5's can be bought as cheap as chips, are reliable and great fun to drive. The market views them as old cars, not classics and there are loads of them about, hence the cheap price.

I think we'll lose more 7's in the next couple of years.


Adam



TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[tr7inc]

Hi Adam, i very good pont well made, just aswell there are people out there like all of us on here and beyond, keeping Harris Manns dream alive!



Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

[john]

The question must be though how many purist originals will be left on the road, very few i would gather even now

Many have either been coverted to v8 or sprint power, seats changed, spoilers added, and colours changed.

i ask you how many of the peolple on here would call their car "ORIGINAL"

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John