Just came home from a 30km shake down

[Bendder]

Well I turned on the lights in the shop pulled off the cover, dropped the car off it's perches and onto the floor, disconnected the battery tender and hooked up the battery. Hopped in gave the choke about a quarter pull and turned the key.....2 seconds cranking, 3, 4, VROOOooommmm.....It started right up. Pushed in the clutch pulled it over into reverse and slowly backed it out into the bright sun for the fist time in 4 1/2 months. As I got out of the car my neighbor looked over from the waters edge where he was removing the cover from his boat and gave a wave and yelled, "The toy's are coming out!! Summer is here!!" I just had to smile and gave him the thumbs up. Let the car idle and warm up for about 6-7min while checking in under and around for anything amiss...Nothing to be found. Got in slowly drove out the dive and hung a left onto the main road. Quick stop at the local garage to make an appointment to balance a wheel that I lost a weight on last fall just before putting the car away. Came back out to the parking lot with the owner and Hummm...One mechanic, two customers and a kid on a bike looking in at and around the car. The owner looks at me, smiles and says "I like it when you bring your car here, good for business" The kid asked me what kind of car it was and I answered Triumph. He looked at me with a blank stare for a second, took another walk around the car hopped on his bike yelled over "nice car" and rode off. It still amazes me that this 31 yr old car can still an affect on a couple of mid 40's guy's a twenty something mechanic and a twelve year old kid all at once. The ride went on for about 30 kms through some moderately twisty country roads and a short highway run and straight back into its nest till the next warm afternoon. All went without any great worries or unwanted happenings, knock on wood (that would/wood be my head). Went back in the house sat down at the kitchen table cracked open a cold one while looking out at some big chunks of ice flowing by in the river.

Today was a hard day's work but somebody had to do it.

Mark

Mark
1977 TR7 FHC
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L

[PeterTR7V8]

Nice story & well told. Having a young'un lean out of his car & say "that old school is way cool Grandad" is a mixed blessing but it is nice when the work you put into the car is acknowledged.

We have just started to use the heating as Winter approaches & I noticed during Easter lunch that the hills in the distance had snow on them for the first time this year. Luckily the white stuff never makes down to sea level so we get to use our cars for 52 weeks of the year although that is rarely the case I've found.

I hope you Northeners have a good Summer.


Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[busheytrader]

The kids know what they like.

A few years ago I was queuing to get into the infield parking / camping areas at Le Mans. The 7V8 was surrounded by various classics and high end modern sports cars. A bunch of around 10 local teenagers swarmed around me asking questions as they thought the 7 was so cool. "What's a Triumph?"

Cooler than Austin Healeys, various E Types, XK8's and Aston Martins. It got even better as we entered the tunnel and the V8 burble came into its own. The entry sticker is still on the windscreen.

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, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[FI Spyder]

Yes, we all have our stories. It still amazes me that a car that is so derided by the "cognicenti" are so admired by the rest of the populace.



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

[Underdog]

I get the "What is it?" all the time. The rather loud exhaust with the lumpy cam idle really atracts attention. Then the inevitable discussion as to what sort of V8 I installed. Just the other day a guy says "So you put a V8 in it? Most do V6s in those" I don't think he believed me when I told him it came from Triumph with a V8.

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

[silverseven]

Nice to here you got to drive yours Mark.......I took a few seconds today to go in thegarage and sit in mine,in between taking down exterior car shelters......
Heh, now you got do do something with that 8 [:D][:D][:D]




<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Underdog</i>

Most do V6s in those" <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">


oddly enough, I get that question alot too, even though mine is only a 4 pot. (the question is even funnier when the hood/bonnet is up, and they ask the question.....guess it's hard to count plug wires [;)])

Ron.