Triumph TR7 Review The Great British Car Journey

Following the consolidation of a number of British car manufacturers in 1968, British Layland as it came to be known were looking to replace many of the aging models in there product line including a new sports car. Brirish sports cars had done well in the US market for many years so the new car would crucially have to be able to both compete with cars like the Datsun Z and comply with all the US regulations for safety and emissions.
In 1971 Project Bullet was give the green light for a new prototype sports car with a view to replacing aging designs offered by Triumph and MG, both of whom offered a design concept. The MG was a forward thinking mid engine car while triumph went for a futuristic wedge shape body but with more traditional front engine, rear wheel drive layout which was thought would be more appealing to American buyers.
The Triumph design was chosen and had the likes of Spen King and Harris Mann at the helm who between them had a wealth of experience.
The car was scheduled for launch in the US in 1975 and the following year elsewhere. The wedge shape design proved not to every taste and Italian designer Giugiaro famously saying "Oh my god, they have done the same on the other side as well".
Cars were initially assembled in Speke in the north west of England from 1974-77 but the following quality issues and strike action (one lasting for 17 weeks) the factory was closed and production moved to Coventry in the Midlands from 1778-80, then onto the Solihull plant where the Rover SD1 was produced for 1980 until the end of TR7 production in 1981. The Solihull plant also closed the following year.
1980 saw the TR8 (V8) and convertible models but it was too little too late. Sprint versions with a 16V head were produced as homoligation specials but are incredibly rare with only 61 cars produced.
back in 1972 their had been plans to build other models based around the TR7 of which one prototype Lynx 2+2 coupe was built but no production model was to follow.
TR7's made a few TV/Film appearances inluding Dallas, The Professionals and The New Avengers where one was driven by Purdy portraid by actress Joanna Lumley
The car in this video is a 1998cc four cylinder with a five speed manual transmission (4sp manula and an auto were also produced) and produced 105 bhp and 161Nm of torque at 3500 rpm (US spec cars produced 90bhp, California cars 76 bhp) with a claimed top speed of 110mph and 0-60 time in the region of nine and a half seconds.
This car was filmed and provide by 'Drive Dad's Car' at 'The Great British car journey where you too could visit the museum and perhaps drive this very car or one of the many other classics available. Please see link bellow.

Do you have a car that you would like reviewed on the channel?
if so please send me an email. I'm based in Yorkshire.

You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

If you have enjoyed the video please don't forget to give it a thumbs up. Feel free to comment and remember to hit that subscribe button and the bell icon to ensure you don't miss any of the exciting video's coming soon.
Its completely free!!!

Thank you for stopping by.

[badbooks]

Great video Mark. I remember sitting in the drivers seat of a new TR7 at a country show, when I was a little boy. The great British car journey is on my list of things to do

[LotCARS]

Hi Mark, always fancied one of these, seduced by the pop up lights… I recall seeing the Tony Pond driven TR8 in its wonderful red, white and blue factory colours whizzing through the forests as a kid.

[Bigbuddyandblue]

I had a 1977 British Racing Green hardtop, and a 1978 gold metallic convertible. They were a ball to drive, and more reliable than their reputation. Wish I still had them.

[pauljohnsonmay]

With a v8 they are a blast to drive and don't cost the earth to keep on the road.

[markrl]

It's a great shame that the V8 version of this car never really got going ultimately being killed off by the pounds strength against the dollar (as Sterling became a petro currency due to North sea oil) and the dreadful financial position of British Leyland. They finally sorted out most of the quality issues, got the production out of Speke only for the model to be abandoned.

[jjefferyworboys]

The TR7 viewed from the front is an attractive car, but it seems that this was completed at 4.55pm on a Friday afternoon leaving just 5 minutes to finish the car explaining why the rear has no style whatsoever and is simply ugly. To make things even worse, the rear bumpers an obvious after thought were added achieving the impossible, making it even more awful. As for interior quality, there isn't any.

[Jaxs]

I have a 1976 TR7 and it's a absolute blast to drive i love the thing 🙂

[stevejelly]

They are great cars Mark !
.
The hard-top with the big sunroof, for me is a better choice !
.
You can almost pop them in 5th gear and drive them like an automatic !

[TheLeylander]

Thanks Mark for sharing this video, brings back great memories.
I had my first TR7 at the age of 17, a 1977 (on a R plate) in Yellow with green check interior back in 1983 .
Then my second in 1988 a 1981 (W plate) metallic blue with with matching colour interior and a full wabesto sunroof wow lol .
I loved both of them especially owning them when I was young, I'm now 56 years of age, but unfortunately I'm not in a position to own another one, even though I'd have one tomorrow.

[andreaziz]

MTR7 was driven from Michigan to California bitter Winter-Snow

[rolandgrant]

Hi Mark, I drove this and the MGB (and then the white Capri) on the same afternoon at the same venue - Drive Dad's Car.
It's the MGB stood out for me. Although older it felt like a ground up designed sports car. The TR7 felt like a saloon in a sports car body. Thanks for the reviews.

[scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Cracking review Mark, hoping to get down to the British Car Journey in April when we are down in Sheffield for the week, hoping to drive a car that my dad had.

[davidravenscroft]

I owned a 1982 TR7 for 9 years, a beast of a car. Great for pulling the girls too. Reliability issues ruined a otherwise great time and my bank PX her for a 1990 Porsche 944S2, now I'm talking.

[stephaniet]

I had a Tr7 Spider. It was a fun car….when it wasn’t broken down on the side of the road. 😂
🚗💨💨💨

[phensriwood]

The gear change quality is dependent on oil viscosity. I experimented with ATF then settled with motorbike gear oil.

[andreaziz]

some Tr have Saab engines which eqval to sprint or better

[flybobbie]

I had a 1976 S reg, red, with black vinyl roof, from 84 till 91. Did so much work on it to keep it going, proper rust bucket.