The ugly truth about the Triumph TR7

Many people think the Triumph TR7 was too slow to be fun, terribly ugly, badly built, or all three. But actually it served its real purpose rather well, in difficult circumstances - and I think is pretty handsome and good to drive, especially in the right spec. Here's the story.

Recommended further reading:

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:45 What were they thinking?
01:49 Getting the Bullet
03:09 Thin end of the wedge
03:57 A striking look
06:17 Look, a strike
08:14 Driving: a Triumph
10:06 “A chassis in search of an engine”
12:47 End of the line

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
License code: FXFY5RDVTGMLID0F

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Image credits
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Triumph TR2:
Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Triumph TR6:

Austin Healey:

MGA, MGB, Triumph TR3:
Excerpts from Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! © EVE Productions 1965, reproduced on fair use basis

VW-Porsche 914:

Triumph Bullet and ADO-21 prototypes:

MGB interior, Triumph Dolomite Sprint interior:

Triumph TR7 Sprint rally car at Heritage Motor Centre

Triumph Dolomite Sprint:
Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Triumph TR8:

Documentary footage, reproduced on a transformative fair use basis:
TV Eye, Thames Television, Feb 1980
Nationwide, BBC Television, March 1978
British Transport Films:

[rustyturner]

Just a few notes from a fellow who managed a US Triumph dealer when the 7 was current: 1) Any criticism of the car's styling misses the fact that it was VERY current in the 1970s, when wedges were everywhere (even in exotics). 2) The interior was vastly superior to any of the competition: it was spacious and comfortable and the A/C (a rare factory item in a 1970s sports car) worked splendidly. 3) The labor troubles just CRIPPLED sales: over the years 1977-79 we got about half as many cars as we could have sold. 4) Not nearly enough comment has been made about the huge differences between the later (1977-on) cars and the earlier ones. The 5 speed gearbox and improved brakes and suspension from the SD-1 absolutely transformed the car. 5) The engines weren't so bad as many have said, but they were VERY sensitive to maintenance/servicing. We found that, if you did the pre-delivery servicing properly and stressed to the customer the importance of continued maintenance (which really wasn't unusually rigorous or expensive), the units were quite reliable. If you neglected those items, the engines were awful! 6) By the time the drophead and the 8 came on the scene, it was too little and too late. The poor reputation (even when not really deserved) had severely reduced demand, and the market was indeed changing, and BL had only itself to blame for not having done a better job. Pity.

[UguysRnuts]

A BL exec bought the final TR8 off the assembly line and loaned it to me for a movie. The acceleration was startling. Despite the wedge aero, I found myself becoming airborne across high crowned intersections. One of the funnest cars I've ever driven, even compared to the pre production prototype Acura NSX, Honda gave me soon after that. The Triumph combined poise with power in the most sublime way and the top down experience harkened back to my father's TR3.

[rustybearden]

As a former owner of a brand new 1980 TR8, right out of the showroom I can tell you that, upgraded with the Rover 3.5 V8, these cars were wonderful. Comfortable, roomy, agile and quick with a lovely supple ride and laser accurate steering and perfectly adequate brakes. The TR7s had more Lucas electrical issues and build quality issues. I never had any problems except for an early run of glitchy solenoids. It was one of the best and most memorable cars I've ever owned and I still lust for one to this day.

[key-TR]

This is a really informative and well produced video of the TR7, with great vintage footage and in-car camera work. I bought a new 1980 TR7 in the Persian Aqua color and it was my daily driver for 4 years. As a young architect I was in love with its progressive style at the time and drove it through all seasons, even snowy winters. My wife and I took numerous long distance trips throughout the US and never had a breakdown. I only sold it due to our growing family. A few years ago I searched for a TR8 and acquired VIN 408405, which is the last of the 69 cars destined for Canada. These are known as the 1982 models with CA in the VIN. My car was despatched on Oct. 20, 1981, 2 weeks after Solihull closed. It was finalized with a skeleton crew of employees that pushed those last few cars out of the factory. I love the additional power of the V8 and have tweaked the engine to just above 200HP. It is a thrill to drive and a pleasure to work on. Thanks again for your special look back at the TR7 and its history.

[EdgyNumber]

7:36 A Birmingham precision screwdriver being used

[chriswilkes]

When my wife and I were courting, she bought this car for me (more or less) and it blew up several times. It routinely overheated, and it was $700 each time late in the 1970s. A glamorous nightmare, really. But what a woman! Still married 42 years later.

[apexdesigns]

Lance from the detectorists has made the TR7 “trendy”

[Poz]

A well produced video…. I bought my 1980 drop head in 1986. Soon afterwards the water pump started leaking at 33k miles. 3 years later it needed new outer sills and 4 inner and outer wheel arches. 2 years after that it had new metal let in at the suspension strut tops and rear bulkhead, which I discovered it needed after I converted it myself to better than factory TR8 specification. It embarrassed TVR V8’s back in the day. More smiles per mile and still going strong. Free road tax and ULEZ compliant at almost 43years old. 😊

[martynmiles]

This is the second video I have seen by this Presenter.
It is well researched, and well presented by someone who has done his homework.
No superfluous ‘waffle’ or unnecessary content.
In conclusion, an excellent history of the TR7.

[kennethsharp]

I bought new a TR7 in 1980. I was in my 20s and this car was a chick magnet. I loved it. The only issue I had was with the gas pedal cable. The firewall kept sawing it half. I always carried a spare and could change it myself on the side of the road. I wish we still had these small two seater convertibles with 5 speeds like the TR7. And as I was in my 20s with little money, the car was very affordable. I would buy a Miata but the current version without the pop up head lights just doesn't have that the same appeal. We just never get to see two Miata's passing each other popping up their head light in respect like we did with the TR7.

[williamegler]

One of my parents neighbors had a British Racing Green with tan interior and top example.
She was the only divorcee in the neighborhood and purported to be quite promiscuous.
I remember seeing her wash it scantily clad in her driveway every Sunday much to the chagrin of the wives in the neighborhood because their husband's were usually out washing their cars or mowing the lawn.
I also remember seeing it leave the cul-de-sac quite frequently via a tow truck.
It burned oil like a battleship and what it didn't burn it leaked.
Electrical gremlins were rife and it rusted significantly within a few years.
At any temperature below 32°F it became difficult or impossible to start and any over 85°F it overheated.
She eventually traded it for a BMW 320i and drove BMW's exclusively for the rest of her life.

[davidhynd]

Just discovered your channel. Enjoyed the video, thank you. Subscribed.
I'm a sixty year old Australian. When I was a lad British cars were still very common on our roads. I learned to drive in my Mum's Hillman Minx and my first car was a Morris 1100. Followed by two Austin 1800s, a Hillman Minx Series VI, and a Triumph 2500TC, so I'm not in any way down on British cars. In fact, given that the locally made Holdens held around 50% of the market in the 1950s it says something that so many British cars still managed to find homes here, and indeed, were assembled here. It does seem, however, that from, perhaps as early as the 1950s, the whole British car industry seemed determined to undermine itself. It's not as if there wasn't plenty of very good, forward-thinking engineering within the industry - my Morris 1100 being a good example. As someone who still has a long wishlist when it comes to British cars - and the Rover SD1 is very near the top of that list - there has always been a strong sense of "what could have been" with so many British cars. Even with our locally designed and manufactured Leyland cars, such as the P76. The cars were fundamentally good designs with huge potential, which then just seemed to fizzle. Or, like the Morris 1100, for example, left to soldier on with little to no development. I've pointed out to my children that if you watch British TV or films made prior to about 1980 you will see almost nothing but British made vehicles on the roads. I imagine that British people in the 1950s would have been shocked if you had told them that almost their entire motor vehicle industry would be extinct in about thirty years time. But then any 1950s Aussie would have told you that you were insane had you suggested that by the early 21st century there would be no more Holdens.

[johnelectric]

Back then I was modifying my car to super improve my cornering ability when a friend bought one. I took it around my back roads route and it did very well. When I missed a turn a little that usually bottom out my front suspension, the TR7 took it in stride. Had great wheel travel! It wasn't a drag racer which would be unusable on the route I use but it cornered on rough roads very well.

[cousinjack]

My girlfriend had a TR7 brand new; it was fun to drive but suffered from feeling cheap and poorly put together. I worked for Lucas and repaired the fuel injection systems on the 2500PI and the TR6 range as part of my job. The TR6 was streets ahead of the TR7 in just about every way that I can think of. (SHOCK HORROR! We also ran a fleet of Marina vans and they were really good; they did exactly what it said they would on the tin.) Such a shame that our car industry was destroyed by greed; we made some good 'uns.

[yorkiegilly]

Best review of a Tr7 I have seen, fair and honest, most just write them off as a sports Marina or Triumph saloon . Had two over the years an early yellow hardtop that I bought very cheaply off a elderly neighbour, that was mint, but the electrics let it down . I have recently sold the droptop that I bought as a hillclimb car that had come back from the states, which was one of the last 4 cylinders built . Would have kept it but in my mid 70s I was getting a bit stiff for a sports car .Reliability was great and like the presenter said it handled with a good 5 speed gearbox . I usually drive cars with big engines and do my own maintenance as a retired mechanic, so was pleasantly surprised after all the rubbish written about the old TR, much easier & cheaper to keep on the road than a mates TR 6 with fuel injection, but for some reason the TR 7 seems cheaply made with poor finish & thrown together, the doors catches were always loose, small leaks from the "newish" roof and the usual rattle or knock from the steering column ?. And don"t forget the brakes that should be on a go - kart & not a car -- - but after saying all that the mechanics were great, never used any oil or fluids .Sold it on eBay, with 4000 views and the young lad who bought it after a test drive into the Derbyshire lanes nearby, bought it on the spot .I have another Rover P6 now which is also a rust free clean car from the Channel Islands, a much better car than the SD 1 I had previous . Happy Motoring ! .

[Andrew-vxls]

Enjoyable, thoughtful and analytic. Thank you M.

[simonhodgetts]

I like them immensely - always have, from the early hardtops to the late TR8s. I remember Purdy’s from The New Avengers - Dinky also made a toy version, albeit in yellow, like her MGB. I very nearly bought a TR7 drop head many years ago - but close inspection revealed rather a lot of filler and rattle can paintwork……….pity that the ‘7’ never got the Dolly Sprint engine - I never understood why not. Great video as always - enjoyed the animation and Brummie accent at the start!

[fhwolthuis]

Excellent video, Martin. Your mix of driving footage, graphics and your "talking head" is really professional and attractive 👍🏻😃

[warringtonfaust]

Here in the U.S., it was commonplace to replace the engines with Buick V6 units. Several friends had them, very enjoyable cars.

[tomasjones]

I was a young mechanic, in the NW of the U.S (1980s). My shop mate and I made a good living working on all of the imports; Brit, Swede, Ital & German. Many U.S. mechanics were shy on imports. I owned an MGB and a Citroen DS21 Break; my mate had a Cit DS Cabrio & Datsun 2000 Roadster.

We both liked the way the TR7 handled. Other than that, we hated them rolling up to the shop; premature wear, build quality, electrical - the list goes on…….