Buying the final example of a particular vehicle model should mean the owner will slip behind the ultimate expression of that model. Running design and engineering changes should, theoretically, mean that any bugs have been eliminated, and that should be the case with this 1981 Triumph TR7 Convertible. It was one of the final cars to roll off the line, and its original owner kept it carefully stored. It saw limited service and has a genuine 580 miles on its odometer. It has returned to a roadworthy state, ready to find a new home. The seller listed the Triumph here on Craigslist in Flemington, New Jersey. They set their price at $32,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting this fantastic find.
Triumph released the TR7 in 1975, and the motoring world was excited by the prospect of a new Triumph two-seat sports car. However, there was almost universal disappointment when the car was unveiled. The styling proved controversial, while the motoring press lamented that the company offered it solely in Coupe form. However, a Convertible variant joined the fray in early 1979 and remained part of the range until production ended in 1981. Our feature TR7 has a fascinating history, with its original owner placing a Special Order after regular production had officially ended. However, Triumph was happy to oblige, running this classic down the line before despatching it to the US via a Pan Am 747 Cargo Jet. It seems that person was determined to own one of these beauties, keeping it squirreled away from the elements that might cause deterioration. They ordered it in Silver Leaf Metallic, a shade Triumph only offered in 1981. Its presentation is hard to fault. The lack of UV exposure means the paint hasn’t deteriorated or developed the typical patchiness associated with this shade. The panels are straight, with only a couple of tiny marks preventing perfection. Rust was a major bugbear with the TR7, but this car has avoided those problems. There are no visible issues, and none are mentioned in the listing. The Black soft-top is free from rips and other physical damage, with the car also featuring a rare Lenham hardtop. The plastic is excellent, and the distinctive alloy wheels are in as-new condition.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant under the hood of most TR7s was no fireball, producing 86hp and 103 ft/lbs of torque. Triumph attempted to address this shortcoming by introducing a fuel-injected version to the range. It proved a wise strategy, bumping those figures to 105hp and 119 ft/lbs. Admittedly, that isn’t a dramatic improvement, but something is better than nothing! The power feeds to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, and while the car’s natural home isn’t the drag strip, it provides a rewarding driving experience when pointed at a twisting ribbon of road. The seller indicates this survivor has a genuine 580 miles on the clock, and the seller holds evidence verifying the claim. It was recently fully serviced, and is in a roadworthy state, ready to be driven into the sunset by a new owner.
The seller supplies this single interior shot that tells us, well, nothing much. It is trimmed in a combination of multi-hue Blue cloth and vinyl, with the typical splashes of Gray plastic. There may be some slight stretching on the seats, but it is hard to make a definitive call courtesy of the shadows in this shot. It should feature a sports gauge cluster, a leather-wrapped wheel, and a Pioneer AM/FM radio/cassette player, but I can confirm the buyer doesn’t receive air conditioning.
Classics like this 1981 Triumph TR7 Convertible pose a dilemma for potential buyers. Part of their inherent value rests in the odometer reading, and every additional mile accrued can undermine its worth. It is a genuine time capsule, but is it worth the buyer’s price? I pondered that question until I located an almost identical car that sold earlier this year. It featured the same paint shade and a similar three-figure odometer reading. That went to a new home for $17,800, roughly 55% of this owner’s asking price. Do you think they’ll taste success, or will they need to compromise before they find a buyer?
The price seems fair, but it might do better at a big name auction where the drinks are strong.
MSRP was around $11,000. $11,000 in 1981 savings bonds would be worth about $60,000 today. Of course, you couldn’t sit in a savings bond.
Perhaps at a big auction – maybe – buy the market for these cars today is not there – I have owned several low mile examples that have done ok but nowhere near what this person is asking. Still a beautiful example and probably worth it at half the price.
Driving this removes the value quickly to deplete 20 grand.
It value is storing and never driving because it a lesser desired car.
Add 5-7 grand get a muscle car vert and drive it every day and break even or make a little still and not have Triump least desired TR7 type car. This is a car desired less than 74-75 Vettes . The Vettes though are still bringing 17 to mid twenties and will climb.
If one needs a newer go later mid 2000s Mustang verts or a car that will catch later in my opinion the last 2002 Tbird reproduction with hardtops and low miles and cuter in 18- 20s with 25-40k mikes.
Just one person’s opinion as They like the TR6 or earlier models.
What is a vert?
Convertible
Another 30 years and this car will be worth the ask. Not today, though.
Way over priced, is it made of gold
Why would anyone go through the effort and expense to purchase and import a lackluster car like a TR-7 only to preserve it for 42 yrs and then sell at a loss. Crazy.
As I recall most cars in the 1970s were lackluster.. the TR7 is no less than any other car of that era or built by British Leyland during the 70s. It is a design you either like or hate. I happen to like it. As just graduate High School when they first came out I always thought they had a cool look. A poor man’s Lotus Esprit. I will agree the owner has an uphill battle.. hopefully he gets it. But I think he needs to re evaluate the price and market.
Currently I own two TR7s and enjoy driving them…once you get them sorted out, they are not that bad. Just like the bad rap the MGC had gotten, the cars will appreciate. Look at MGC prices now.. it is only a matter of time.
Seems a bit of an oddity, this. Left hand drive but registered in Birmingham, England (see front reg plate) before ending up in the US. Will have been used on UK roads at some point.
The TR-7 I owned was almost like this one. This one only has 580 miles on it and mine only got about that many in the 3 years that I owned it. Not for lack of trying. Terrible cars.
Worth any amount of money, because no luggage rack.
I can pick up a nice TR7 for about 1,000 bucks, triumph crappy cars, born in the days of Maggie Thatcher. Wild cat strikes. Build quality was rough even when new, is it worth $32,000. I leave that to you all to deside
I’m British, the build quality was really bad, body panels that don’t match up,, paint job on them had more paint runs. This particular model was only made in small numbers because of striking work force, which finally brought down the company. Triumph went under around 1984.
Unless TR7 was a special order, it never came with a 2 Litre motor, it had a 1.8 motor.
To be this model of TR7 was voted the worse made car.
I hope this answers some of your questions
Where are these low-mileage survivor TR7s for 1,000 bucks? Please send them our way so we can buy them!
What a car to put away, right?
Poor bugger probably couldn’t bare to drive it any further due to poor build quality.