It would be eye-opening, to say the least, to come across a 30th Anniversary Edition 1980 Triumph TR7 convertible sitting in a barn, unused for 33 years. That’s what happened when the current owner found this one back in 2018. They’ve had it for two years but it’s time to let it go so they have it listed here on eBay in Northfield, Minnesota. The current bid price is $1,575 and there is no reserve.
An interesting tidbit about Northfield, Minnesota is that Jesse James and the James Gang – not the band, the James-Younger Gang – robbed the Northfield Bank and the townfolk got wind of it (as they may have said in 1876) and took to the streets with their guns and handed out a severe and lethal bullet-beatdown to most of the gang members. Unfortunately, Jesse James escaped and went on to wreak more destruction until he was killed in 1882. I highly doubt if Jesse James would have driven a Triumph TR7 convertible. History class is dismissed.
Back to this great looking TR7. The bumpers do these cars no justice at all in the design department and it’s really unfortunate because they really had a unique shape, “The Shape of Things to Come“, in fact. They were the wedge of wedges, very unique. They were made from the fall of 1974 to the fall of 1981 by British-Leyland in the UK.
The seller tells us that they found this TR7 in 2018 and it had been parked in a barn since 1985 before they found it. They don’t have room for it and that’s a shame because it really looks like a nice example. They say that there is no body rust and the interior looks perfect as you can see. They didn’t provide any underside photos but the trunk looks great.
The dusty engine is a 2.0L inline-four with 105 hp. These cars had some issues with overheating, in general, and the seller says that this one will start and they have an aluminum radiator for it along with some new brake parts. Have any of you owned a TR7? How about this one: good buy or good-bye?
( crickets) Nobody wants or cares to comment on the “Wedgie”. I’ll admit, being a dyed in the wool British sports car fan, we were horrified at what replaced our dear TR6. Classic swing and a miss. I don’t ever recall seeing one on the street. Fast forward to today, this car is the only cheap British sports car around. Considering where car styles went, today this cars looks aren’t so far fetched. I read this motor powered a slew of British vehicles, and it really does hold true the classic 2 seat British sports car. It really is a historic car, as it was the end of the line for true British sports cars in the US. As bakoked as this hobby is, this car could be worth a fortune someday,,,( more crickets)
“I have this friend”…..That used to hunt for TR7s and MGBs after the first big snow of the winter back in the 80s.
Owners and used car dealers were desperate to get rid of them. Fairly decent ones could be had for $1,000 – $1,500.
He would take them home, store them, and wait for spring. He would typically spend less than $100 per car on cleaning, and tune-up parts. Maybe some 20W50 oil to stop the engine from smoking (for long enough to sell it).
After the first sunny days in late March, he would advertise one at a time for sale for $3,000 – $4,000.
Responses were fast.
His young wife would pretend to be pregnant, stand on the porch, and appear to cry over “her car” being sold.
Buyers were then anxious to make the deal quickly, usually paying full price on the spot.
Karma is a funny thing. It may lay dormant but in time it will come back sometimes in unexpected ways. It will always have its day in some way, shape or form.
Hey that happened to me. But she was really pregnant. 69 Z/28. MILF
Where was this when I traded my very rusty, non-running 69 Morris Minor Traveller for a not as rusty, running TR7 with lots of new stuff on and in it. Mine even has factory A/c, which is a necessity here in Florida in the summer, which seems to be nine months long lately. Fun to drive, lots of get up and go and steering is soooo much easier and direct than my TR3A (the original “point and hope” system). By 1977, Triumph had gotten over the earlier overheating and snapping crankshaft problems that the early cars exhibited due to labour strife at the original factory. The later ones, like this example are the last of the real bargains i British sports cars. Parts availability is limited through US distributors like Moss, but Rimmer Bros. in England has lots of things for them.
I liked the shape of these cars, and a friend owned one who had nothing but overheating problems, as you mention as well as general driveibility
issues. He called and offered me the car for $600.00. This was about a year ago. I passed, he sold it to a kid he knew who loved it and worked on it and I see it in traffic these days, a happy young man behind the wheel.
Lesson learned.
The TR7’s were dogs from the git go. Because I had british cars and people knew it, they wanted me to look at the problems they had with these. I always said no. These were losers, in part due to the labor management issues of the day in England. The TR8’s on the other hand with the buick aluminum V-8 did pretty well.
matt
My 80 , which I think was really a 79 (the olive wreath on the hood (ok bonnet) never looked correct to me) Throttle cable disconnected the first day I drove it. Ignition amplifier crapped out. The windows would fall out of the track but the one that put me over the edge was having to drive in a slushy road one night the passenger side had slush level with the seat. Never did find out why, all I knew was I was ditching this car ASAP. I have a hs classmate that parked? his on the railroad crossing. Told the Ins agent the transmission broke.
Auction update: this TR7 sold for an even $3,000.