GTP Cool Wall: 1975-1981 Triumph TR7 / TR8

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1975-1981 Triumph TR7 / TR8

  • Total voters
    97
  • Poll closed .
Wiegert

Wiegert

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United Kingdom
1975-1981 Triumph TR7 / TR8 nominated by @Liquid

Triumph_TR7_Hardtop.jpg


Body Style: 2-door roadster, hardtop or convertible
Engine: 2.0L Triumph I4 TR7
3.5L Rover V8 TR8
Power: 106 hp TR7
133 hp TR8
148 hp TR8 - fuel injector models
Torque: 119 lbs-ft TR7
164 lbs-ft TR8
Drivetrain: Front-engined, rear-wheel drive
Transmission: 3-speed automatic, 4/5-speed manual TR7
5-speed manual TR8
Weight: 1100 kg TR7
1204 kg TR8
Additional Information:
Four-cylinder models were sold as Triumph TR7
Eight-cylinder models were produced and sold as Triumph TR8

It's a happy coincidence that the 8th TR series was an eight-cylinder model​

tr7_zps070eeb75.JPG
triumph-tr7-coupé-gelb-1983_0002_3.jpg

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tr8-9.jpg

Triumph TR8 rear.jpg
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IMG_9142.jpg
 
That interior...eww.
 
If the way it looks wasn't reason enough to dislike the TR7, I remember watching an episode of The Classic Car Show when Alex Riley - probably just behind Chris Evans as the most irritating presenter of any motoring programme - said he's a big fan.
 
I must be one of the only people who actually likes the way these look. I have driven a 1979 TR7 FHC, and it was absolutely awful to drive, but I can't help but like them still. It has a certain charm to it. Cool

Every time I smell coolant or something musty it reminds me of being in this car. :lol:
 
It looks like a poorly executed kit car. I have a soft spot for TR6, but these just do everything wrong for me. Seriously Uncool.
 
TR7: Daringly dreadful but not bereft of charm. Still, "Mutant X1/9" often springs to mind.

TR8 (AKA the rarest and most precious classic car in all existence): Marginally less dreadful plus a few additional charisma points.

With the inclusion of the TR7 Sprint (though this more powerful 4-cylinder model never made it past preproduction), I see no chance of them being anything other than the only uncool members of the TR family. Poorly cut wedges.
 
A friend's dad had a TR7 back when I was little. Thought it was cool then. Now, not so much.

Meh.
 
It's no Spitfire, and the styling looks like a mix between the 914 and the Europa. The interior isn't the best either.

I think the TR7 is cool even with those flaws, and the TR8 uncool because it has a V8.

I'm going to wait this one out.
 
This is one of those absolutely terrible cars that I'd love to own and eventually end up crashing with a smile on my face... and a broken wrist.

Its cool.
 
It looks so stupid, and the power output for the V8 is miserable! There is nothing cool about this car. Uncool.
 
I love them, though particularly the TR8, or 7's with the common engine swap. The old Buick/Rover V8 was a pretty bulletproof engine that powered so many interesting cars. In TR8s and 7/8s it was good for at least 120, probably more like 130, not sure about exact acceleration figures but thinking 6-7 seconds to 60. If I had one of these I would tinker with it a little but they seem hugely fun whatever. The styling, in isolation, I think was quite brave, and appealling, to me anyway.

EDIT: Looks more like 8 seconds or so to 60, but doesn't affect my rating :)
 
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Dennisch
What? :lol:

It's an aluminium piece of overheating crap.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it is by modern standards, but this is a 40 year old car. I don't think it was seen that way back in the day, else wouldn't have found its way into hundreds of cars, including this, various TVRs, numerous Cobra and GT40 replicas, etc etc.
 
Tyger
Perhaps it is by modern standards, but this is a 40 year old car. I don't think it was seen that way back in the day, else wouldn't have found its way into hundreds of cars, including this, various TVRs, numerous Cobra and GT40 replicas, etc etc.
Click to expand...

Oh no. It always has been an overheater. Especially the enlarged ones.
 
Tyger
Perhaps it is by modern standards, but this is a 40 year old car.
Click to expand...
40 years ago it had already accumulated over a decade of reputation as a lemon; not the least of which from the two years GM used it in half a million cars that suffered from similar problems as Land Rovers made in 2003. Replicar companies and hot rodders used it anyway in sporty cars because it was absurdly light and had decent parts interchange with the big bruiser engines still made in America after GM gave up on it; and BL used it likely because they didn't have the ability to make anything to replace it.



It's a shame because there were applications where it shined as brightly as an LS engine would today, and I don't really understand why BL didn't put the thing in the TR7 immediately instead of waffling for a few years; but it was always troublesome.
 
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These little doorstops are awesome. I honestly think it's a very, very handsome thing; it's perfection wedge rather than ugly wedge. But I can understand why people don't like its looks.

Bodie and Doyle drove one before any Capris or Escorts too. Until Ford took BL's place as the show's car supplier.

Heart > Head
 

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