Rare Victory Edition: 1979 Triumph TR7
This 1979 Triumph TR7 hardtop is lovely royal blue, with a black top, is on Craigslist in the Binghamton, New York area with a reasonable $5,000 or best offer asking price. Thanks to Mitchell G. for this tip.
We’re not told much. The ad doesn’t say if it’s running, but the odometer measures a modest 57,289 miles. The Triumph is a Victory Edition and comes with extra parts. Also specified is a “five-speed transmission and heavier rear end.” Are these parts actually or on the car? TR7s also ran four-speed manuals. According to a Barn Finds post from 2016, the Victory Edition “was created to celebrate the TR7 mopping up the competition in its class in SCCA racing.” That doesn’t mean these special editions go any faster. The package included special spoke wheels (which our blue example still has), special striping, and a contrasting vinyl top. Having that package makes it “rare,” I guess.
The luggage rack is a nice addition. Notice the heavy federal bumpers. The wedge-shaped TR7 replaced the much more traditional TR6 and was extant from 1974 (1975 in the U.S.) to 1981 when British Leyland perished. Some leftover TR7s made it into 1982. In the end, it ran alongside the V-8-engined TR8. The latter was barely available and never met its potential. The TR7 was no barn burner. Its two-liter four was similar to the Triumph Dolomite 1850 engine, with slightly more power. But the North American version produced only 92 horsepower (Brits got 105 horses). The five-speed gearbox became available in 1976. There was an automatic, too. The suspension is independent up front with coil springs, and there’s a four-link system with coil springs out back. Front disc brakes were standard.
The interior of this car looks fairly straight, but we can’t see the seats. There’s no engine photo. There was plentiful labor unrest at British Leyland while the TR7 was built, and this led to erratic build quality and bad word of mouth. Cars still on the road may have been straightened out by now. Total production was 115,000 (including 28,864 convertibles,. Only 2,800 TR8s were built. Shoehorning V-8 power into one of these is possible, just as Sunbeam Alpines become Tiger clones. But you should know what you’re doing.
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Comments
Interesting this car was sold by a dealer in St Petersburg , FL but ended up in Binghampton ,NY ( home of McIntosh) This would actually be a 1976 and would have a 4 speed originally. I see the spoker wheels, correct top and glove box decals but it has lost its unique stripes. Great color though,looks to be Tahiti Blue.
Run Forrest, run!
I owned a 1980 TR7 convertible for 35 years. When I sold the car it had 56,000 miles on it. I sold it for $2,500. I have a file folder with all the repair and maintenance bills that total over $24,000.00. I really loved that car, but it always had mechanical and electrical problems.
omg. run away
The “special wheels” look like trailer wheels from Northern Hydraulics.
Purchased a 76 TR7 with 25K miles on it. Had it two years and only put a few hundred miles on it…..not by choice.
One comment: Never eva eva buy a car that has been washed for photos taken while still wet.
I have a tr 7 that was converted to a TR8 with the addition of the Rover 3.5 V-8, five speed, conv. A much better car than the Sunbeam by far having much better handling and room to spare for the V-8. The cars do exceptionally well in racing attesting to the handling I refer to and are a fun car on the street. The TR is a relatively easy auto for the DYI er and with the v-8 ……very fast. Must do is to lose the front/rear bumpers in favor of the F355 Ferrari look ; Rimmer has other wide body kits, etc. With headers, edelbrock intake and four barrel, adding MSD ignition, dual exhaust….a very dependable , fast street beast. They will climb in value as the market discovers the V-8 options and inexpensive fun!
Aquí en Córdoba , Argentina , hay un TR7 techo rigido color amarillo
Lo siento, senor.
I had a 1980 convertible with the same color. One of the better options for this car, in my mind.