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?