RE: SOTW: Bargain British Cabrios
Discussion
Marc H said:
What on earth is a Polly Bush Rear Beam? Sounds a bit dodgy to me....
Most road cars have suspension components attached via a rubber bush. A poly bush (polyurethane) is a different component that is usually less pliable offering up greater control and less movement.Rear beam is just a slang term for a live axle.
theironduke said:
300bhp/ton said:
grahamw48 said:
P9UNK said:
Finally it was great to see a British company re define the sporstcar
I nearly got kicked out of a metalwork lesson as a teenager for taking the piss out of the teachers TR7...
Me. Sir, have you seen the ad in the local paper for the TR7 owners club?
Him. No, tell me about it
Me. It read "Push or tow your car to one of our meetings for some kind words and sympathy" Do you want the phone number?
He wasn't impressed
Me. Sir, have you seen the ad in the local paper for the TR7 owners club?
Him. No, tell me about it
Me. It read "Push or tow your car to one of our meetings for some kind words and sympathy" Do you want the phone number?
He wasn't impressed
Hi there Piston Head friends. I have now entered your world today and registered with Piston Heads. My reason is cause I just bought 'Shed of the Week' the Champagne Tr7 !! Was really surprised to see it nominated for the prestigious honour. Just to let you all know, the car is truly original and I drove it 125 miles home after giving it a forecourt service. Drove really well and never missed a bit !
...you may be needing this...
MoonrakerSeven said:
Hi there Piston Head friends. I have now entered your world today and registered with Piston Heads. My reason is cause I just bought 'Shed of the Week' the Champagne Tr7 !! Was really surprised to see it nominated for the prestigious honour. Just to let you all know, the car is truly original and I drove it 125 miles home after giving it a forecourt service. Drove really well and never missed a bit !
Cool and welcome Don't know if you are new to classics/TR's or not. But feel free to shot me a PM if I can be of any help. I know a few places for parts and the like.
MoonrakerSeven said:
Hi there Piston Head friends. I have now entered your world today and registered with Piston Heads. My reason is cause I just bought 'Shed of the Week' the Champagne Tr7 !! Was really surprised to see it nominated for the prestigious honour. Just to let you all know, the car is truly original and I drove it 125 miles home after giving it a forecourt service. Drove really well and never missed a bit !
It did look a good buy for someone prepared to take on the bodywork. What plans do you have for it?MoonrakerSeven said:
Hi there Piston Head friends. I have now entered your world today and registered with Piston Heads. My reason is cause I just bought 'Shed of the Week' the Champagne Tr7 !! Was really surprised to see it nominated for the prestigious honour. Just to let you all know, the car is truly original and I drove it 125 miles home after giving it a forecourt service. Drove really well and never missed a bit !
Good luck with it, I hope it turns out to be a good car. Despite what some say here, there are people who like the TR7 and think it is a good looking car. I think they're pretty.
As a fellow owner of an old BL car, I can safely say there's a lot of prejudice out there. Yes they rusted, but so did most cars, so no surprises there. Yes they were put together badly, but not all cars were so great, we just loved bashing BL, and in fairness, the mark 2/3 versions of the badly put together models were put together much better. Wedge shapes were in fashion in the 70's and early 80's, so that's bang up to date for the time. Just how many 70's and early 80's Vauxhalls, Citroens, Peugeots, Renaults, VWs, Audis, BMWs, Fiats, Lancias, Alfas etc are still around? If the BL cars were so much worse, how come there's still so many surviving.
It's a case of pub logic and armchair rhetoric being around for so long it's become accepted as fact.
It's a case of pub logic and armchair rhetoric being around for so long it's become accepted as fact.
MoonrakerSeven said:
Hi there Piston Head friends. I have now entered your world today and registered with Piston Heads. My reason is cause I just bought 'Shed of the Week' the Champagne Tr7 !! Was really surprised to see it nominated for the prestigious honour. Just to let you all know, the car is truly original and I drove it 125 miles home after giving it a forecourt service. Drove really well and never missed a bit !
As others have already said, best of luck and do keep us posted as to how you get on. And welcome to PistonHeads Hasbeen said:
I own a 7 & it's my favourite car, ever. I built it out of 2 about 10 years ago. It is mint, with heavy duty shocks, & stiff anti roll bars, but otherwise stock. I have been unable to find any car as good as it for fun, or for long distance driving. Its ergonomics leave everything but my Honda S2000 for dead.
That asthmatic engine comfortably chews up the renowned "big" Healey in all conditions. It is also more torquey & more reliable than the tractor engine in the earlier 4 pot TRs. It was my main car for 7 years & 60,000Km, until I thought I had best semi retire it to fun status, before I wore it out completely.
I also own an 8, with an upgrade to a 300+ BHP 4.6L, & full house brakes & suspension. It was a main driver for some time, but the exhaust note attracts a bit too much undesirable attention. I got sick of the law following me.
2 years ago I went looking for a daily driver convertible. I have owned, & got rid of an MG F, a
2007 Mx 5 [I don't know what Mk], A BMW Z3, an Astra, & a Peugeot 306. I still own the Oz built Ford Capri [2+2 convertible], & the Honda S2000. The Honda is not as quick as the modified TR8, or as effortless as the TR7, but has great ergonomics, is a nice handling car, & does go when stirred. It is now my daily driver. The Capri is a good spare car, & suitable to loan to visitors, but I wouldn't want to drive it too far.
To those who drove a 7, & found them less than great, all I can say is, either you drove a lousy 7, [they are not that good on 30 year old rubber suspension bushes, & sagging springs], or all your driving ability is in your mouth.
I really agree with this post and with it's sentiment. I have not owned a TR7, MG, or MX-5, despite having owned a fair size collection of cars over the years. I have considered all those cars and still do. The poster that said that SOTW proves once again that we all like different things, is of course spot on. Personally, I quite like the shape, memories of and 'classic-ness' of the TR7, but I do fear that owning one may change my opinion for the worse. The MX5 does appeal, but there is such fervor for them, it reduces the need to own one to me - a bit like a Lexus. The Escort Cab I cannot contemplate. I had to drive an Estate Escort for a short while as a company car back when they were new. It wasn't as bad as I expected, but, I cannot see why you would choose to drive one, given there are so many alternatives. The Cosworth being, of course, the exception to the rule.That asthmatic engine comfortably chews up the renowned "big" Healey in all conditions. It is also more torquey & more reliable than the tractor engine in the earlier 4 pot TRs. It was my main car for 7 years & 60,000Km, until I thought I had best semi retire it to fun status, before I wore it out completely.
I also own an 8, with an upgrade to a 300+ BHP 4.6L, & full house brakes & suspension. It was a main driver for some time, but the exhaust note attracts a bit too much undesirable attention. I got sick of the law following me.
2 years ago I went looking for a daily driver convertible. I have owned, & got rid of an MG F, a
2007 Mx 5 [I don't know what Mk], A BMW Z3, an Astra, & a Peugeot 306. I still own the Oz built Ford Capri [2+2 convertible], & the Honda S2000. The Honda is not as quick as the modified TR8, or as effortless as the TR7, but has great ergonomics, is a nice handling car, & does go when stirred. It is now my daily driver. The Capri is a good spare car, & suitable to loan to visitors, but I wouldn't want to drive it too far.
To those who drove a 7, & found them less than great, all I can say is, either you drove a lousy 7, [they are not that good on 30 year old rubber suspension bushes, & sagging springs], or all your driving ability is in your mouth.
ITech said:
The Escort Cab I cannot contemplate... I cannot see why you would choose to drive one, given there are so many alternatives. The Cosworth being, of course, the exception to the rule.
There are plenty of alternatives today, but back in the late 80s and early 90s, there were few alternatives to the Escort as an "affordable" four seater convertible.The Peugeot 205 cabrio was lovely but tiny, the Astra cabrio looked a bit dodgy, and the Golf cabrio had a strong image but before the Mk3 came along, it was based on an old 1970s design. Beyond those few cars, you were looking at serious money for Saabs, BMWs and Mercs.
The Escort cabrio was a popular car in its day, and it sold well. These days, its place in the market has been taken by folding metal roof cabrios like the Megane, Eos and 206/307, and the Focus CC never made much of an impression against these competitors.
ajsphead said:
As a fellow owner of an old BL car, I can safely say there's a lot of prejudice out there. Yes they rusted, but so did most cars, so no surprises there. Yes they were put together badly, but not all cars were so great, we just loved bashing BL, and in fairness, the mark 2/3 versions of the badly put together models were put together much better. Wedge shapes were in fashion in the 70's and early 80's, so that's bang up to date for the time. Just how many 70's and early 80's Vauxhalls, Citroens, Peugeots, Renaults, VWs, Audis, BMWs, Fiats, Lancias, Alfas etc are still around? If the BL cars were so much worse, how come there's still so many surviving.
It's a case of pub logic and armchair rhetoric being around for so long it's become accepted as fact.
Who's bashing BL ?It's a case of pub logic and armchair rhetoric being around for so long it's become accepted as fact.
The majority of posters have just said they think the TR7 is an ugly car.
I've owned dozens of other BL models, and still use one of them every day now.
In fairness to other manufacturers (survival of cars), BL were the biggest sellers, so obviously more about in the first place.
So, the general consensus appears to be that the TR7 was/is an ugly car, and had no right to be given the TR badge.
As you and I know, there were good-looking 'Wedges' available too.
Edited by grahamw48 on Tuesday 28th June 14:00
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