Friday 24th June 2011

SOTW: Bargain British Cabrios

Shed picks out a TR7, an MGTF and, er, a Ford Escort. Hang on, what was that third one...??

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In many ways, 1983 was a significant year. Neil Kinnock was elected leader of the Labour Party, the first Microsoft Word was launched, the infamous Hitler Diaries were published (and found to be faked), and your humble scribbler here was born (I know, I don't look a day under 45).

Most significantly for today's shed of the week, however, this beige Triumph TR7 Convertible was registered. Even though the last TR7 dribbled out of Rover's Solihull plant in 1981, this car presumably languished on a forecourt or in a storage unit somewhere, before finally getting 'plated up' (so to speak) a couple of years later.

The last-ever Triumph roadster was never a beautiful thing in its day, nor has time been kind to it (nor was the choice of beige paintwork particularly inspired). It's also got an asthmatic 105bhp 2.0-litre engine. But it's a slice of important (in a maudlin sort of way) British motoring history for just £950, has had just one owner, been driven a mere 54,000 miles and it's got a full year's MOT to boot.

If that still doesn't whet your appetite, then may Shed present to you an alternative British SOTW in which to enjoy the glorious British summer? This 2002 MGTF 1.8 is possibly the youngest car ever to feature as an SOTW.

It ticks all the right boxes in terms of paperwork and MOT, has done a moderately reasonable 87k miles, and ought to be a fine alternative to that ubiquitous PH choice the MX-5.

All is not perfect with this TF, however. We're suspicious of any classified advert whose creator can't spell the word 'convertible', and the advert's text is hardly the most detailed you'll have read. It's the sort of car we'd definitely want to have a good poke around (with an experienced mechanic in tow), but if all seemed good, we'd take it in a heartbeat. And spend the next few months fending off jokes about head gaskets and hairdressers.

But if you think our first two offerings are of dubious pedigree, then we present you this third SOTW as an example of exactly how not to do it. The Anti-SOTW. Sure, it's only £849, but this is the sort of car you just know will wobble like a sheet of paper held by Rolf Harris, and it's only British in that curious way that many people seem to regard Fords as a British brand. Can we think of any redeeming feartures for it? Erm...no, not really. Other than the fact that it has four seats. And makes the other two offerings here look good...

Adverts are reproduced below...

TR7 Convertible. One owner+54000mls!! (1983)
£950

Beige with Tan interior.One owner from new and genuine 54000mls.Has recently been put back on the road after 20yrs in storage. 12months MOT and runs well but needs repaint and new hood.Ziebart rustproofed from new but now has some rot in front wings. We are selling on behalf of elderly owner.
Good project for someone!

MGTF 1.8 CONVERTABLE 2002 (2002)
87,000 miles £1,000

METALLIC BLUE, black leather ELEC WINDOWS ETC ALLOY WHEELS, CD PLAYER, 87K, M.O.T, SPARE KEYS GOOD RUNNER, EXHURST BLOWING AND SMALL CRACK IN FRONT BUMPER, HPI CLEAR SPARE KEYS ALL PAPERWORK

Ford Escort Cabriolet Convertible Imperial Blue (1996)
95,700 miles £849

Imperial blue Ford Escort cabriolet 1.8 Ghia.
1996
Showing 95700 Miles
MOT Till Jan 28th 2012
Tax Till 07 11
2 recent tyres
Recent oil + filter service
Electric roof (working !)
4 electric windows
Rear spoiler
Front foglights
Central locking

Genuine Ford GTi side skirts
16 inch Mondeo alloy wheels
Polly bush rear beam
After market exhaust
Mk 5 facelift boot (no badge recess) debadged
Genuine MK6 Ford RS accessory rear bumper (Very Rare - not the mk5 facelift model with the line in it) in Imperial blue available extra.

[300bhp/ton]

yay!

As an ex-MGF owner and a current Tr7 owner I can hardly complain about these. Not so sure about the Ford though.... piratical I guess for a vert, but not sure it's anything else.

[mull1974]

Wow a TR on a Y plate. Very rare and has got to be worth it. I think teh colour suits it in a cheesy way.

[gforceg]

Of those three I guess it'd be the TR7 for me. Quirky rare and rear drive.

[MiniMan64]

The Escort has an........electric roof? Really?

[Goodfella 555]

Nothing worse than a blowing exhurst(!)

Beige TR7? Ouch.

[crofty1984]

I WILL own a TR7 V8 one day. Or maybe an MGF steptronic if I'm feeling particularly lazy.

[300bhp/ton]

Isn't this maybe a little harsh?

PH said:

It's also got an asthmatic 105bhp 2.0-litre engine.

Partly because the engines where actually quite grunty but mostly because even in 1984 a 2.0 Sierra only also put out 105bhp. So 105hp was pretty spot on for this class/price of car.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 24th June 09:26

[anonymous-user]

That Escort is a piece of dog-rough Barryboys ste. Hang your head. Nothing at all Pistonheads about it, apart from the fact is turns petrol into exhaust smoke (very badly). The other 2 have their merits but I'd put owning/driving/seeing a late Escort as somewhere south of eating 2lb's of fresh cat vom.

[cliffie]

Can anyone lend me a grand? I want that TR7 so badly it hurts...

[Disco_Dale]

300bhp/ton said:

Partly because the engines where actually quite grunty and partly because even in 1984 a 2.0 Sierra only also put out 105bhp.

Quite.
I see this sort of thing quite a lot on PH articles. Clearly written by someone who never drove one and probably wasn't born when they were on sale.

The engine in the TR7 was basically an 8v version of the Dolly Sprint engine iirc. They certainly weren't asthmatic in their day.

[300bhp/ton]

The Crack Fox said:

Amazed at how cheap TR7s are now, they must be really unloved.

Escort boasts "Genuine Ford GTi side skirts", genuine ay ? Not aftermarket ? I'm sold...

I think there are several aspects this this.

1. It's at that age where its right at the bottom of its depreciation curve, just as most 1975-85 cars are. e.g. a Gen 1 1979/80 RX-7 is worth all of £300-500 despite being a great little sports car.

2. Oddly while the press and non buyers always harp on about the Convertible TR7 being the one to have. It seems most buyers want a coupe. Partly I suspect for the quirky looks but also as it's a far more rigid body shell. Non sun roof FHC's are even rarer and will generally fetch even more money again.

2a. V8's, either factory or converted ones do seem to be more sort after and command stringer money.

3. TVR's. I wanted a TVR, couldn't afford one so bought a TR7 and V8'd it instead. I suspect I'm not alone in this. Sadly Wedge shape TVR's are also worth a pittance at the moment. So I suspect anyone considering a TR7 V8 convertible would also look at a TVR. The TVR usually has more HP and it's a TVR, so more exclusive. When Wedge shape TVR prices rise I suspect TR7 ones will too.

Just look at how TR6 prices have changed in recent years. It really wasn't that long when £4-6k would have got you a good or mint one. Today it's not difficult to spend £12k on one.

[Martin 480 Turbo]

That TR7 is gorgeous, what a shame about it being steered on
the wrong side. A thorough clean, detail and wax should bring
that coffee and creme color combo back to lustre.

It's rather fashionable with the italians again.

The fourbanger engine is not that bad, the rattling crapy plastic
pieces more so.

Martin 480 Turbo

(looking into bying a house based on it having 8 garages...)

Edited by Martin 480 Turbo on Friday 24th June 09:38

[Riggers]

Disco_Dale said:

300bhp/ton said:

Partly because the engines where actually quite grunty and partly because even in 1984 a 2.0 Sierra only also put out 105bhp.

Quite.
I see this sort of thing quite a lot on PH articles. Clearly written by someone who never drove one and probably wasn't born when they were on sale.

The engine in the TR7 was basically an 8v version of the Dolly Sprint engine iirc. They certainly weren't asthmatic in their day.

Well, I did kind of admit to that in the intro to the article . You can't really help what age you are...

I think the Dolomite engine had also had its day by the mid-80s. Just my opinion, of course

[excel monkey]

Opulent said:

That Escort is a piece of dog-rough Barryboys ste. Hang your head. Nothing at all Pistonheads about it, apart from the fact is turns petrol into exhaust smoke (very badly). The other 2 have their merits but I'd put owning/driving/seeing a late Escort as somewhere south of eating 2lb's of fresh cat vom.

Read the article! It was included as a joke. Not supposed to be taken seriously.

[confused_buyer]

The 105bhp Sierra weighed 1065Kg so, almost exactly 100bhp per tonne.

Today's 1.6 Ecoboost Mondeo has 157bhp and weighs 1500Kg. So, about 105bhp per tonne. Not a big difference.

[300bhp/ton]

Riggers said:

Disco_Dale said:

300bhp/ton said:

Partly because the engines where actually quite grunty and partly because even in 1984 a 2.0 Sierra only also put out 105bhp.

Quite.
I see this sort of thing quite a lot on PH articles. Clearly written by someone who never drove one and probably wasn't born when they were on sale.

The engine in the TR7 was basically an 8v version of the Dolly Sprint engine iirc. They certainly weren't asthmatic in their day.

Well, I did kind of admit to that in the intro to the article . You can't really help what age you are...

I think the Dolomite engine had also had its day by the mid-80s. Just my opinion, of course

Funny though as Saab didn't and used it for quite some time and even turbocharged it! Although I'm not sure upuntil when.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 24th June 09:42

[Oddball RS]

For the first time in a long time bravo...........

TR7's are the best kept secret, over the next ten years they will go up in value like all earlier TR's maybe not at such a high % but now is the time to buy a tidy one and keep it (Particularly the FHC), MG's are on the same path but just a bit more modern to use, a friend on mine has a very early F and a late TF both unregistered (and two shells). They will definately be worth hanging on to, in the future they will be very highly thought of, the last 'British' MG?

In the mean time - drive and enjoy and tidy up as funds allow.

[Gizmo!]

Just goes to show how much progress there has been in the car market even relatively recently doesn't it. That Escort was sh!t when it was new, and time has not been kind. The Mk5 was hailed as fixing the awful Mk4's problems, but compare that to the Focus Mk1?

[PetrolHeadSeb]

MGTF Advert said:

... GOOD RUNNER ...

Classic.

[anonymous-user]

excel monkey said:

Opulent said:

That Escort is a piece of dog-rough Barryboys ste. Hang your head. Nothing at all Pistonheads about it, apart from the fact is turns petrol into exhaust smoke (very badly). The other 2 have their merits but I'd put owning/driving/seeing a late Escort as somewhere south of eating 2lb's of fresh cat vom.

Read the article! It was included as a joke. Not supposed to be taken seriously.

I know, I just get Tourettes around anything post-1987 Escort shaped...! And an ad for a car like that on a supposed enthusiast site. Isn't it ironic? Don't ya think?