Thursday 3rd February 2022

V8-powered Triumph TR7 for sale

The TR8 is vanishingly rare in RHD format - but there is a solution to that problem...

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History is littered with examples of a burly V8 transforming a small British sports car. AC Ace to Cobra is the most obvious example, but don't forget the Lotus Esprit, MG B and Morgan Plus 4 were all unforgettably altered by swapping out four-cylinder power for a V8.

When Triumph launched the TR7 in the mid 1970s, it wanted the sports car to succeed in America; so much so, in fact, that it was launched over there a year ahead of its home market. The only problem being the engine. Even post fuel crisis, a V8 was considered essential. Although the Dolly Sprint-sourced 2.0-litre did a fair job in the lightweight TR7, Triumph was only really going to have an impact Stateside with eight cylinders.

So, in went the trusty Rover V8, all 3.5-litres and 135hp of it. The TR8 should have been lapped up, but a strong pound at the time made it expensive to customers across the Atlantic - a cost that looked especially poor value given the notoriously iffy fit and finish. In the end, it's believed less than 2,500 were built, and maybe as few as 18 in right-hand drive.

Which is a shame, because demand for a V8-engined TR7 in the UK, helped along by the spectacular Group 4 rally car, definitely must've existed. In fact we know it did, because, as this car shows, our enterprising sports car scene simply set about making its own TR8s from readily available TR7s and donor engines. First registered in 1980, this example was converted not long after by S&S Preparations. The work comprised dropping the 3.5 V8 in as well as brake discs and radiator from the TR8, uprated suspension and a side-exit exhaust. According to a report from 1991, the work was "thoroughly and carefully carried out" - which is nice to know.

Certainly it looks the part all these years later. Everyone has their own view on how the TR7 was styled, some more polite than others, but there's no questioning the condition of this one. Maybe 'factory fresh' isn't the term given what's usually said about BL build quality back then; let's say this Triumph wears its six-figure mileage well, interior and exterior looking pretty fresh for a car in its fifth decade. Apparently the owner spent £8,000 on the Triumph during their years with it from 2017, including a top end overhaul, some bodywork and a wheel refurb - the investment looks to have paid off handsomely.

Not least with the complete car now for sale at £12,950. If not the fastest or most dynamic sports car in the world, a TR7 with the V8 is going to sound great and garner plenty of affection. After all, when did you last see a Triumph of any kind? With spring having very nearly sprung, there must be many far less enjoyable ways to spend it than top down in a classic British sports car with a V8 burbling along for company. So what if it's not a genuine TR8? At least this way a buyer will be unafraid to drive it, enjoying their little red English Corvette like it's the real thing.

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[usualdog]

Giugiaro nailed it when he (allegedly) said ‘My God! They’ve done the same to the other side as well’ when he first saw one.

[SistersofPercy]

I had a TR7 for a few years, great fun to drive but very twitchy in the wet. Can imagine the fun to be had with the V8.
Did get a bit fed up of having to wind up the offside headlight though

[matlotus]

Would have much preferred it without the roll bar.

[Twoshoe]

Looks to be riding too high, especially at the back - look at the difference in gaps to bodywork between front and rear tyres in the 1st pic (and bizarre rear wheel angle).

[Matt_T]

So what was the difference between a TR8 and a TR7 V8, given that the TR7 was made with a V8 from the factory?

Edited by Matt_T on Thursday 3rd February 16:42

[OverSteery]

for sale said:

Although the Dolly Sprint-sourced 2.0-litre did a fair job in the lightweight TR7, Triumph was only really going to have an impact Stateside with eight cylinders.

The TR7 never got the dolly sprint engine with the 4 valve head (ignoring a few specials). It's hard to understand why not (although ISTR the sprint head did tend to weld itself to the block)

Edited by OverSteery on Thursday 3rd February 16:45

[Frimley111R]

Nice for a TR7 but still pretty horrible fundamentally.

[OverSteery]

Twoshoe said:

Looks to be riding too high, especially at the back - look at the difference in gaps to bodywork between front and rear tyres in the 1st pic (and bizarre rear wheel angle).

That's because the land isn't level. look at the 2nd picture and you can see the rear wheel is raised. A live axle probably is the cause of the angle....

[robsa]

£13k for that seems a bargain to me; I saw a Grinnall one at CarFest last year, and it looked really nice.

[pycraft]

One of the teachers in my school had a TR7 in about 1981ish. We 11 year old boys all thought he was cool. Apparently some fifth form girls thought he was even cooler.... things were different in the 80s.

usualdog said:

Giugiaro nailed it when he (allegedly) said ‘My God! They’ve done the same to the other side as well’ when he first saw one.

A bit harsh, and also pointless - what was he expecting? A Hyundai Veloster?

Matt_T said:

So what was the difference between a TR8 and a TR7 V8, given that the TR7 was made with a V8 from the factory?

Don't think there was a TR7 V8, the V8 was the TR8, just like the 6-cyl MGB was the MGC.

Edited by pycraft on Thursday 3rd February 17:00

Edited by pycraft on Thursday 3rd February 17:01

[varsas]

Matt_T said:

So what was the difference between a TR8 and a TR7 V8, given that the TR7 was made with a V8 from the factory?

Edited by Matt_T on Thursday 3rd February 16:42

I thought all factory TR7 V8s were TR8's?

[romac]

Matt_T said:

So what was the difference between a TR8 and a TR7 V8, given that the TR7 was made with a V8 from the factory?

Family friend got one in the 80s. I asked him if it was a real TR8 and, far from being offended, he was delighted with the opportunity to enlighten me...

...the battery is in the boot in a real TR8

[pits]

Every TR was pretty, they absolutely nailed the TR6, still to this day a stunningly beautiful car, then they released the TR7, which just looks like a really poor attempt at a Fiat X1/9, a handsome little car, but Triumph got this so wrong, I don't think I like them from any angle.

[griffdude]

If you want a V8 wedge, it’s got to be a TVR 😁

[JerryF]

Read the first line of the advert, which says its designed by Chris Harris. How wrong can he be, it's Harris Mann. I then stopped reading.

[ex vaux dealer]

Being a sad man , I have a bit of a thing for these.
I own a LHD Triumph TR8 efi from California with pas and aircon. 148bhp and so smooth, pull from fifth gear at a 1000 revs.
I also have a genuine TR7 Sprint made in a tiny batch in 1977. This car is more fun down the country roads with its revvy nature.

The TR8 is more your A road mile muncher, but lovely with the roof off.
They are both reliable fun cars and sadly slagged off by the ignorant.

[Unbusy]

Perhaps only 18 built in rhd? That seems to make it a very rare car. I remember reading loads about them back in the day hence my surprise at the low number. At 135bhp it can’t be fast but the burbling sound must be delightful. At the time I thought it was a Stratos rip off. I still do!

[ddom]

13k, that’ll buy you various TVR’s. More character, just as needy

[Shnozz]

My Dad owned a few TR7s from new. The most recent one he kept until a few years ago as pride of place in the garage. Had about 38k on the clock and was mint. Turned up at their house one day and it was gone. He flogged it for £500. New owner must be laughing as these retro rides continue to appreciate.

[Mave]

I quite like it in a retro way. Looks much better as a convertible than a coupe as well