Vintage Sports cars | TR7 | British Sports car | Drive in | 1976

'Drive in' Reporter Richard Hudson Evans takes a look at the latest sports car offering from British Leyland - the TR7
First shown: 18/05/1976
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Quote: VT13444

[@davidkennedy1077]

Bloody hell, that brand new TR7 sounds like it's running a tractor engine!!! I always liked the shape, and the sound when it had the Rover V8 upfront (TR8)

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Youre right- very crude sound, wheezy

[@moochincrawdad]

They say that the TR8 was a much better car in every way

[@davidkennedy1077]

@@mosesberkowitz3298 definitely doesnt sound like a brand new car. I suppose some car engines often were rougher sounding back then.

[@davidkennedy1077]

@The Passionate Ponce hahaha!!! If I'm taking the featured TR7, then about 6 hours. 4 hours to get it started, another 3 due to break downs and then a couple of weeks to wait for parts (only to find out those parts arent in stock!). I'll be there 22nd January next year!!!

[@davidkennedy1077]

@@moochincrawdad and that lovely Rover V8 rumble.

[@davidallen7977]

It became my dream car as a 10yr old boy after seeing it advertised in the SUN newspaper back in 1976. I didn't first get one until I was 21yrs old. I bought it from an auction and it had a sprint 16v conversion. On the way home with it, it overheated after just 2 miles then caught fire under the bonnet in a petrol station which I was lucky to put out. I was young and never gave up on it and spent all my money on it. I used to Haynes manual to learn everything about them and spent hundreds of hours on the thing. My mates all kept telling me to get rid of the thing but instead I bought more tr7s and bought and sold them. Eventually I gave up on them and moved on to Lancias which was my second dream car as a boy after a naighbour bought a beta couple. I bought and sold Lancias for a while. Fond memories even if it did cost me dear.

[@79devo]

I had a TREVI 2000 mainly because of the spaceship dashboard. I also had a beta spider 2000 which was a fantastic car.

[@daoudfakhri6490]

@@79devo My dad had a Trevi, bought it in 1984. I always called the dash the "Swiss cheese" dash. Quite a comfortable car to be driven in, but horrifically unreliable.

[@davidallen7977]

@@79devo brilliant. Yes I had a trevi to. Lots of holes in the lower dash. Mine was dark blue. Memories eh.....

[@79devo]

David Allen mine was gold NRD 614X. Auto. Smooth and refined but with magnetti electronics I never knew what electrical fault would happen next wipers/indicators mainly ... felt quite cool in it in 1985 😀

[@Martindyna]

A shame that Lancia stopped exporting to the UK. I remember they often had nice wooden dashboards like English cars.

[@georgejacob3162]

Famous car designer Giorgio Giugiaro once stepped onto the Triumph stand at a Motor Show and looked at the TR7. A hush fell over the crowd as he walked around to the other side of the car and then said "Oh dear! They've done the same on this side too!"

[@shaunontheinternet1452]

The reason could be this. Often design prototypes and mock ups are styled differently on opposite sides of the car, these were fairly common to see at motorshows as it allows the manufacturer to gauge public reception to the styling. The TR7 was so unconventional that perhaps he was surprised that it wasn't a mock up - but infact a production car.

[@dlckweed8345]

@@shaunontheinternet1452 he must have been mortified. But probably not surprised.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

​@@shaunontheinternet1452no. He was simply calling the car ugly.... Just that.

[@fredgrove4220]

I've had both, 1 TR6 and I've had 6 TR7's, both hard top and convertible. My present TR7 is a convertible and has a Rover V8 injection fitted. I love it, cannot fault it. The TR7 in this video is a Speke car with the 4 speed box, and the build quality left a lot to be desired.. The later cars, with the LT77 5 speed gearbox, and built in Canley, Coventry, then moved to Solihull, were streets better. Mine is a Canley car.

[@MichaelBosley]

Wouldn't want to get stuck on a road trip with these two. Captain Excitement and the man who looks like he lost a fight with a charity shop clothes rack.

[@normanmunns4743]

Your comment did make me laugh. Never seen such awful Clothes Grey flares, cloth cap and nylon jacket what a pillock

[@spankysmp]

Three Points - 1. Am I rather sad as I wake up on a Sunday morning and think 'yes!, another Thames car clip' 2. That's a rather jauntily placed flat cap by RHE. 3. The TR7 paint looks oxidised already.

[@kimchipig]

The guy who applied it was probably drunk.

[@TheHorsebox2]

@@kimchipig or on strike. Probably sent his kids in to do it.

[@syxepop]

spankysmagicpiano, at least we now know the car lasted ~ 13 years (wonder how many times it was retouched for body perforations)...

[@isthereanybodyoutthere9397]

It is a BL....

[@freddieparrydrums]

YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS: The white Escort shown at 6:00 is still alive! The 2000 is long gone however. I’m shocked! The Triumph TR6 shown at 0:40 is also still surviving!

[@lewis72]

There's a good chance that the white Mexico Escort, NOO 940P, is owned by Ford UK, as the ~OO plate is Brentwood where many of the Ford press cars are registered.

[@freddieparrydrums]

@@lewis72 Thanks for the info Lewis. Hopefully, however it's probably unlikely. If it wasn't scrapped, you're probably right as they were starting to get rare!

[@lewis72]

@@freddieparrydrums Ford does have a heritage collection and, as I said, ~OO is a Ford UK registration suffix. It was most likely a Ford press car for this video, so may have stayed with the company.

[@darrenwilson8042]

Blimey - Clive is an all action barrel of laughs isn't he?

[@stuartlever6807]

I crashed my Dolly Sprint many years ago and thought I would transplant its great engine into a TR7. Went to see a yellow one and thought no. I would need a brown paper bag on my head to drive it! Today I think there is something slightly attractive about an early one with the tartan trim.

[@dlckweed8345]

I agree I used to think it was a bit tragic .but now I'm retired and have got elasticated trousers up to my chest and play golf in tarten slacks I think it looks the business.

[@alunhoskins4513]

I remember the launch day for this car, went along to my local dealer in Sussex. I went in the morning and again in the evening. On my second visit one of the headlights - just one - was up. The salesman, John, was fed up. “Bloody people have been testing them all day, those lights must have been popped up a 100 times and of course, the system’s broken now.” That summed up the TR7 - and BL to be honest. Underdeveloped and thrown together, not built. At least the Morris Marina door handles were tried and tested.

[@nygelmiller5293]

To Alan Hoskins from Nygel Miller. Have you seen the online video, where a man in the USA or Canada was given a forty year old one free, to restore it? That had ONE headlight sticking up as well!

[@S7EVE_P]

I can remember in the early 80s as a child thinking this is the car I will have when I grow up, it seemed so futuristic compared with the family mk3 Cortina. In the end some 7 years later, my first car was a gutless worn out 1.3 mk2 Escort in faded custard yellow with rust coloured brown seats and a twitchy rear end...much like my first girlfriend.

[@QuadMochaMatti]

Did your girlfriend have jaundice, by any chance?

[@S7EVE_P]

ModMokkaMatti No she opted for Judo instead.

[@seed_drill7135]

In America it was marketed as "the shape of things to come."

[@whyalwaysme2522]

@@S7EVE_P Sir, you are funny.

[@barryroach1980]

I love all the comments i have read here, same thoughts for me. With regards to the car look at the "hi-tech" antenna hanging out the window so we could pick up the motivational banter from flat cap and his happy mate Cheerful Clive!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

Say what you will about this British Leyland Motor Corporation product but when I saw a pristine example a few years ago that had been shipped over here to Australia from the States , I was blown away. Very modern looking even then.

[@keeperlit.leterrip7722]

I bought an old tr7 back in 1991. Most electrical accessories were unpredictable. Sometimes the headlights would pop up when I wouldn't switch them on, but the worst was when you needed headlights and they wouldn't pop up. Wipers were the same. Came on by themselves when I hit a bump, but wouldn't come on when I needed them.

[@TheTheotherfoot]

Electric by lucus....... The prince of darkness.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Reading that makes you appreciate Japanese.

[@PaulEcosse]

"Hairy chested motoring" Classic. I was so jealous of neighbours with their TR7's. Needlessly, in hindsight...

[@anthonybeech676]

My R reg 1976 had the Rover SD1 5 speed box which was a big improvement on the 4 speed. Great handling car especially with Princess 4 pot callipers fitted ;)

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Why does it sound like the exhaust is blowing?

[@brunster64]

Looks and sounds like a “well used example” straight out the factory.

[@CutcliffePaul]

Er, that would be because the exhaust is blowing. 🙄

[@PaulabJohnson]

BL quality

[@01322521959]

Yes, I thought that. Terrible on a press car.

[@TheHorsebox2]

Two words. British Leyland.

[@Jam3sA]

"Whoever's heard of a sports car with a heated rear window". Some technological advance then....

[@LonelyMonarchist1998]

1:56 lovely panel misalignment there

[@AndySmallbone]

only thing british leyland were masters of

[@seed_drill7135]

And at 1:59, I think that black piece of plastic on the rear fender (wing) is where US spec cars would have received a side reflector.

[@felix_five]

I’d be surprised if was aligned

[@yorkiegilly4355]

Had my 2nd TR 7 a while ,it"s got 64,000 miles on the clock and runs silent & smooth for a old car ,it was a U.S. export so is quite rust free .It uses hardly any oil between oil changes and the same goes for the coolant ,I use it every day and would drive it anywhere . Fun to drive and has been ultra reliable ,it must be a one off as you rarely see good reviews ,my other model, that was a hardtop was mint but the electrics were not the best ,but parts are easy to get and they are simple to fix .Would have liked a V8 but my budget says NO to the fuel consumption ?.

[@davidm793]

I loved my two. Four speed 1976 Speke car from 76 to 82. Never had an issue except cold running in bitter cold, so tin foil on radiator 😂. 1983, bought a 9 month old convertible, 183rd from last, and kept until 2002. Again, nothing failed. Some paint on headlamps and front panel and minor rust just in front of rear wheels was all that needed attention. Great cars, wish I had kept the latter.

[@markw208]

I appreciate everyone’s comments. Obviously many of you have real feelings, good or bad, about the 7. I owned a 6 and worked at British Leyland dealership in Oklahoma City. MGBs sold very well as did Midgets, Spitfires and 6’s but 7’s outsold all of them. I never understood why the British car engineering was so weak. As others of you pointed out they had so many flaws. But still so uniquely fun to drive.

[@Spookieham]

That TR7 sounded bloody awful

[@lash9400]

The TR7 looked so much better as a soft top than the fixed head.

[@ralfhenke8148]

The drophead only came to exist because literally NO-ONE liked that coupé. I mean look at it: It's narrow, wheels tucked in even narrower, the body sort of "tip-toes" over the chassis with its high roofline and the back just looks like it's been hitched up by some American hot-rodder to show the cars underpinnings. Honestly, I'd love to talk to the guy that signed off this "design" as "beautiful and sporty" after putting it among the likes of an Opel Manta, Ford Capri, Porsche 924, VW Scirocco, Alfa GTV, Alfasud Sprint... and mind you: those all have to cover up two rear seats as well and still look a hundred times better than this nail in Triumph's coffin.

[@thatfocusguy]

When they were designing the TR7 America were talking of banning convertibles hence the hard top.

[@dlckweed8345]

Its a pity they never made a estate version .they did knock off two prototypes but they looked tragic.I'm half tempted to buy a cheap fixed coupe version and remove the boot lid and make my own stream lined fibe glass merged removable canopy with glass rear hatch ..I suppose it would be then a tr7 van?but at least it would be more practical to put your dog in the boot without them suffocating on petrol fumes and heat exhaustion. if you have got pets two seaters are not practical.

[@lewis72]

So, the RS2000 & TR7 were very similarly priced in 1976. Unlike today.

[@Lemma01]

These were truly dreadful - my brother had one - the idea it's got handling close to an Elan is a joke. Performance too was awful - how did they get 52.5 bhp/litre? The only redeeming feature was the dash at night: never seen so many dials, beautifully backlit in green. Felt almost like siting in a fighter jet about to take off as you waited by the side of the road for it to cool down. Happy days.

[@adrianadrian1887]

Fkin brilliant! Thanks

[@SteveInskip]

I had both. The TR7 was blighted by poor design, lack of development and dodgy steel, but it drove very well. Stacks of small infuriating problems that were a permanent struggle. Overheating was a real issue on a long, fast run. The TR6 was beautiful with a gorgeous engine, dodgy fuel injection and tricky to drive especially in the wet. Again the steel was rubbish. For me the TR6 was the epitome of what British sports cars were all about.

[@flybobbie1449]

Never had problem my TR7 with overheating. At one point i removed the thermostat. In winter i boarded the radiator.

[@SteveInskip]

@@flybobbie1449 the torquatrol fan was this particular issue. A piece of genius 1970’s engineering from BL, And you obviously did have a problem with the cooling system as thermostats don’t need to be removed and the radiator boarded up in a well designed cooling system. Never did that on the TR6. Most people replaced the Torquatrol with an electric fan to sort out the problem. I sold mine and bought a Kawasaki 1000 instead.

[@buckneighkidd419]

My brother got hold of a second hand TR7 fhc in Red with Tartan seats, in 1982 to 'pull the birds', he pulled his back getting into it then blew the head gasket, turned into a real saga, got rid as soon as fixed!

[@BlackWolf-di9gq]

Buck Neighkidd .. Did he "pull any birds" 😕?

[@dodgydruid]

I had a lovely R reg BRG TR7 back in 95, it had the lurid green tartan interior and what a car it was... sadly two factors came into play that living on Thamesmead rascals were trying to nick it all the time, the other was my youngest daughter was born and I got a royal telling off by Plumstead nick for not putting her in a car seat which with the missus was impossible so she had to go... the car that is, the missus was herself gone a year later and I got on a S plate a Honda Civic Sports which was basically a hatchback sported up Triumph Acclaim in black with red piping and it was an amazing little car for family. I then chopped that in for a MK3 Capri 3.0 Ghia and found out that sports, luxury required to tow a petrol tanker behind because you just had to give it beans whenever possible... happy days and now for the last ten years I have owned a Reliant Robin which is turning out to be the best car I have ever owned.

[@BokorRider]

"selling like hotcakes" in the USA yet barely one year later the aging MGB had to be reintroduced over there due to demand for that and a slump in TR7 sales....... like seeing these period films though they are great

[@QuadMochaMatti]

Growing up in the suburbs south of Seattle, I recall that a neighbour who lived just down the street from my parents' home had a TR7 in the mid-late 80s. I was a bit smitten with its wedginess - but then as a car-crazed teen (indeed, an aspiring future automotive designer), I was obsessed with the Esprit and the AM Lagonda as well.

[@johncollins5552]

Selling like hot cookies haha!

[@richardcarter1000]

Of its time. Great clip. The Tr6 is still a great car.

[@stevepearce6689]

Best part of the video was the TR6

[@Cheezwizzz]

Pop up frikkin’ headlights?! I’m sold 😳

[@johncollins5552]

SOCOMJON until they fail, as they often did, then you die probably, fashion victim?

[@dudemanbro06]

At least one light works on mine, and thats enough to bypass it and make them both work

[@QuadMochaMatti]

I was hoping to get my somewhat regular Tony Bastable fix for the week, but this will do for now.

[@poppyneese1811]

Live in West Virginia, but less than 40 miles away we had a British Dealer in Blacksburg Virginia, as teens we’d drive down to admire the beautiful sports cars that were shipped over from our Mother Country. The shape of things to come was unique, but were not beautiful like the MG’s and Triumphs on the lot. Even now the Germans and Italians build awesome looking cars, but the Britts still manage to build cars like Princess Kate, dripping in true beauty, Jag F Type, McLaren’s and Aston’s!!!

[@moneymandan6217]

Majority of Americans are German, Germany is you're fatherland

[@troynov1965]

@@moneymandan6217 Not around Va and West Va. we are mostly Scotch Irish

[@DavidDavid-kl4ru]

Let's hope Princess Kate proves to be more reliable

[@SuperOldShows]

I had rebuilt TR7 with a Dolomite sprint engine, brakes from a Princess and a 5 speed box. It was so much fun. How it should've been built in the first place!

[@zapplecore]

1976 & using videotape outside on location! Can't believe how good this looks.

[@mikemartin2957]

Yep ;they were using the OB & video tape method even black and white as early as 1968/9 on sports and on drama series such as Special Branch

[@zapplecore]

@@mikemartin2957 Never knew that. Thanks for replying

[@jamesfrench7299]

Film looks better but videotape makes it feel live. Remarkable how well preserved it is. Videotape is a terrible archiving medium. Thames must be very skilled at storing it optimally. Digitise it now!!

[@zapplecore]

@@jamesfrench7299 Interesting. Why is videotape a terrible archiving medium?

[@jamesfrench7299]

@zapplecore I read years ago that it deteriorates over time very easily unless stored at the right temperature and non humid conditions. Even if kept in the best conditions like these Thames tapes have, it will still eventually break down until it's unplayable. Film can be preserved indefinitely. You'll notice video tape file footage that was once clear and crisp usually looks degraded even from 15 years ago. Thames evidently done an outstanding job of storing their content over decades. Here in Australia, footage from half the time of this look half or less this quality. Australian commercial television networks don't take as much care obviously. You wanna see outstanding video footage from the early 1990s? Type in New York 1994 HD.

[@ketoking9435]

I'd luv one of these today,,ok they weren't perfect and like the X19 of its time it tried to be different,,,I've owned V8 Rovers and yes nice,,but I'd luv to see one with the 2.5pi engine,,first one I saw was a Jamaica Yellow in Twickenham and as a youngster I thought wow,,back then super cars were Maserati Merak and the usual Lambo,Ferraris,,this wasn't super car but a brave attempt at the old Brits sport market,,Thanx for a great vid,,,

[@ketoking9435]

Smokeango ,,, Thanx for that,yes remember the V8 ones a local car spares shop owner made a copy of one a cracking car,Thanx for the link,have a great weekend,,,

[@williamjordan5554]

And thus began the Era of wedge shaped cars.

[@deefenbakerone4369]

They had the option of the 2l 16v sprint engine or V8's from rover or triumph and yet they settled on the lump from a Dolomite 1850. No wonder they died off.

[@donaldasayers]

That's because the TR7 was made from bits from the Stanpart parts bin, including the Spitfire/Herald etc etc gearbox and rear axle that were way too puny for even the 1850 engine fitted. Anything more powerful would require bigger stronger, more expensive items from Rover. All these outdated parts had already formed the basis of the Marina. The TR7 even inherited the McPherson struts originally designed, but never installed in the Marina. The TR7 was essentially a rebodied Triumph 1300/rear drive Toledo.

[@deefenbakerone4369]

@@donaldasayers Go read the wikipedia page on the TR7. Talk about a litteny of missed opportunities, and cars I'd never heard of. They really settled for the lowest possible option.

[@donaldasayers]

@@deefenbakerone4369 Oh I know.

[@Martindyna]

@@donaldasayers The gearbox does sound like a Marina's.

[@hutchcraftcp]

Here in the states the TR7 adverts were everywhere... but word soon got around about the engine...I bought a New 1977 MGB in mallard green with Camel interior instead of the Triumph.

[@TheTheotherfoot]

TR6 was a great car. TR7 total crap.

[@lanehogger1532]

Puff of smoke on gear change 😂3.09

[@steverushforth7009]

That was to assure you there was still oil in engine.

[@kimchipig]

@@steverushforth7009 you gave me a chuckle. Thank you!

[@adrianadrian1887]

It was up the hill... Needed some effort...

[@jonathancarter1826]

Damn that brake fade!

[@davelowe1977]

That pink: pre-faded single stage red!

[@nickwall2497]

The yellow TR6 is still on the road and taxed till 1st July 2021

[@100forks]

I had a shop that repaired and renovated classic British sports cars. I really liked the TR7 and yes the convertible was nicer looking. It was comfortable and fun to drive. The biggest problem was over heating the engine, which in most cases it was caused by the 2nd or 3rd owner. The cars had become inexpensive and the divers did not have a lot of money. They never replaced the fan belt or the antifreeze; if they even put antifreeze in the radiator. The fan belt would break or the car would start to over heat and the owner would continue driving and try to make it home. It would over heat and warp the head every time. I told all of my customers, it would be much cheaper to immediately pull over and hire a limousine, with caviar, to take you home, rather than continue driving. I wish they had put the dolomite engine in the car.

[@MrMike-vw1oh]

How 'bout them Lucas electrics 3 position light switch? Dim, flicker, dark

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Omg, my Lucas headlight switch fried itself at my girlfriends house. Had no lights, so I had too spend the night with her. Being in high school, this was quite a lucky break; Thanks Lucas!

[@honeymonster5589]

Ha ha ha ha

[@mikemartin2957]

Most UK built Escorts had Lucas electrics as well & were maybe better than the TR7.

[@stringer-ik1pc]

@@mosesberkowitz3298 the poor cow. I bet she still has nightmares. 😀😀

[@daveslayter4240]

I remember driving with a friend on holiday and every time we went over a bump the lights went down! Not fun on country roads 🤯😡🤣

[@whelkboy]

Wow! The TR7 didn’t have a passenger wing mirror. Although this was common amongst car manufacturers of the day, I would have thought a flagship car like this would. Love these car videos, BTW. A small morsel of excitement to wake up to on a Sunday morning.

[@moran68]

It probably fell off .

[@williamwoods8022]

@@moran68 At least BL cars back then didnt go through engines and gearboxes as if they were wear and tear items like the Escorts and Cortinas our company used as company cars did. We tried to get them to dump Ford but they wouldnt because Ford sold cheap and they were fixed under warranty all the time. Never bought a Ford myself personally since then and the 1978 Marina 1.8 HL/TC and 1980 Allegro 1750TC Equipe BL cars that I did but were both excellent reliable cars that NOTHING fell off of.

[@moran68]

@@williamwoods8022 My mum had an Allegro auto that had to have replacement gearbox within six months of purchase my dad had a Princess HLS 2.2 auto that had two replacement gearboxes luckily they were under warranty he then part exchange it for a Rover sdi 2.3 which he kept for a few years and was reliable ,I totally agree about Ford's even Ford's now are very tinny and I wouldn't buy one. BL cars always had a bad reputation wrongly so ? Maybe .

[@davidm793]

Later models did. On my 1976, I bought a passenger mirror from local unipart, and dad helped me fit. Happy days

[@jeffm1971]

The white Ford Escort is still on the road after 44 years.

[@parky2310]

Is the exhaust blowing??? - sounds bloody awful!

[@anthonyhfe6450]

I've had a '77, 5-speed FHC for several years now. Why did I buy it, even though I've read many bad things about it? I figured, worst case, it will be a nice lawn ornament. But a lot of what I read was not true for this particular example. This is truly a wonderful car, and I love every minute of driving it. Sure it was barely running when I got it, but it just needed some carburetor and autochoke work. Pop-up headlights have always worked. The engine revs freely and she handles well and sure footed, due to low center of gravity and wheels pushed out to the corners, and only weighing like 2,300 pounds. Mine had been upgraded to XR700 ultra reliable electronic ignition before I bought it. I understand all the design aspects of this motor. Its a great motor when cared fir properly. Just make sure your cooling system is filled properly and thermostat/fan is working, and you're fine. I've had this car beyond 70 mph and it easily can go much faster. The 5-speed is wonderful. Is it as slick as my son's '99 Miata's manual? No, but for 1977, it must have been the sh*t. Sure, it would have been nice if they all had the Sprint 16V head. Not that it's underpowered, it's not. But the 16V head would have been the icing on the cake for te standard model, and the Rover 3.5L V8, could have been the optional engine. It was a car before its time. Fast forward to the '80s when Ford offered the wonderful 5.0 V8 or a 2.3L four banger. But unfortunately, we never got to see the TR7s cruising side by side with the Mustang (LX or GT) of the '80s when V8s were making a comeback. I also own a '72 MGB which is a lit of fun, but it's an older design (by over 10 years) than the modern TR7, so to compare performance is not right. Both are so much fun to drive, but I have to work hard to keep up with US traffic in the B, but not with the 7. See my youtube channel for maintenance vids on my MGB and TR7. It's Anthony hfe Also, yes, the Morris handles are awesome. Nice, strong spring, well made, flush to body handles. I love them. So that's my take on the TR7. I love to watch these old British videos. These two are a riot to listen to. Lastly, my TR7 doesn't sound like tgat one, in the video. Sounds much cooler, but I have the Zenith Strombergs CD 1.75 carbs and a RPP (hehe, red painted pipe glass pack) main muffler and a real tiny one near the tailpipe. Happy Motoring!

[@nigeh5326]

What could go wrong styling links to the Princess eg the wedge, engine smaller and less powerful than the previous tr6, electrics by Lucas and pop-up headlights which tended to fail just as they did on the Lotus, lastly let's build it in Liverpool where the build quality was bloody awful. The TR7 exemplifies in many ways the worst of the British car industry in the late 70s. Give me an Escort RS2000 or a VW Golf GTI (the British sports cars nemesis) over a TR7

[@MrLeeflemwell]

I loved my TR7's. I had a 4 speed FHC and a 5 speed convertible and a FHC auto. The Auto was useless.

[@cmcb7230]

Interesting according to the DVLA website the TR7 was off the road in 1989. The red escort was off the road since 1988, but the TR6 and the white escort are still registered and on the road!!

[@joelmichealrecchia2883]

The biggest lemons 🍋 in history.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

TR7, or how to fail at X1/9. When Giorgetto Giugiaro saw it at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show he couldn't believe Triumph considered it ready for production.

[@MrRea112]

Just look at it. Wonder why it failed? Designed by the man who gave us the Princess. Say no more!

[@joelwebster8227]

The Princess looked modern and fairly fab when it was introduced. The problems with the car lay elsewhere - everywhere else.

[@Bangkok-ik1fp]

TR6 all the way! Just beautiful lines

[@flybobbie1449]

Carb icing problem early cars as this one. Had to reroute intake to engine compartment.. These cars went very light at the front at 80mph.

[@neillmorris1469]

What are the faults Clive?.....The steering and the gears...

[@TherymasterWidnes]

Clive Richardsons' a right barrel of laughs isn't he!

[@christianchristiansen99]

Indeed! 😂

[@skipraida5497]

Mr Monotone.

[@seed_drill7135]

When I was a kid, my buddy's dad got one and we thought it looked like a sliding board. What our riveted bluejeans did to that poor car's paint was not pretty.

[@user-rc1ke1ef3t]

The TR6 is so much better, classy compared to the TR7 which was dog ugly.

[@ralfhenke8148]

@Martin Jones Sure will. But only if it does GO at all.

[@dirtybongwater5751]

Although that's not saying much

[@elbecko7969]

Many people defend Harris Mann's original designs, but how come none of David Bache's designs, when realised as finished products, were derided? They were celebrated, unlike those of Mann.

[@davidcollis4758]

I had a 1976 model just like that one while I was stationed in Germany. It was a Federal US model. I loved that car. It handled great but was a slug on the Autobahn. My exhaust didn't sound crappy like the one in this video. The car was not very well made and not that reliable but as a mechanic, I always fixed it and kept it on the road until I left Germany. Lots of good memories but I would not own another one.

[@richardrichard5409]

Gearbox was from Marina on the 4 speeds....handling was woeful too with oodles of understeer....and yes those unvented Marina brakes were shocking too.

[@williamegler8771]

My teacher in grade school had one of these... It seemed it was being towed away every few weeks for repair and it had rust through on several body panels within a few years.

[@James-oo1yq]

The Mexico and the RS2000 £50,000 or more now, the TR7 £1500 for a decent one.

[@manofweed1]

Even the most dire 70's rubbish has a certain appeal now, 45 or so years later. The Lotus elite being a prime example.

[@speedbird737]

Where did they film this name of the test track?

[@peterbustin2683]

The exhaust is blowing - is that an optional extra ?

[@richardnixon4345]

Not too bad for negatives.........only the brakes and the gearing lol

[@PHOENIXHOUSE137]

It sounds like it's about to conk out!

[@majorminor3367]

I'll have the Escort RS thanks.

[@hoodwinker7932]

Me too.

[@tbrasc0]

And me.

[@manishoker3484]

Likewise

[@ralfhenke8148]

2nd that, too.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Rover P6 for me, thank you kindly. If I want English, then I expect it to be FULLY English.

[@byronmills5952]

Escort Mex lasted til 86.. Rs 2000 til 88 and the Tr7 til 89. People keep on bashing BL cars of the 70s but they actually were pretty much on par quality wise with most of their other contemporary rivals.

[@williamwoods8022]

byronmills - You are correct but most of the people who slag off BL are just numptes who spout the DRIVEL that they have been told by someone else especially from JOURNALISTS like Clarkson. I owned BL cars - a 1978 Marina 1.8 HL/TC and 1980 Allegro 1750TC Equipe and they were actually very reliable cars and nothing wrong with their build quality.

[@byronmills5952]

@@williamwoods8022 Im in absolute total agreement with you. 👍

[@gwpee1727]

Its not that BL cars were bad technically,the Marina was no worse than a Toyota Corolla or Datsun Sunny,but they were badly put together,in many cases.The Allegro was a bad mistake,should have gone down the hatchback route,but they did manage to sell several hundreds of thousands of them.Ultimately,they had too many factories,too many brands,lack of factory investment and horrendous management,worker relationship.

[@gravydavy4188]

Top Queer slagged off the Dolomite Sprint, they said that the kind of crap we had until the Golf GTI came along. A quick Google search reveals the truth, the Sprint is faster than the GTI to 60 and faster on top speed. My mates and I had plenty of old Escorts, Granada's and cortinas back in the 80's they used to fall to bits, I remember changing gear and having the lever come off! The only 70's car I'd want back is my Hillman Avenger. I drive a 89 mini these days, terrible but brilliant car. 😁

[@oxmassive1965]

I had one in 84 ,i had to work on that dog engine every weekend. The studs on the head forced it off and i needed a gasket every month. Otherwise interior and driving were years ahead head turner indeed . 80s driving cassette deck i miss it . OKG 771R maroon red.

[@ronmccullock1407]

The TR7 was built at a new state of the factory at Speke, when it closed in 1977/78 the staff said the problem with the TR7 was all the parts came from Coventry and not in the right order for production

[@tris7]

Ron McCullock correct. Even though the factory at was state of the art, the workforce weren’t. They were a bunch of lazy, work shy communists that added another nail in the coffin of the car industry.

[@ronmccullock1407]

@@tris7 the workforce in a BBC documentary claimed not

[@jeffreyfearn5662]

I know how the British car industry was destroyed by the management, the workers & the unions..... too hot to work, so mid day they were sunbathing instead!!! At night the workers put down tools and jumped the fence at the Cowley plant in Oxford to go to the local cafe & the managers knew it was happening as they were there as well.

[@richardrichard5409]

Best selling car of the TR series....when launched BL were already aware of 38 potential warranty issues.........on the dashboard alone.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Lovely looking car. I find it more attractive than most cars produced by British Leyland.

[@hoodwinker7932]

SD1 looked good too

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@hoodwinker7932 I agree. I also love both the Mk1 and Mk2 Jaguar XJ6. Correct me if I'm wrong, but both were British Leyland cars.

[@hoodwinker7932]

@@jasoncarpp7742 I don't know tbh. BL formed in around 68? But correct both nice looking cars (I forgot about the Stag too)

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@hoodwinker7932 I'm not *from* England, although I've visited there a couple of times, usually with family. But I've seen some cool cars from England, cars you don't see here in the USA. While I was last in England, I saw a cool 1950s Austin panel van. I saw a 1960s Mini.

[@hoodwinker7932]

@@jasoncarpp7742 we did make some cool cars (and many duds). All that's left now is Jaguar and Land Rover sadly. I love those old Dodge Chargers from the 60s which are totally unsuitable on UK roads!

[@kennethdrewary1094]

I know people at the Triumph factory In Liverpool, all said the TR7 was crap, and they built it, lol.

[@markrl75]

It did get much better after production was eventually moved to Solihul but by then it was really too late. The car was overwhelmed by the horrible reputation of the early Speke built cars. That and a very strong pound finished it off.

[@matthewbrown2037]

I never understood why they didn't offer a more refined version of the Dolomite Sprint 16V engine in this. While it may not have passed emissions in the US, LA especially, they could have fitted them to British Models. And to not offer the convertible in the USA, of all places, must have hurt sales eventually. If they'd developed a proper rollbar for it, it would have had even stronger sales. Surely most of the appeal of the old British sports was the wind in the hair driving experience.

[@xsduprwd3937]

Oh my, those Escorts.. where did i put my time machine!

[@gotany1]

Morris Marina door handles wow,

[@andreaziz5499]

MY US model had a 16valve+overdrive a top speed on Michigan speedway 127-131MPH,but with a 4-9 V8 could do 139MPH

[@moran68]

The flat cap was an optional extra .

[@johncollins5552]

jam 68 I think they are standard along with the sports jacket with leather elbow patches .Geography teacher style haha.

[@dlckweed8345]

@@johncollins5552 my grandfathers mate had one in red like that and had matching tarten golf garb to go with it tarten flat hat with red boble /trousers/tank top /golf bag .He looked like jimmy tarbuck.It made a indelible impression on me that Tr7 did.Tragic .well it was because he died playing golf .and weirdly no one wanted his car .so the golf club scrapped it after it sat in the golf club car park for 2 yrs. and was rusting badly at 6 yrs old.

[@JFinnerud]

Did they come with factory exhaust leak ?

[@rogerking7258]

Well, it looked really odd when it first came out. The front was OK, but the back looked like it belonged to something else entirely - these days however, I have my eyes assaulted daily by things like the Nissan Puke, so the TR7 actually looks alright. Such a shame that BL (or whatever they were called that week) built it on a "sod it, we can get away with that" basis. Believe me I know, I used to sell the things and the customers had so many problems it was embarrassing. I recall one unfortunate owner who went through three gearboxes in his first year with it, plus it leaked when it rained, and I seem to recall an engine problem too. It was all summed up when someone from BL made the comment, "why can't he just accept that some cars have problems?"

[@CARLIN4737]

That's a beauty.😉

[@dirtybongwater5751]

lol good one

[@limeyosu2000]

Sounds like crap when they are driving it round the course, looks like it’s nose diving every time they brake too. The Dolomite Sprint was a much better looking car.

[@manishoker3484]

Lolzzz noticed that hahaha

[@robertmarsh3588]

Nice looking but needed a 5 speed box from the start, better handling, and that Dolomite Sprint engine.

[@pault8470]

TR7 brilliant as a door wedge for a huge door . That's about it

[@PAUL-bm9ob]

Great to see this thank you, escort Mexico and RS & Tr all under 3k brand new🤪

[@adrianadrian1887]

Heated rear window... To keep your hands warm when pushing the damn rotten thing...

[@lucythemoggy1970]

sounds like it has a blown exhaust!

[@MrSilver708]

Hairy chested driving 🚗 😋

[@stw7506]

I have just checked and the Mexico is the only car that is still on the road today.

[@quantro65]

That TR6 is still on the road taxed till July 2021 , the TR7 was last taxed in December 1989 so more than likely scrapped because they were bags of poo.

[@nkt1]

The TR7’s rear lights’ surround looked terrible. It reminds me of light switches with the sides painted the same colour as the wall.

[@leenevin8451]

Is it missing an indicator on r rear quarter?

[@paulbaumer8210]

"Hi. Is that Motorsport Magazine? Yes. Oh good. I'm doing a Thames TV programme on the new TR7. Any chance you could send over a dour introvert to throw cold water on it in as few words as possible?"

[@martinireland9248]

Would you push a TR7 to 110 mph?