Triumph TR7 Review The Great British Car Journey

Following the consolidation of a number of British car manufacturers in 1968, British Layland as it came to be known were looking to replace many of the aging models in there product line including a new sports car. Brirish sports cars had done well in the US market for many years so the new car would crucially have to be able to both compete with cars like the Datsun Z and comply with all the US regulations for safety and emissions.
In 1971 Project Bullet was give the green light for a new prototype sports car with a view to replacing aging designs offered by Triumph and MG, both of whom offered a design concept. The MG was a forward thinking mid engine car while triumph went for a futuristic wedge shape body but with more traditional front engine, rear wheel drive layout which was thought would be more appealing to American buyers.
The Triumph design was chosen and had the likes of Spen King and Harris Mann at the helm who between them had a wealth of experience.
The car was scheduled for launch in the US in 1975 and the following year elsewhere. The wedge shape design proved not to every taste and Italian designer Giugiaro famously saying "Oh my god, they have done the same on the other side as well".
Cars were initially assembled in Speke in the north west of England from 1974-77 but the following quality issues and strike action (one lasting for 17 weeks) the factory was closed and production moved to Coventry in the Midlands from 1778-80, then onto the Solihull plant where the Rover SD1 was produced for 1980 until the end of TR7 production in 1981. The Solihull plant also closed the following year.
1980 saw the TR8 (V8) and convertible models but it was too little too late. Sprint versions with a 16V head were produced as homoligation specials but are incredibly rare with only 61 cars produced.
back in 1972 their had been plans to build other models based around the TR7 of which one prototype Lynx 2+2 coupe was built but no production model was to follow.
TR7's made a few TV/Film appearances inluding Dallas, The Professionals and The New Avengers where one was driven by Purdy portraid by actress Joanna Lumley
The car in this video is a 1998cc four cylinder with a five speed manual transmission (4sp manula and an auto were also produced) and produced 105 bhp and 161Nm of torque at 3500 rpm (US spec cars produced 90bhp, California cars 76 bhp) with a claimed top speed of 110mph and 0-60 time in the region of nine and a half seconds.
This car was filmed and provide by 'Drive Dad's Car' at 'The Great British car journey where you too could visit the museum and perhaps drive this very car or one of the many other classics available. Please see link bellow.
https://drivedadscar.com/
https://greatbritishcarjourney.com/dr...

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