Triumph's last stand

Jan 26 2009 Ian Johnson

Triumph's last stand

THE name Triumph may conjure up images of those great British sports cars such as the TR4 or the monumental Stag.

But not many remember the last of the Triumphs - the TR7 - with a great deal of affection.

Known as The Wedge, the TR7 was an attempt by BL bosses to create a modern sports car which would have Transatlantic appeal.

The TR7 was a dramatic departure from the Triumph tradition. Even the earlier Stag had hung on to some of the tasty bits of tradition but the TR7 was a 'my way or highway' departure that generated a sour reception from some media scribes and a lot of dyed in the wool Triumph drivers.

It also arrived at a time when industrial relations were at an abysmal low and problems over build quality, reliability and the low esteem in which the BL organisation was held gave the TR7 an all round hammering.

It did not help either that it had emanated from the same design desk that created the quirky and unloved Austin Allegro (best remembered for its quartic steering wheel).

Even so, the TR7 sold well after it was first unveiled to the public in late 1974.

But even now, 34 years later, it still can't shake off its controversial image.

I have to admit that the coupe version did look a bit odd and the car did not really start to strut its stuff until the advent of the convertible which gave this model a new lease of life.

The TR7 opted for pop-up headlamps, but on at least two examples I drove these items were somewhat reluctant to pop-up - if they felt like doing so at all.

One of the first, mass-produced cars to feature a plastic moulded dashboard, the TR7 just could not follow the class act of the iconic TR6. Compared to its predecessor it was something of a wimp, featuring cheap BL door handles and fittings.

The under-powered 2.0-litre 'slant 4' engine certainly did not help with its sluggish top-end speed and poor 0-60mph times.

Many were built at the Speke factory on Merseyside and the build quality of these cars was way below expectations.

But maybe the designers were on the something with the TR7 because these days it does not look too out of date - especially the convertible.

The TR7 was indeed the end of the line for Triumph. When the last example rolled off the production line in 1981 there was definitely a red light showing to British mass-produced sports cars.

But it sold in geater quantity than any other TR model, despite having some glaring shortcomings. One was the dreadful four-speed Morris Marina gearbox in early models which was replaced later by the five-speed unit used in the Rover SD1.

The best TR7 was a Rover V8-powered version but, rather stupidly, this was for export only. Many TR7 drivers then decided to drop a Rover V8 into the TR7 and this gave vastly better performance

But there are some who still love the TR7 and there is an active preservation movement.