• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Wedge Is that all the love a Wedge gets?

Share this page

Looks nice, But remember how much "we" hated that car when it first came out. You know "not a real tr blah blah blah". I now have 2. Can't afford a "Real tr" anymore. Still cant bring myself to own a FHC. Hope it finds a good home, not too many early 7s left not rusted out.
 
I think the interest in TR7 / 8's is dying rather quickly. Outside of the fringe enthusiasts it is not considered a collectible, rare or attractive car.

The wedge will have it's following, but I am afraid it is forever stuck with niche owners and the cars are largely traded amongst a small group. Much like the Fiat world & Triumph stag.

Seeing this car, and others like it, sell (or not sell) for nearly nothing really drives the point home.

Sad....but true....
 
the early 7 FHCs are, despite more having been produced, much more rare than the drop heads these days. In that condition with that milage, it 'should' bring 3500 to 4000, but it might take a while to find the right buyer.
 
Good one to follow just to see what it will go for. It's a nice looking car but just not my cup of tea as somebody said but it appears to be nicely done. I had a TR4A when these first came out and I had the opportunity to drive a brand new FHC and while I did not particularly like the look of it, it sure was nice to drive. As I recall it was much tighter and handled better than my TR4A and was not short on power either. My ex bro-in-law bought a nice rust-free '80 DHC last Spring for only $3500 with new clutch and suspension, good top and interior and that is also nice to drive and looks sharp in white with all black interior/top. I'll stick with my TR6 thanks but someone wanting to get into a LBC could do a lot worse than picking up one of these for a good price as a starter. Love to try a TR8 some time.
Cheers,
 
I used to think that all TR7's were junk,
until I drove one.If you find a good one,they're
really fun to drive.
I had to laugh when I saw that the factory
wiring diagram's included!

- Doug
 
GBRandy said:
I think the interest in TR7 / 8's is dying rather quickly...The wedge will have it's following, but I am afraid it is forever stuck with niche owners and the cars are largely traded amongst a small group.
Click to expand...
Maybe. But as George said: <span style="font-style: italic">remember how much "we" hated that car when it first came out. You know "not a real tr blah blah blah".</span> In many circles, much the same comments were heard when the TR4 came out! Even Triumph dealers feared the new car so much that they demanded more of the "old" ones be built, just in case. It took many years, but the TR4/4A models finally found the recognition they long deserved; I suspect that the same will happen eventually with the TR7, even the FHC! :driving:
 
I would honestly say that as far as comfort when driving, and handling go, of all triumphs you cant beat the wedge. I could take highway off ramps at full speed and not have to touch the breaks. It was a fun car to drive, but I know when I finish my TR6 that the wedge wouldn't be driven, so I parted ways with my TR7 (which for reference went for 4500 with 28k miles, all the documentation from the day it was sold on up, and a nice first place plaque from the Larz Anderson Day of Triumph 2011)
 
Having driven Triumphs since I was 16 back in 1964, I had to try the TR7 out in 1979. I bought a used 76 coup and thought the handling was spectacular. The car was tight, quiet, economical, and comfortable. My wife and I left the Oregon coast in the TR for San Francisco for our first vacation in many years. I got a speeding ticket on the Southern Oregon coast and shortly afterward, while cresting the last coastal US 101 mountain before entering Gold Beach, the motor coughed and died. We coasted down the mountain , called a wrecker and paid the $150 to get back home. Ultimately, we found out the #1 main bearing split down the oil groove and spit the lower half out, into the timing chain, and literally completely destroyed the motor. I had another motor dropped in and traded the car to a frustrated 67 XKE coupe owner who was just happy to have a good running car. Keep in mind, these were rust free West coast cars. I cosmetically restored the E type, drove it for a year (it had a bad piston and used a quart of oil every 200 miles) snd sold it back to the original owner for 2 or 3 thousand dollars. I don't really remember. Took the money, bought a 57 small mouth and paid a bunch of bills. Bought a TR8 years later. I still admire the Wedges, but I'm still weary of the 2.0.
 
The problem with this particular car is its an early coupe and not a convertible. Four speed transmissions are bad and come with a less desirable differential. The early cars built in Speke have bad quality. All of this is as I have heard, because I have never owned a TR-7.
 
That same car was donated to and then auctioned off by the Museum of Transportation here in Brookline Mass a couple of years ago for around half what the dealer in S.D. is looking to get for it. You know why that car has low miles? It's been sitting 4eva as they would say here in Boston. It amazes me that these "classic car" specialist dealers can fluff a car and get thousands of dollars more than what a particular car should sell for on the open market. It further amazes me how the buyers think they are getting a car that is as good as new because of the higher than usual retail price they pay. Over the years I have seen so many people burned on fluff cars from classic dealers. If you want a classic, buy one from a devout enthusiast that drives the car.
 
I got my first wedge back in September and with the help of a few great guys on the forum I got it running and drove it every chance I could. Probably 600 + miles. Everything I read hear is true about the handling. It's fantastic! Almost it drives you. I understand the delima a lot of Tr enthusiasts go through with the modern look. I too suffered from that syndrome a while back. However I always wanted one of each body style in the TRs and don't forget it is still a Triumph and a TR so worthy of a heart beat when you see one.
Now a couple of weeks ago here in Ohio it got to almost 70 degrees so I decided to drive the TR250 for the day. Wow what a difference between he two. First thing I told the wife is eater the 7 is so slow or the 250 is super fast. ( it is modified) and that buck board feeling is even better then the new smoth modern ride. Make's it feel like a real sports car. Don't get me wrong the Tr7 is a great car and don't regret the purchase. But the Tr7 was the next step in the evolution of sports cars and in fact all cars for that more refined drive.
Now if I'm going on a long distance trip, for sure the 7 is the choice. Getting down ad dirty its the 250 or the TR3.
 
I know that the early cars were not as good, my brother bought a '79 convertible new, it was a preety reliable car for him for many years.

The TR7 coupes sold pretty well, at least in my neck of the woods, I remember seeing them all over, but they have all but disappeared, we have at least a couple convertibles in the club I can think of in my local club, but I haven't seen a running coupe, let alone a nice one, for years.

Seeing one that looks original makes me a little nostalgic.

Nice comparison to the TR4s, when I got my TR4a in the mid eighties no one was restoring them, the Triumph scene and the few shows there were then were almost all restored TR3s and unrestored TR6s, now the 4 seems have picked up a lot in interest.

I think the TR7s and 8s will pick up a little too in the next ten years or so.

If I had the money and space I might bid.
 
Back
Top