Wedge Need opinion on TR7 value

[Got_All_4]

I posted this question last week between 2 cars I've looked at. The one I'm more interested in just came back into play today. The owner lives 5 hours away and is coming back on the 10th to get the car. If we can't work out a price it's going back with him.

It's a 1980 Tr7 with 29k on it. A completely original car from the paint to the little factory parts tags still hanging on the engine. This is I believe a show winner especially in the Wedge category. It came to this shop to get running again after sitting for may years. According to the owner of the shop the car is running fine now but shows it's about to over heat shortly after driving it. Never does overheat or goes completely into the red. He thinks it could be the gauge.

My first inspection of the car I noticed that there were some crystallized antifreeze laying on top of the block next to the head. I was of course concerned of a warped head and anti freeze leaking there some time ago. Are my concerns warranted here? The tech drove the car for a half hour and he said it ran strong. The tech thinks the owner wants $2500 for the car and my main concern is spending too much for it and have to spend another 2k on it for a head job. According to posts I've read here on the BCF I shouldn't be spending that much on a 7.

Anyway I can't get to the car until next Tuesday. I should be able to drive it and get a bunch of pics to post. Any comments / opinions in the mean time will be appreciated.

 

[tdskip]

I'd rather deal with the head than a full on restoration - they are only original once.

 

[George_H]

Sounds like a good candidate. Just remember its 30 years old. I looked at a tr8 like that once. All original, Even with almost no miles on the clock it still needed every piece of rubber changed on it. And their are lots of them. So look carefuly and if all those rubber bits have not been changed, you will be changing them. All that said, A original rust free body.... Still hard to find.

 

[justin_mercier]

"but shows it's about to over heat shortly after driving it. Never does overheat or goes completely into the red. He thinks it could be the gauge. "

That's a clear sign of a warped head. TR7s run slightly hot in general, but should only ever go above half if you're on the highway for a long while running at high RPM for extended periods. (like 3500 to 4000 rpm for half an hour)

If the head is warped however, it will heat up rapidly to the 3/4 mark