All Hokie, All the Time. Period. Presented by

The Lounge Board

Strat Man

Joined: 08/16/2004 Posts: 5013
Likes: 310


Great thread, no one has mentioned the Triumph TR-7..


Triumph TR-7 "The Shape of Things to Come"

I can tell you all about this extremely unique (that's being kind) car. It was my first. The amount I learned about cars from having this thing, is off the charts, because as people joke about FORDs being fix or repair daily, the late 70s Triumph (which was a British Leyland company) TR-7s, and later they did a TR-8, actually with an 8 cyl engine, the TR-7s were most definitely a fix or repair daily.

Mine, my first car, it was a total engine re-build job. The owner, a woman, or possibly the wife or girlfriend of the owner, had driven the thing totally out of oil, and ultimately spun a crankshaft bearing, or maybe more than one, can't remember, but it damaged the crank shaft.

They had pulled the engine, torn it down, realized the issue, and decided to scrap it. Engine was in a box. My father and I, and a mechanic friend, rebuilt it, from crankshaft up. Learned so freaking much about cars and engines from doing this, it was a hell of a life lesson for a 16 year old male.

OK, so the unique. well of course it was the wedge shape. I still remember the commercials where they drive the thing into a wedge shaped garage. "The Shape of Things to Come."

Also, unique a 4-cyl engine, with TWO carbs. totally unnecessary, but they did it. Thus, two carbs worth of issues to have to deal with. Also unique, the hood, or bonnet as the Brits called it (not windshield either but windscreen, hahaha) raised not hinged at the windshield, but at the front, so it raised opposite, with a rod to hold it open and up. Can't tell you how many times while working on that bitch, that I accidentally hit the rod, and the bonnett bonked my head. Ugh.

Unique. the crazy bug eyed lights, that would pop up and down by control of motors underneath that were not in the least bit reliable. Had to work on those damn things can't tell you how many times. Because you are kind of shit out of luck, if the pop up lights don't pop up when needed, you know, in the dark?

Not overly powerful sports car, as expected, with a 4-cyl, but decent I guess. Ridiculously tight turning radius. You could almost do a complete U turn with it, in a standard 2 lane road. Super super tight turn radius, very tight steering, so you had to get used to that, and be careful with any sharp jerk movements of the wheel, because if so, off you go..

Bucket seats were amazing, super comfortable, and just enveloped you as you sat in this thing. Not easy to get in and out of, it was way low. Ground clearance was minimal, so you better be careful running over debris in the road of any kind.

So freaking much work, it really really was not well designed by Triumph and Brit Leyland, but it was the 70s you take what you get, right? When it ran, it was stupid fun, and the chicks loved it.

But I worked my teenage ass off on keeping that thing running.

All in all, for first car experience, it was a knowledge builder for sure, and I did enjoy it overall, but it was a major pain, often.

[Post edited by Strat Man at 09/10/2020 09:16AM]

(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)

Posted: 09/10/2020 at 09:09AM



+0

Insert a Link

Enter the title of the link here:


Enter the full web address of the link here -- include the "http://" part:


Current Thread:
  Toyota MR2 -- MR2 Hokies 09/10/2020 10:00AM
  I had this car. Bought it new. -- GFallsFan 09/10/2020 09:19AM
  Would love to go back and get my dad's Chevy Blazer -- Suffhokian 09/10/2020 08:49AM
  ...not a sports car or 4X4... -- chumley 09/09/2020 11:33PM
  Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but the RX-7 -- Tafkam Hokie 09/09/2020 10:04PM
  Delorean ** -- Hoke 09/09/2020 10:01PM
  '71 XKE Roadster. My dream car. -- Brown Water 09/09/2020 9:30PM
  How about a BMW M1 -- EDGEMAN 09/09/2020 8:02PM
  goodne$$! ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 8:49PM
  The M1 Procar -- EDGEMAN 09/09/2020 8:06PM
  that Plymouth surely counts. wow! ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 8:49PM
  Triumph TR-6 -- 133743Hokie 09/09/2020 7:41PM
  That's nice. Good1. ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 8:04PM
  Subaru Brat or Dodge Rampage ** -- Kudelski 09/09/2020 6:15PM
  A little early, but the 66 Toyota 2000GT -- NokieHokie 09/09/2020 6:11PM
  Lot of Jag in that design ** -- HokieR 09/09/2020 8:25PM
  Yeah, I definitely see that. ** -- NokieHokie 09/09/2020 8:33PM
  yah; n/k. Very tight lines indeed. Thx! ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 7:22PM
  Also, International Scout II -- MP4VT2004 09/09/2020 6:10PM
  wow. ^that's^ bad-ass! (on several levels too) ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 7:20PM
  That looks pretty nice! ** -- MP4VT2004 09/09/2020 7:31PM
  Gotta’ be the Pacer! -- tongahokie 09/09/2020 5:51PM
  ...that, counts. (gnarly car too). ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 5:58PM
  1989 Isuzu Trooper RS -- MP4VT2004 09/09/2020 5:44PM
  I owned an 86 TrooperII LS 2dr -- Newt 09/09/2020 11:53PM
  Toyota FJ40 -- RhinoVT 09/09/2020 5:41PM
  Saab Sonett -- LonghornHokie 09/09/2020 5:35PM
  I want a restored BMW 2002 -- MrBayAreaHokie 09/09/2020 5:34PM
  Instead of a 2002, I suggest one of these: -- EDGEMAN 09/09/2020 6:36PM
  BMW also raced them... -- EDGEMAN 09/09/2020 7:14PM
  Mitsubishi Starion TSi -- typed by ben 09/09/2020 5:33PM
  Probably my all time favorite car ** -- Wo xin Hokie 09/10/2020 09:37AM
  Mid 70s CJ6 -- JoesterVT 09/09/2020 5:30PM
  ...oh that is cool. neat1. thx! ** -- bourbonstreet 09/09/2020 5:42PM

Tech Sideline is Presented By:

Our Sponsors

vm307