1977 TR4
Owned
by Alan Willison
My
search for a TR7 after selling my Mini Moke - a lovely little car but could only
be used for a few days a year unless you wrapped up like the Michelin Man. (A
couple of photos attached of a car I no longer own). It ended up going to the
south of France which is a climate much more suited to it.
I had never driven one before but had this yearning
that it was a car that I had liked when practicality dictated that I should have
a Metro.
Anyway, the search began at Robsport the TR7 specialists near Royston. The
first one I drove was horrible. Its clutch was either on or off with no in
between and by the end of the test ride the brake warning light was a permanent
feature.
I also tested a Stag to get that idea out of my system and the one I drove left
me feeling as if I might have caught something that would need a visit to a
clinic. About 6 of the 8 cylinders were working which is something I understand
is quite high from the original Triumph engine.
The next one I saw was a Coke TR7. Apparently a prize for a competition run by
Coke and Levi's in the 70s this one had been restored and looked good. Having
driven to Gloucestershire to see it I was unable to take a test drive as the fan
had parted company and gone through the radiator. It was being sold by a chap
who owned a garage and he put it on the ramps so I could have a look
underneath. The rust flakes coming out of the box sections rang alarm bells.
The photos of the restoration also caused concern as there was so much filler
that I would be frightened to slam the doors. Needless to say I passed on that
one.
The next one turned up on Ebay and was located in Southampton in May 2007.
Thinking that this will perhaps dispel my desire for a TR7 for good I arranged
to have a look at it before its listing had ended. It was well worth it as the
car was a very genuine example which had only done 25,000 miles and went well.
It had been Ziebarted from new (what ever happened to them?) and everything was
good. I crawled underneath it from one end to the other and the only rust was
on the radiator support and this was nothing much. There was a bit of a whine
from the gearbox in 1st and 2nd but the old Marina gearboxes were known to be a
bit weak for the engine. A bit of discussion followed and later that evening I
concluded the deal with a winning bid.
Since then, I have done a couple of thousand miles without problems. I have
changed the fuel pump that had a small leak (about £10 for a second hand one)
and that's about it. It runs on unleaded fuel as it was designed for the US
market. It doesn't leak rain wise although it has a small oil dribble from the
head gasket which I have been advised to leave alone.
It certainly turns heads as did the Mini Moke and, like the Moke, you get
comments of love it and hate it. I love it as it is warm and dry. It is cheap
to run and spares are plentiful and also cheap. A car ahead of its time?
Maybe, depends what time you are starting from.
My ambition will be to get the paintwork sorted out but in no rush as it is more
fun driving it than polishing it.
Updated Decemeber 08