1981 Triumph TR7 V8

In the care of the vendor for the past three years, the TR7 is showing just four previous keepers the last of whom kept it for almost three decades between 1988 and 2017. He’d obviously head-over-heels with it as he spent an absolute fortune restoring it with all new panels and converting it to TR8-specification - with a freshly rebuilt Rover 3.5-litre engine - between 1995 and 1998.

Believed to have only covered around 1,000 mile since then, the vendor has continued the process of ensuring that everything is exactly where it should be, including trivia such as the battery which now sits in the boot.

The interior has also been (expensively) re-trimmed in leather, the suspension is via Koni and Spax, the wheels are genuine Minilites with matching Michelin tyres, the hood is mohair, the tonneau is leather - and the front struts have even been fitted with needle roller bearings to lighten the steering.

This is a proper job.

Only for sale as it just isn’t being used as much as he would like, it is being offered with a pitifully low guide price making this is your chance to get your hands on a TR7 that is probably better built and engineered than the factory TR8 ever was…

Oh, and it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid so why not pop on a cheeky bid? After all, TR7s can’t stay this cheap forever, surely?

The number plate is included – TR8 3.5 (if you squint)

Offered in a striking red, the quality of the TR7’s coachwork is very good. Beautifully aligned, the panels are still straight and free of dents, dings and other damage. The flanks are free of ripples too, and the quality of workmanship is “really impressive” according to the boss, a man who’s appraised more old cars than is probably healthy.

The hood is mohair and the tonneau cover is leather, but then you’d probably guessed that by now, hadn’t you? If so, take a wild stab at its condition. Yup, you got it; pretty much unmarked, it furls and unfurls easily, seals tightly, and is as taut as a ballet dancer’s bum.

It’s fitted with genuine Minilite wheels, too. Finished in anthracite, all four are shod with matching 195/50R15 Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres. These are also nearly new, have good tread, and are in the same great shape as the wheels.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

(Oh, and if you’re looking for the centre caps then they’re in the boot; the seller prefers the look of the wheels without ‘em, but they’re there if you disagree.)

The black bits of trim are all black rather than a sun-faded grey, and the glass, light lenses and badges are all good too.

Problems? Well, apart from the odd spot of orange peel to the finish, it really is remarkably well preserved for an older restoration. There is a little tarnishing to the base of the nearside A-pillar trim, and the odd small stonechip here and there, but there is absolutely nothing that would stop you showing it with pride at your local classic car show. 

The interior has been fully trimmed in black leather and while most would have lacked the skills and ambition to go any further than the seats and door cards, this one has been treated to a leather dashboard - and before you get all sniffy about it, it’s been done beautifully and looks wonderful.

The leather seats are only very gently creased and are still as impressively comfortable and supportive as the day they were fitted – and the stitching on the leather-covered door cards matches that of the seats, bringing a cohesive look to the cabin that (again) speaks of long hours of careful consideration. It goes without saying that the condition is first-rate.

The small-diameter steering wheel is utterly fit for purpose, and the only jarring note (to our eyes at least) is the fake wood finish to the Panasonic headunit. Still, its presence gives you an excuse to find something suitably retro-looking with Bluetooth.

Lifting the very good carpets shows only solid, rust-free metal and everything in there seems to work.

The quality of workmanship on the Rover V8 engine can perhaps be gauged by the outside of the block, which has been polished. The vendor also tells us that it shows excellent compression tests with all eight cylinders showing between 195 and 205psi.

Fitted with a Holley carb mounted on an Offenhauser intake, the ignition system is a new 123 electronic ignition, with new Magnecor KV85 competition HT leads. Starting is a doddle: pump the throttle a couple of times and then just crank it over. It’ll start first time, every time and quickly settles into a deep bass tickover.

Obviously, it revs beautifully, drives as well as you’d expect and makes “a helluva noise” according to the boss who is, we think, just the tiniest bit smitten with it. Please do listen to the video and make your own minds up as to whether he’s justifiably besotted or not. There is probably a knack to hot-starting - but haven't always found it, and the temperature gauge is not always showing correctly.

Suspension is via Koni and Spax – with a needle-roller bearing kit on the front struts to make the steering lighter – and the car sits on genuine Minilite wheels and four new Michelin Sport Pilot tyres.

In stark contrast to the sort of half-hearted job you normally see, even the engine bay on this TR7 has been painted in the same colour as the rest of the car. It presents beautifully too, and someone has expressed a healthy level of OCD in getting it looking so clean and fresh.

If we’re being ultra-picky - and we do try to be as we know many of you will rely on our descriptions and photos to set their bids - then the chrome K&N air-filter cover is speckled with rust.

And don’t bother looking for the battery under there because it’s in the boot, just like the factory TR8. As we keep saying, this is a cut above the usual quick-and-dirty engine transplant.

The underside is very solid. Sure, it shows signs of having been welded during the restoration but it’s been professionally done and looks terrific.

The TR7’s MOT certificate expires at the end of May 2021 and the online MOT history doesn’t show anything of any concern.

Sadly, there isn’t much in the way of paperwork bar some expired MOTs, so potential bidders will need to set their bids according to its current condition rather than being able to rely on a thick sheaf of old bills and invoices.

So, if you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

Much, much more than a TR7 with an engine transplant, this example’s “level of detail is very impressive”, while the “quality of faithfulness [to the original TR8] is excellent.”

There is no record of quite how much the car cost to put together, and we suspect the lack of a final tally is deliberate because it must have cost an absolute fortune - and none of us need reminding of the financial details when we get a bit carried away, do we?

And speaking of money, while it is being offered with no reserve, we think this one will only sell for somewhere between £9,000 and £13,000, which is small change for a car of this quality and condition.

Able to be shown almost anywhere without reserve, it’s also a beautifully driving enthusiast’s car that would do double-duty as a well-appointed grand tourer and/or a track-day hooligan.

Plus, to further sweeten an already attractive proposition, the ‘TR8’ number plate is included in the final price.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.