Simon Cars - Triumph TR7 and TR8

Leyland's Triumph TR7 brought together projects from both the BMC part of British Leyland and the Triumph part of it. MG's ADO21 was a radical mid-engined coupe, whilst Triumph's Bullet was a radical departure from the TR2-6 models but with conventional engineering. By 1971 the Bullet had been bitten, and MG proposals shelved. Spen King asked Harris Mann to taken on the Triumph project, and his radical wedge design was accepted with little modification. Spring 1975 saw the launch of the Triumph TR7 for the American market, and when production at the Liverpool Speke factory could be geared up the TR7 was launched on other markets. Mechanically the TR7 was based on the 2-litre Triumph Dolomite, not even being given the Sprint engine. In May 1979 the convertible TR7 was launched after the realisation that Federal regulations were not going to kill off the convertible car. Most convertible TR7s went stateside, as did the V8-engined TR8 launched in the USA in May 1980, and TR7 production ended in 1981.

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Without doubt the most controversial of Triumphs TR range made its debut in 1976 the TR7. The TR7 was British Leyland's answer to many safety and emission requirements which were beginning to threaten the traditional TR6.	At first the TR7 would only be available as a fixed head coupe as it was believed that convertibles would soon become outlawed, a convertible became available from 1979. The TR7 had a wedge shaped, steel body (which soon gained a reputation for rust) and featured pop-up headlamps. The engine used was a 1998cc four cylinder unit developed from the Triumph Dolomite range. Early cars made do with 4 speed manual transmission but later cars could be fitted with either 5 speed manual or an automatic unit.	Triumph TR7 Drophead. In 1979 Triumph launched a convertible version of the TR7 as the 'TR7 Drophead' on the American market, and in 1980 on the European markets.	Triumph TR7 Drophead - interior	Triumph TR7 Drophead. In 1979/80 The Triumph TR7 Drophead was launched, but the V8 TR7 (or TR8) had also been launched and most Dropheads were V8s
Triumph TR7. The slow-selling TR7 was often finished off by dealers in special colour schemes in the hope of shifting the cars.	Triumph TR7. Harry Mann's TR7 design was codenamed 'Bullet' during development. The rear of the coupe suggests a mid-engined car, and this association with the Toyota MR2 and Fiat X1/9 hoped to make a rather conventional car appeal to buyers.	Triumph TR8 3.5litre. Triumph had built a number of Rover V8-engined TR7 cars, mainly Coupes, for competition and in 1979 started production of the TR8. Only about 2500 TR8 were produced, almost all for the North American market and in convertible form.	Triumph TR8 3.5litre. Only about 2500 TR8 were produced, almost all for the North American market and in convertible form.	Triumph TR8 3.5litre - bonnet badge
Triumph TR8 3.5litre - wing badges	Triumph TR8 3.5litre - rear lights	Triumph TR6