On 29/11/97 9:04 am Mike Lishego said
> I went to a local car show with a buddy of mine, and we saw a TR-7.
>His
>first remark (re-marque?) was "When did Triumph put out a new sportscar?"
>Simply
>put, if you softened the lines of a TR-7, you could sell it as a '98, and
>the public
>would say "OK, how much?" This holds especially true to us gen-x folks
>who have
>pierced whatevers and no job. Guys about my age don't find the TR-7 too
>bad looking,
>and we think rubber-bumpered MGB's are OK too. Of course, from what I've
>heard about
>the mechanics of a TR-7, they're a bugger to work on, but that's what
>non-MG folks
>said about my 'B. I guess it's all in your point of view.
> As much as I hate to say it, if I could come across a cheap TR-7
>convertible,
>I'd buy it. I wouldn't sell my 'B for it though. I wouldn't go for the
>hardtop
>design either, they're pretty cramped little cars in that form. Anyway,
>if you'd
>like to flame me for this revelation, go ahead, but when it comes to
>future classics,
>the wedge could be "the shape of things to come."
OK, I'll come clean. I owned a TR7 many years ago. It was a left hooker
which I converted to RHD - a job which was successful apart from the
windscreen wipers which I never managed to suss.
It was one of the later cars, built after the reliabilty problems were
sorted, and was very good. The interior was comfy and well-designed
(apart from those tarton seats!) and the performance and handling were
respectable.
Rust was no more of a problem then on other cars of its age.
The TR7 had a bad start in life, from which it never really recovered,
but look at a late convertible with decent wheels and a V8 engine you've
got a good motor.
And there's me the editor of an MG mag saying this. Let the flames
begin!! :-)
BTW. If we're talking about crap 'sports' cars, how about the Pontiac
Fiero? I drove one which someone had imported to England and it was BAD!
Philip Raby
Editor, MG World
PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
www.chp.ltd.uk
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