I know this is the MG list, but hey, he started it!
Kai Radicke wrote:
<<John:
Something sticks in my head that the TR7s aren't so great, and that if you
like the style of the body it is better to get a TR8 or a TR7 with the
Rover V8 (a TR8 is a TR7 with a Rover V8). This summer when I was at work
we had a guy call and ask if we (British Miles) could do a full restoration
on his TR7, we refused to do any engine work on it, and my boss told him
to sell the car before he got into something that he didn't know about, it
was
his first restoration, and he had never worked on cars before...>>
My .02:
It's been my experience that most professional mechanics have opinions that
border on prejudices regarding certain cars. A few have some basis in fact;
many are based on a single incident.
Most older English cars have some engineering problems that have become
apparent over the years; the TR7's were no different. They were an effort of
an ailing car company to produce something to compete with the next
generation of vehicles. Considering the state of the auto industry at the
time [remember the U.S. Ford Granada and the Vega?] the TR7's are a heck of
a lot better than most.
For what its worth, I think the concensus is that the pre-78 TR7's suffered
from quality problems [everybody has their opinions as to whether they also
suffered from styling problems]. After production was moved and a more
sturdy rear end added, the cars seemed to do quite well. However, the early
car's reputations did them in.
Having said that, I had a '79 TR7 convertible that never broke down and left
me anywhere in the several years I owned it. I put three fuel pumps in [what
other marque suffers from that malady I wonder?] until I gave up on the OEM
stuff and installed an aftermarket [horrors!] Italian unit. I put in two
water pumps. That completes the list of repairs. The car ran flawlessly.
I'll admit it was prone to overheating while waiting at drive-thrus in the
100+F heat of Oklahoma Summers.
I've also noticed that overall, TR7's rust less than any other LBC excepting
more recent Jags and Land Rovers.
Would I own another TR7? Sure. Would I then eventually replace the stock 4
banger with the V8 that God intended? You bet!
I now return you to your regularly scheduled MG discussion.
regards,
Sean Johnson
'79 MGB '75 Spitfire previously '76 Midget '79 TR7
|