TRIUMPH TR7

2-door 2-seater open sports car/hardtop coupé.

First all-new TR sports car for many years, which went disastrously wrong for BL Monocoque construction, MacPherson strut front end but beam rear, allied to slant-four 8-valve engine, and Dolomite 1850 transmission at first. Well planned interior, but controversial wedge style. Only coupés at first, and four speeds, but five-speed or automatic became optional from late '76 and four-speed disappeared by '79. Production moved twice - from Speke to Coventry then Solihull. Convertible introduced early '79 was best variety, but it was all too late. Promised 16-valve versions never materialised, USA market was lukewarm, and it was dropped by the end of '81.