Registration: YTJ710W
Chassis: TPADJ7AA404113
Odometer: 30,355
Transmission: Manual
MOT: Exempt
- Low recorded mileage
- One previous owner
- 34 years in current ownership
- In original specification
- Late example from final year of production
The Triumph TR7 was introduced in 1975 as a bold departure from the classic styling of earlier Triumph sports cars, featuring sharp wedge-shaped lines penned by Harris Mann that reflected 1970s design trends. Developed by British Leyland, the TR7 was intended to modernise the Triumph brand and appeal to a broader, especially American, market with improved safety, comfort, and mass-production efficiency. Early production at the Speke factory in Liverpool was plagued by quality-control issues and industrial action, which hurt the car’s reputation, though later examples built in Canley and Solihull were significantly improved. Initially offered only as a coupe with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, the lineup later expanded to include a convertible and the more powerful TR8 with a Rover V8. Despite mixed critical reception during its production run, which ended in 1981, the TR7 has since gained appreciation as an important and distinctive chapter in Triumph’s sports car history.
We are pleased to offer this 1981 Triumph TR7 in Argent Silver with blue vinyl / tartan cloth interior. First registered in May 1981, this would have been a Solihull-built example. It’s only had two owners, the current vendor having bought it from a friend back in 1992. Having known the previous owner, our vendor assures us that the low indicated mileage of 30,355 is correct. We have a selection of old MOTs dating back to the late 1980s which do suggest that this particular TR7 has been little used over the years. More recently, the little Triumph had a run of four consecutive advisory-free MOTs from 2018-2021 despite barely doing 200 miles in that time. Since then it has, of course, been exempt.
The little Triumph presents nicely in its Argent Silver paint, this being quite a dark silver. There’s a little bubbling to both headlamp covers but generally it wears its years well. There is a small dink in the NSF arch where something fell on it whilst stored. Pleasingly, it remains on its correct alloys and they appear free of any kerbing or obvious damage. The hood is in good shape and the plastic rear windows remain clear and free of any significant scratches. The cabin is similarly well preserved, the tartan cloth looking smart on the seats and door cards. There is a little nick on the driver’s seat bolster but it doesn’t detract from this being a lovely place to sit. The only modification we could spot was a slightly later pull-out stereo. The boot is clean but it does need new gas struts for the lid.
The TR7 comes with V5C, some old MOTs, old V5 and some spare keys.
It feels like the tide is beginning to turn on the TR7 and folk are waking up to what a neat little roadster it is for a fraction of the cost of a TR6. For the collector, this particular example ticks all the boxes - low owners, low miles, unmodified and the final year of production. The fact that it is in such nice shape is just the icing on the cake. Don’t miss it because it might be a long time before one as good comes along.
