When I was a kid and British Leyland was still a somewhat going concern, the little UK automaker introduced a sports car called the Triumph TR7. The tag-line in its ad campaign was, "The shape of things to come." As it turned out, the folks at BL were less successful at predicting the future than countryman George Orwell. For a wide variety of very good reasons, BL faded into the annals of history, although some of the brands under the former BL umbrella soldier on such as Jaguar and Land Rover. A few years after the TR7 went out of production, my high school auto mechanics teacher acquired a TR7 that became an ongoing shop project for myself and a few other students. With the TR7 we learned the fine art of balancing side-draft carburetors with a chunk of garden hose and a screw-driver. Today most of the TR7s (and the V8-powered TR8) have long since turned to iron oxide. A few remain, however, and the owner of one 1979 model eventually found himself craving a more modern (and reliable) powertrain. One of the finest engines of the last two decades is the Yamaha V6 that powered the first two generations of the Ford Taurus SHO. This TR7 owner managed to procure one and set about installing the normally transverse mounted unit in the rear-wheel-drive TR7. After two years and a variety of adaptations to make everything fit properly, including reversing the mounting of the intake plenum, he was successful. A decade later and more changes like removing the top and adding a supercharger sees a car that runs 13.7-second quarter miles and gets 25 mpg.
[Source: Team.net]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado @ Jan 24th 2008 10:39AM
Remember the post a few months back that BMW might revive the Triumph brand. Maybe they could launch a new TR7 with a BMW engine. As their handling of the MINI brand shows they know how to make retro cars very well.
chrisdavis @ Jan 24th 2008 12:13PM
If there was a Triumph to revive, it would be the Michelotti-designed TR4, TR5/250, or (Karmann-modified) TR6 rather than the doorstop TR7/8. Given the Bavarian fondness for the straight six, it could be an interesting car although possibly a competitor to the Z4. The Spitfire would be a less compelling alternative.
Tsunami Racer @ Jan 24th 2008 12:03PM
i has a restored TR8 and thought it was a fantastic car. sounded great and i know alot of people have done the alumin(i)um rover V8 transplant to their TR7's. i've even seen some turbo buick 6's shoved in as well, but this is the first Yamerhar engined 7 i've ever seen. good idea.
chuck goolsbee @ Jan 24th 2008 12:07PM
Look! It is the Shape Of Things To Come! ;)
Some cars (Lancia Stratos, Porsche 928, even the Fiat/Bertone X1/9) captured the 70s Zeitgeist so well.
Others... well... others just did not. The TR7 was one of those many. I was there, I remember it well.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Matt @ Jan 24th 2008 12:46PM
"One of the finest engines of the last two decades is the Yamaha V6 that powered the first two generations of the Ford Taurus SHO"
Could have not said it better myself!
Guenther @ Jan 24th 2008 12:58PM
Sam will not rest until Ford sells him a new SHO.
As for BMW reviving the brand, maybe they could use a similar approach as the Crossfire, with better execution. Just use previous gen roadster underpinnings and price the vehicle right.