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Triumph TR7 Cabriolet - towards the sun with Italian help

Name: Triumph TR7 Cabriolet 1981
Brand: Triumph

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Created on October 28, 2020

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Simon Kwasny

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

Simon Kwasny

Archiv

44 1

Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - ran just under 180 km/h, but only closed

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the TR7 also looks good with open folding headlights

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - most were painted black, silver or gold

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Open-top driving at a reasonable price, then and now

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - BL consulted Giovanni Michelotti for the conversion to a convertible.

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the originally very wedge-shaped form appears more harmonious in the open car

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - almost 40 years young and still going strong

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the TR7 marked the end of the TR series

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the roof can be lowered completely

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - rising waistline

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the convertible looks less wedge-shaped than the coupé

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the seats were fitted with velour upholstery as standard

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - room for two

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - well-equipped dashboard

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - sporty in matt black

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - optimally readable main instruments

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - beautifully drawn displays for speed and revs

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Triumph sign on the steering wheel

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - easy-to-reach gearshift and RTB from Pioneer from the period

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - five gears in four levels

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - everything clearly marked and easily accessible

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the in-line four-cylinder engine came from the Dolomite

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - the TR7 had to do without 16 valves

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - 106 hp at 5500 rpm from the modern four-cylinder engine

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Chassis badge

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Folding headlights

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Ventilation of engine compartment

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - 13-inch alloy wheels

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Triumph TR 7 (1975) - Design sketches by Harris Mann

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Triumph TR 7 (1975) - See-through drawing shows the coupé's innards

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Triumph TR7 (1975) - wedge-shaped coupé, initially intended for the American market - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Triumph TR 7 Cabriolet - the TR7 Cabriolet at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show

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Triumph TR7 (1975) - not yet available on the Swiss market, but built exclusively for the USA - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Triumph TR 7 (1977) - the coupé with the eye-catching wedge shape

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Triumph TR 7 (1981) - like the Coupé, the Cabriolet had 106 hp

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Triumph TR 7 (1979) - the convertible for sun worshippers

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Triumph TR 7 (1981) - the convertible looked good even with the top down

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Triumph TR 7 (1980) - Interior of the open version

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Triumph TR 7 (1980) - with imposing instrument panel - Geneva Motor Show 1980

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - Driving pleasure does not require hundreds of horsepower ...

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Triumph TR7 Convertible (1982) - sporty but clearly laid out cockpit

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Summary

At the end of the 1970s, British Leyland announced a fully convertible based on the Triumph TR7 in difficult times. The joy was dampened by the simultaneous demise of the MGB and Triumph Spitfire, but the open TR7 did its job better than expected, even if not all wishes were fulfilled. This driving report is dedicated to the Triumph TR7 Convertible and its history. It is comprehensively illustrated and also includes sales documentation and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Thinning out the convertible landscape
The TR7 as the successor to the TR6
Four cylinders for the Europeans
Modern and suitable for everyday use
Failed due to the exchange rate
A handful of sports cars

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

British Leyland was not doing well at all at the end of the 1970s. The disjointed group suffered from strikes and mismanagement, but also from unpopular models. Once proud brands such as MG and Triumph struggled to survive. The fact that an open-top Triumph TR7 could be presented in this environment was almost a miracle; after all, the main foreign customer for British sports cars had been declaring war on the convertible for quite some time. In the fall of 1979, British Leyland announced that production of the still-popular MGB and Triumph Spitfire would be phased out in favor of other models. The MG Midget had already been discontinued earlier. The competition also looked poor when it came to completely open and yet affordable convertibles, with the exception of Alfa Romeo with the Spider and Peugeot with the open 504. Otherwise, the larger manufacturers only offered convertibles in the style of the Lancia Beta Spider and VW Golf or Targas such as the Fiat X 1/9.

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