zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Malaise-Era 1980 Triumph TR7 for $6,495!!!
Malaise-Era 1980 Triumph TR7 for $6,495!!!-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:19

Nebraska's flatter than the fourth grade. Which is good, because with a Triumph TR7, there inevitably comes a time when you may need to get out and push.

So, new day, new . And how could you go wrong with a steak and kidney pie mixture of British socialist labor union build quality, and 1970s American safety and emissions standards? That's right — it's a 30th Anniversary Edition for an asking price of $6,495. Not only that but this seller loves the exclamation points!

This car has it all — poorly aligned bumpers, corduroy seats, tiny radio speakers, and inscrutable heater controls. Or is that the choke? No, it's the wipers — wait, why does it have that swirl symbol on the knob? Argh!

It does warm our hearts to see MG Mitten sisal mats in the foot-wells, lets hope they're not hiding rust holes in the floorboards the size of the English Channel.

Now, in case you are not familiar, the TR7 replaced the hair-shirt of a car TR6, and was 's attempt at a modern sports automobile that would meet all the crazy safety and emissions standards the colonists could throw at it. That meant that on its 1975 debut, it was only available as a hard top, as the general expectation was that the U.S. government was about to ban convertibles and fun. Well I don't know about fun, but topless cars didn't get legislated into extinction, and so in 1979 a fabric roof version was offered, making the car about 10 times more appealing, but sadly not overcoming its other shortcomings of insufficient power, lackluster handling, and poor build quality. The 1998cc engine pumped out a meager 105hp (92 in anti-fun American guise) and it's replacement in 1981 by the Rover-powered TR8 was too little too late. Triumph withdrew from the US market the next year, and eventually went the way of Elvis.

I mentioned that the seller likes exclamation points. It seems they got a deal on them somewhere, as every sentence ends in one. Or maybe they're just so damn excited to get rid of this car! They also claim that they have an appraisal! From 2001! It says the car is great! Isn't that awesome?! So maybe it's not as bad as you might think?! And it's got some shiny-ass paint! It also sports the 5-speed transmission so highway driving is possible without engine-drone induced insanity resulting!

The only sentence that is denied the emphatic punctuation treatment is the one alerting you that the gas gauge works "sparatically". I guess it was also denied spell check. But hey, what the hell- it's English and old, and much like Prince Charles, it's expected to have a few warts and be a little wonky- that's the charm.

So with Summer on its way, and the siren call of top-down motoring luring you to Craigslist, what do you think of this $6,495 TR7? Will the sun never set on its Nice Price empire? Or is the seller living in a Crack Pipe world of warm beer and questionable dental hygiene?

You decide!

( )

or go if the ad disappears.

Thanks to for the tip.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Eegor The Eyesore, The Ugliest Car On Craigslist, Is Still For Sale
Eegor The Eyesore, The Ugliest Car On Craigslist, Is Still For Sale
I don’t know when I first encountered Eegor the Eyesore on some Pacific Northwest regional Craigslist. Was it months? Years? Whatever the date, I am surprised to announce that the sweetest little pink racecar is back up for sale. Eegor would be cute enough if it were a completely...
Oct 19, 2026
At $16,999, Could This Restored 1964 Ford F-100 Restore Your Interest In Pickups?
At $16,999, Could This Restored 1964 Ford F-100 Restore Your Interest In Pickups?
The 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy” turned the pickup truck into a status symbol. The status of today’s F-100 pickup is cosmetically restored and mechanically resto-modded. Will its price convert that status a to a “sold” pickup? There are a few certainties that are sure to occur over time. Mountains...
Oct 19, 2026
This Giant Ford F-700 Is A Street-Legal Monster Truck
This Giant Ford F-700 Is A Street-Legal Monster Truck
A couple of weeks ago an went up for auction on Bring a Trailer and sold for the astronomical price of $76,000. If you like outrageous trucks but don’t want to spend anywhere close to 76 large for one, then this , may be the rig for you. While...
Oct 19, 2026
Is It Worth Trying To Buy A Car Right Now When All Of The Deals Stink?
Is It Worth Trying To Buy A Car Right Now When All Of The Deals Stink?
As Jalopnik’s resident car-buying expert and a professional car shopper, I get emails. Lots of emails. I’ve picked a few of your questions and will try to help out. This week we are discussing two conundrums regarding the current seller’s market for both new and used cars. “I’m in...
Oct 19, 2026
I'm Helping My Terminally Ill Relative With Her Last Ride. What Car Should She Buy?
I'm Helping My Terminally Ill Relative With Her Last Ride. What Car Should She Buy?
Bryan has a family member who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has always wanted to drive a convertible and Bryan wants to help her get what will likely be her last car. They have a pretty solid budget but want something that won’t drop in value too...
Oct 19, 2026
At $17,995, Is This 2017 Jaguar XE 35t A Cat You Might Bag?
At $17,995, Is This 2017 Jaguar XE 35t A Cat You Might Bag?
Today’s Nice XE is a model that Jaguar introduced to go up against BMW’s mighty 3 Series. It may have fallen short at that task, but could this car’s wildly depreciated price tag mean that in this case at least, failure is an option? Ribbon candy and sensible cars...
Oct 19, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved