116 | THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALEIntroduced in 1975 but still up-to-the-minute in looks, the TR7 marked
the Triumph TR sports car's abandonment of its traditional separate
chassis, other changes from the immediately-preceding TR5/6
formula being the abandonment of six cylinders and independent rear
suspension. The newcomer's 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and power
train were basically Triumph Dolomite, while the suspension comprised
MacPherson struts at the front and a live axle at the rear. A five-speed
gearbox and automatic transmission became options and a convertible
joined the original coupé version.
Much delayed by industrial and corporate strife, the V -engined TR
finally arrived in 19 0, some two years behind schedule. Prior to the
production versions launch, the works rally teams special TR7 V
prototypes had put up some creditable performances in tarmac events,
including two outright wins in the Ypres Rally. Throughout the late 1970s,
the TR7 Sprint and TR7 V prototypes were British Leylands frontline
works rally cars. Although never a catalogued model (why remains a
mystery) the former made use of the Dolomite Sprint 16-valve engine,
which in full works trim delivered around 220bhp.
The TR7's competitiveness was greatly enhanced by the adoption of the
3.5-litre Rover V engine, which was first used on the 197 Welsh Rally.
With around 300bhp available - more with the 19 0 versions quartet
of Webers - the TR7 V was arguably the fastest rally car of its era in a
straight line.
Driving various incarnations of the TR7, American driver John Buffum
won the SCCA ProRally Championship from 1977 to 19 0, while in
Europe its most successful exponent was Englishman Tony Pond. In
197 Pond won the Granite City, Ypres, and Manx 0nternational rallies,
and finished 4th in the RAC, and in 19 0 he emerged victorious at the
Manx Stages, Manx International, and Ypres events. British Leyland
closed its works rallying programme at the end of 19 0, the TR7 V s last
official outing being at that years RAC Rally.Purchased by Philip Young at an auction in 2013, this TR7 V had been
built in the 2000s as an evocation of Ponds 19 0 Ypres-winning car at a
cost of £110,000. 'EAT 400T' had previously competed in the 2010 Historic
Ypres event, and in Philip Young's hands competed in the 2014 Roger Albert
Clarke Memorial Rally (car number 21). The four-Weber engine was over-
revved on that event but has since been fully rebuilt by Rover V specialist
John Eales and re-installed. However, prospective purchasers are advised
that the car has only been loosely assembled for sale and is not in driveable
condition (see documentation on file). Noteworthy features include Group
4 Ford Escort suspension, brakes, hubs, and wheels - these being just
about the only departures from original specification - and the rare heated
front windscreen. The car comes with removed parts (boxed) and a spare
gearbox that needs rebuilding, this being an ultra-rare and very special LT77
with a works-type, straight-cut, close-ratio gear set.
£20,000 - 30,000
€23,000 - 35,000End of Collection133
1979 TRIUMPH TR7 V8 RALLY CAR
Registration no. EAT 400T
Chassis no. ACG2 3 1- No-expense-spared evocation of Tony Pond's
1980 Ypres winner - Last used on the 2014 Roger Albert Clarke
Memorial Rally - Engine not run since recent specialist rebuild
• Requires re-assembly and re-commissioning