Highlights

• One of the last TR7s to be registered 
• Only 55,383 miles and three former keepers from new
• In current ownership for 40 years

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• First registered in April 1982
• One of the last TR7s to be registered 
• V5c present recording Taxation Class as Historic Vehicle
• Solihull registration plate suggests it was supplied directly from the factory
• Original owner wallet, including service booklet, registration card and job sheet 
• Acquired by the current owner in January 1985 with 21,809 miles on the clock
• Being sold on behalf of the owner's family
• Recent mechanical invoices totalling £3,200
• Several historical MOTS which date back to 1992
• Owners notes of personal work carried in the late 1980s
• Placed in storage in 2011, mechanically recommissioned in 2022
• Last MOT expired in August 2023 but is MOT and Road Tax exempt
• Engine replaced with a 3.5L V8 about 10,000 miles ago

The Interior

• Neatly presented interior with no outstanding faults or damage
• Original tan half vinyl, half plaid cloth seats and matching door cards in very good condition
• Carpets and mats are in decent shape, with no signs of dampness
• Dashboard, facia and trim are free from significant cracks with minor signs of age in places
• Controls and switchgear are all said to function
• Dials all legible
• Steering wheel, gear lever and gaiter in presentable condition 
• Roof headlining is in good shape with no damage

The Exterior 

• The exterior will need further investigation but displays reasonably well
• The underside has a liberal coat of surface corrosion but the boot floor, chassis rails and floor pan appear to be solid
• The wheel wells, front subframes and suspension mounting points also appear to be good but will need further investigation
• Both sills, nose, door bottoms, headlamp covers, lower rear valance and rear arches show their age 
• A handful of minor dents were noted, mostly on the bonnet, nearside rear wing and boot 
• The passenger door needs a mild adjustment - some vibrations from it were heard during the drive
• The Pharaoh Gold paint finish is evenly matched with a reasonable lustre and mild age-related paint swirls
• Handful of marks and scuffs on the paintwork
• The panel fit is reasonably cohesive with acceptable shut lines
• Some damage was noted on the front air dam
• Its bumpers appear to be well mounted with some distortion and light scuffs
• The chrome and plastic trim is intact but the door trim shows signs of age 
• Seals are generally good, with mild wear noted on the driver-side door seal
• Glass is commensurate with the age of the car and no signs of lamination damage
• Lights and lenses are in good shape
• Headlamps rise and lower without issues
• The soft top rear screen is free of significant age or marks
• Soft top in very good condition, with a couple of minor repairs
• The hood raises and lowers with no issues
• Two hood covers and full-length tonneaux included. All are in good shape.
• Wheel trim covers intact, with a few marks 
• Tyres are likely to be over 20 years old, one has an advisory

The Mechanics 

• 3.5-litre V8 engine conversion with a 5-speed gearbox
• The engine fired up instantly
• No unwanted knocking or uneven running was heard as the engine was on tick-over
• A fan squeal was noted on the odd occasion
• A short test drive conducted by the owner around town demonstrated that the car accelerates and brakes smoothly 
• No issues flagged up with the engine temperature or oil pressure issues on the day
• Rear suspension mounts replaced with stiffer ones and it appears to ride at town speeds comfortably with no significant noises
• No axle whine or other loud mechanical noises heard
• The engine presentation was generally good, with decent hoses and ancillaries
• Kenlow fan installed
• The engine was rebuilt by its owner in the early 90s which includes:
  • New bearings and pistons
  • Mid-spec Kent cam. 
  • Mallory competition ignition 
  • Rebuilt twin SU’s
  • 3.08 crown wheel/pinion offering a more relaxed ride
  • Straight-through stainless steel exhausts
  • Brakes SD1 discs/ Vitesse calipers at the front with split circuit operation
• Original 2.0-litre engine included in sale if desired. Approx. 45,000 miles and though working well when replaced with v8 in early 1990's it has been storage since and so likely to require attention/rebuild. Pick up from SN6 postcode.
• Said to have been well maintained by its keeper, who is a former mechanical engineer
• It has seen £3,000 worth of mechanical maintenance over the past 3 years including:
  • New water pump and alternator 
  • brake servicing
  • carb adjustment
  • Replacement engine and gearbox oils and filters 
  • New brake pipes
  • New steering rack gators 
  • Fuel tank sender
  • Clutch master, bias and slave cylinders
  • New battery
• Custom-made fuel feed switch

Summary