Yeah, I know I'm nuts...
We bought a new '79 FHC TR7 last weekend. That's right, new.
Our Nissan died a week ago and I needed transportation. I was saving up for
a XJ6 until I ran into Darrell Floyd at the TRF Summer Party. The Floyds
bought a "new" TR7 DHC from Bishop Motors in Barberton, Ohio right off the
showroom floor. Darrell mentioned that there was a FHC still available, and
that I could be bought for a resonable cost. Ha! An every day driver that
would be a TR, resonable gas mileage, cheap to buy, and not take up much
garage space. Alice and I drove to look at the car.
Well, resonable cost went out the door as soon as the sales staff figured
out that:
a. Alice liked the car and said so openly
b. We drove 200 miles to look at it and had to drive back that night
c. We knew a lot about the car and knew we could fix the problems
without a vist to any shop.
So our barganing position went out the door. Needless to say we probably
paid more for it than if we walked in of the street. Oh well, we now have
a new FHC sitting in our garage. It's Brooklands Green with A/C, automatic,
and the lovely green interior. The front rims are warped, A/C needs charging,
and there's no radio.
I'm going to make good videos of this car before I drive it so concourse
fanatics can see what it looked like when it came from the factory. Excuse
my language, but the finish is crap:
a. Carpet looks like it was made with used remants, the edges aren't
bound and it is several shades of green, a cross between celery
and pea soup. Pathetic!
b. Exterior paint is full of fish eyes, orange peel, and even runs!
c. decals look like they were painted on with a bad stencil.
d. Body panel allignment? Please don't make me laugh!
If this is the standard to which we are striving for then we are spending
much too much on restorations!
The plans are to correct the shimmy at speed, add a NOS Craig 8-Track player
(thank you Tom Tweed), change all fluids, fix all surface rust and make a
visit to Ziebart and a detail shop, charge the A/C, and start driving it
in September. I also think it's a good candidate for a Running Report for
Triumph World!
Bishop Motors still has more NOS British cars on the showroom floor including
a late MGB, mid-70's MGBGT (?), mid-70's XKE DHC and 2+2 FHC, and an Austin
Marina. Oh, there's a new X1/9 if anyone cares...
Yeah, it's slow, but at least it's a Triumph....
Bruce Clough
'54 TR2
'62 TR4
'79 TR7 FHC
'81 TR7 DHC
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