Car Model: TR7

Manufacture Date: June 1979

Commission #: TCT1103094CF

Date Acquired: June 1992

Condition Status: Driver

Owner Comments: When I returned home in '72, after spending three and a half years in England, the last car I ever expected to own was a Triumph. In June of 1992, my brother-in-law had to relocate from New Jersey to Michigan. He had this little white 1979 TR7 for several years, during which time it was in various stages of disassembly. When he originally took possession of the car, it had already been abandoned for over six years in a garage. The story was if the car goes out it always comes back on the hook. I offered him the $800 he had spent on parts and towed the car 110 miles home. After four months of labor, I found every nut, bolt,distributor, water pump, etc. was frozen solid. If something could leak, it did leak. I have worked on several different types of cars, but only the TR7 guarantees the removal of hand flesh if you dare to work in its engine compartment. However, "Resistance is Futile". The day finally came for the first test-drive. My wife and I took a ride to the beach and made it home without a tow. After a while the car showed us a few 'idiosyncrasies' so we named him Casper (naturally - after the friendly ghost). The car still requires considerable work and it can be a challenge keeping it road worthy, but the experience has been rewarding. A couple of years ago, I felt confident enough to make a cross-country run of 4,800 miles. People can make fun of Triumph reliability, but this car went through extreme temperature changes, severe wind, rain and a torrential downpour from a super cell. It kept me dry, warm and I returned safely home with enough stories for five club newsletter articles. It's quite a car.

Owner Information: