1979 Triumph TR7 V8 Rally Car

Footnotes

Introduced 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 V8-engined TR8 finally arrived in 1980, some two years behind schedule. Prior to the production version's launch, the works rally team's special TR7 V8 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 V8 prototypes were British Leyland's 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 V8 engine, which was first used on the 1978 Welsh Rally. With around 300bhp available - more with the 1980 version's quartet of Webers - the TR7 V8 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 1980, while in Europe its most successful exponent was Englishman Tony Pond. In 1978 Pond won the Granite City, Ypres, and Manx International rallies, and finished 4th in the RAC, and in 1980 he emerged victorious at the Manx Stages, Manx International, and Ypres events. British Leyland closed its works rallying programme at the end of 1980, the TR7 V8's last official outing being at that year's RAC Rally.

Purchased by Philip Young at an auction in 2013, this TR7 V8 had been built in the 2000s as an evocation of Pond's 1980 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 V8 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.