GRINNALL

[John Wood]

What's on the V5?, Triumph or Grinnall?

KDU483N
SJW550S

[Chris Turner]

John, on the Grinnall that I owned about 5 years ago it was Triumph on the V5.This car was confirmed as being on the official Grinnall list so Im sure all the converted cars would be the same. Im not sure about the very late cars some of which were built from new shells.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
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[Wayne S]

My understanding is the late rounded style cars had Grinnall on the V5 as they also had a Grinnall VIN plate not a BL one because of course they were built from new shells. Conversions on customer cars usually have Triumph on the V5 and a BL VIN plate.

<b>Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)</b>

[John Wood]

I thought so. Will someone then please explain to me why they are always advertised as something so special?

After all they are just converted TR7s. Surely an S&S converted car is just the same?

KDU483N
SJW550S

[gaz]

Ooooooo.....

Looks like John might have opend a can of worms.....

all said and done your kinda right though
but S&S are still and working on TR7s and from what i hear mark g turned his back on them years ago yet he still stands on a pedastal



http://mytr7.weebly.com/

[Chris Turner]

I think Grinnall is treated differently because he was the first to modify the cars on a large scale. Im not convinced that all the conversions are "Special".

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
TR7 Premium
TR7 Sprint
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[john]

Yeh i would agree with that i think he holds a place in history of the TR7 as he continue to evolve the Car after Triumph stopped building it

Also as Chris says no other company has carried out so many conversions in such a short period and made them quite so distinctive.

His reputation at the time and since has made the car folklore in some respects.

S+S however like to keep the car close to an original 8 and certanly have a well respected name throughout the TR7 community infact without the likes of them and Robsport perhaps the TR7 movement wouildn't be as strong as it is.

They are truly the legends

As Grinnal are now no longer interested in his creations.

Special is ways that they obviously handled much better than the standard TR8 better brakes, stregthening and power output as they continued conversions into the 90's


Most Tr7's will turn heads now but a well carried out Grinnall conversion will have kids drooling in the streets as they have a much meaner stance [:D]

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[gaz]

don't get me wrong i do like the grinnals and think of them as part of the tr7 marque worthy of enjoying but.........
from the stories i've heard he shouldn't be worshiped
and youv'e gotta luv waynes arches [;)] especialy when your driving behind him trying your best to keep up.



http://mytr7.weebly.com/

[john]

didnt know he was worshipped just respected like anyones who has enhanced the cars reputation

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[gaz]

Yeh mabe worshipped was the wrong word



http://mytr7.weebly.com/

[Grinnallnut]

Hi Everyone,

Interesting chat going on here, as the Registrar of course I see Grinnall's as the forefront of TR design, S&S connversions are excellent cars with great standards of workmanship and I'd happily own one.

I don't believe Mark sees himself on a pedestal and what you need to consider is that Grinnall not only converted, but depending on what you paid for modified the design of the the car with enhanced suspension, steering, brakes, body styling, several cars are up to 6" wider in the track and the body shape developed over the years to his rounded style conversion which according Harris Mann, is very like the TR9 concept BL had on paper, he showed me the blueprints, by the way he and Mark never met, so it can be argued that this is where the design would have gone if TR was continued.

Mark's interest is still there albeit at the back of the mind, he still has two rounded style bodies and is currently building one and is thinking of what engine to put in it, so you might see a new Grinnall in the future, I certainly know of one rounded style started in the 80's which should be completed by the owner this year so this will claim the last Grinnall TR for now.

As to the VIN plate, it is true some later cars have a Grinnall VIN plate with the original BL removed, it still carries the BL VIN number and paint coding etc., my rounded style has this but the V5 still states Triumph as the make, I guess this could be changed but my experience of this sort of change with DVLA is tiedious to say the least, however now Grinnall exists as a manufacturer, it may be easier to do, I would be interested if anyone has a Grinnall V5 document?

I hope this answers your thoughts and I always welcome more comments or info, certainly any conversion enhances the TR7/8, it was a much maligned car and my experience says its a great car whether it be standard or upgraded.

[Chris Turner]

Phil, I think that the new Grinnalls, ie the Scorpion are Grinnalls as they are built from his own chassis. The Grinnall converted TR7s will always be Triumphs as the base shell was built by BL.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
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TR7 Sprint
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[John Wood]

[i]<b>"developed over the years to his rounded style conversion which according Harris Mann, is very like the TR9 concept BL had on paper"</b>[/]

BL, Harris Mann, TR9 in the same quote? Can't say I've heard that one before.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[FI Spyder]

He said in his Bullet interview that after the initial mock up was handed over to BL he never had anything to do with the TR7 (including the convertible or the headlight details). I said he doodled a little as to were he thought it might go but that was on his own time.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[john 215]

Hi Phil,

Intresting to hear Mark still has a couple of shells, even more so that he is actually building one or at least thinking about it. I was always led to believe that he had no intrest in his previous work on the TR7's.

Does he have any build records of the cars that he built ?

Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC Beauty

1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!