GRINNALL

[Chris Turner]

John, I think Phil has the actual build records from Grinnall.
I notice the car started in the 80s, will now be finished by its owner 20-30 years later, is this really a Grinnall.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
The C+C Conversions rally car
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

[birminghamtr7]

now then where are those two shells [:D]
grinnals yard


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4AD ... CA8Q_AUoAg


if you factor in the earth's rotation, we are all speeding

[john 215]

Hi,

Make some intresting reading those build sheets, be intresting to work out FHC number out of total built.

Always liked the ' rounded ' style conversions





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 !!!!

[John Wood]

OK, see I started the debate I may as well continue with what has happened. Last week I purchased a TR7 V8 (TR8) Grinnall which is badged as a TR8 (it was converted in 1986). My questions are, 1. "Is it just a V8 conversion that was done by Grinnall? or 2. "Is it a Grinnall (TR8) TR7 V8"?

My reason for the questions are the points below.

It has no bodywork modifications other than a typical 80s small rubber spoiler on the bootlid. Mechanical wise it has a V8 with genuine TR8 air boxes on the carbs etc. It's got a powered rack off an SD1, Capri 2.8 brakes and slightly uprated springs and shocks.

All what has been done could have been done by anyone with the parts off the shelf available at the time. So "My" conclusion is, it's not so special and the fact it was built by Grinnall is a bit of a "so what". Therefore it is not worth getting all hysterical about it been a special car. It certainly isn't worth anymore than an equivalent conversion and it certainly isn't a TR8.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[Wayne S]

Yeah its a V8 conversion done by Grinnall. It's not going to be recognisable as one of Grinnals alternative customised "visions" of how a TR7 V8 could look but its still part of the history of the development of the Grinnall derivative that shows how he built up from basic understated conversions to almost totally different "new" cars. All an important part of the Grinnall story. Not to mention a V8 conversion that has credibility from being done by a professional engineer as an S&S / Robsport one would also have. Not just a homebrewed conversion by someone with limited budget and unknown skill.

Sure, its not a factory TR8, but still an awesome car with some pedigree that you should be wholly proud to own!

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

[Steve-LPS-Thomas]

Ahh so you bought it.. looked like a bargain, I so nearly bid in the dying seconds but I thought the wife would kill me! When I told her how close I came to buying another, she said "Do what you like, I don't care what you do!" Want to sell???

steve

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<b><font color="blue">http://www.croyde-bay.com/triumph.htm</font id="blue"></b>

<b><font color="blue">croydebay@aol.com</b></font id="blue">

[REPLIC8]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by croydebay</i>
When I told her how close I came to buying another, she said "Do what you like, I don't care what you do!"


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That's because you didn't buy it! [:D][:D]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8
[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/175-1.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/pics005.jpg[/img][/img]

[rosey]

I got my Grinnall from Wayne S around 2 years ago, I have spent the 2 years renovating the drivers side of the car completely. It's suffered from the usual TR7 rust spots plus the maladies inflicted by polyester filler administered by Grinnall stylists for its flared rear arches and sills.
I knew what I was taking on and got it for a fair price, Wayne had used it as a daily car and it showed in the bodywork which was poor in a few places.
The reason I took this restoration on was down to a few reasons;

1. I like things that are 'different' especially cars that need extra effort to make them look good again.
2. I really liked the styling of this car, especially the wide sills and rear end
3. This car has a unique rear end with a flattened bumper line and SD1 rear lights, it is rare in that it still retains it's original 2.0 Litre engine (tuned of course)

I think that Grinnall offered something a bit different with these cars and I would like to own a later 'rounded' type at some point.

I also have a standard drophead and fixed head. I like them all for different reasons, not least because they all need love and attention from me[:I][:D]

Dave


"Do or Do not, there is no try" - Yoda

1981 Purple Grinnal 2.0L
1980 TR7 Persian Aqua Drophead.
1977 TR7 FHC Tahiti Blue

[John Wood]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by croydebay</i>

Ahh so you bought it.. looked like a bargain, I so nearly bid in the dying seconds but I thought the wife would kill me! When I told her how close I came to buying another, she said "Do what you like, I don't care what you do!" Want to sell???

steve

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<b><font color="blue">http://www.croyde-bay.com/triumph.htm</font id="blue"></b>

<b><font color="blue">croydebay@aol.com</b></font id="blue">


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I did Steve. It's pretty scabby in all the usual places but other than the power steering leaking it is very good mechanically. One thing for sure is though, it goes like stink and sounds absolutely amazing. Just need to accumulate some panels and sections hence my request in the parts section.

My wife was Ok about this one as I booked for us to go to Lake Garda in September (driving in the Sprint with our friends in their XJS and coming back via the Stelvio Pass) as a sweetner. What she doesn't know though is I've aquired a pageant blue fixed head Canley car this week as well fitted with a Sprint engine and a Spare Sprint engine with it. I don't know what to do with that one yet.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[Roy Hankins]

You must know how to treat a lady or you're very thick skinned John.

You're on a bit of a roll here, all these projects to do.
I hope you finish the 75 coupe before you start on the others though.

I like the sound of the Canley car in Pageant Blue which looks
great on the FHC TR7.

Roy

[John Wood]

Don't worry Roy, that is my priority and it will be on Chris Turners rotisserie very soon. He is kindly lending it to me for a couple of months. The shell is stripped and on the floor at work with just a small wing repair and the near side sill to be fitted.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[Sal]

I think it's fair to say that the quality of the conversions was 'variable' but certainly after a time the quality is very good: drive a later Grinnall and they feel very 'factory' and I think he aspired to producing something like a low volume manufacturer as he has now achieved.

For me the cars are special as he kept the TR7 flame alight when quite frankly everyone hated the TR7 in the 1980s, and he showed how fantastic a v8 TR7 can be. I always remember going to a party in the 1980s when I was about 16 and seeing a newly built Grinnall outside and all us mid teenagers could do was stare. Rumors had it that it was "as fast as a Cosworth Sierra but cost a fraction of the Cossie" and was a "real mans car". A modern Cobra. Maybe this is why it has a special glow. The TR7 was always a 'Marmite' car - you either love it or hate it and the Grinnall is the 'Marmite' TR7: the purists hate it (lets be honest), but if you want one then you 'get it'!?!

Just my opinion - hope I have not upset anyone with this!

[FI Spyder]

Grinnall is part of the history of the TR7 and as such are more collectible than most TR7's except for perhaps an original TR7 which is one of the rarest of cars. Even my Spider isn't original as it has a gear reduction starter (although I still have the original working starter, another story), different seat material and uprated aluminum reinforced door cards which except for the replaceable window weather strips are indistinguishable from originals. Even at that it will be more original than any TR7 it will see at any car show (although I know some exist) other than some very dilapidated barn find that has been put on the road. Once you you start modifying, restoring etc. it becomes less collectible although perhaps more enjoyable, driveable, worth more, etc. Depends what you want.



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