Triumph TR7 : The Untold Story - David Knowles

[john 215]

Hi,
Just got another email from Amazon, book release delayed till 28/12 to 12/01/08 [:(] at this rate will be the same as the US Amazon!!
I think i may cancell and see if i can get it via TRDC,dont mind paying a bit more as helps the club.
Cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC Soon to be a 4.6 fire breather!!

[John Clancy]

I communicated with the author a week or so ago and he'd just finished with what he hoped were the final proofs. Assuming that is the case he hopes to be published in January.

I'm going to see if I can get permission to send you all the pdf of the dust jacket. Watch this space.

[john 215]

Hi,
Just got a update from Amazon regarding this book,expected delivery now 11th to 26th of Feb
Cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC Soon to be a 4.6 fire breather!!

[tr7inc]

Hi John, im gonna wait for the signed ones, will they be more expensive then John?

Steve

[John Clancy]

I'm still working on this one but I imagine they'll be list price otherwise the club won't make anything at all out of it... watch this space.

[Urchin]

David Knowles wrote a great history of the MG marque, and in one chapter, spent a lot of time on development of the TR-7, particularly efforts to cobble together a "badge-engineered" MG version for the US market.

Something had to replace the MGB; it simply wasn't going to meet EPA regulations on its 1800 engine. The MG name had a great following in the US and the dealer network wanted something to sell. Prototypes were developed and the photos are in his MG book - pretty ugly stuff.

He's a thorough author so it should be a good book, whenever it comes out.

Jeff

Jeffrey Aronson
P.O. Box 90
Vinalhaven, ME 04863
USA
'80 TR-7 Spider
'66 Land Rover Series II-A [2]
'66 Corvair Monza

[Odd]

Urchin,
You need to watch John Clancys interview with Harris Mann...

Those wedge-MG Magna shots are all just whims by the studio crew
-if I remember the interview correctly...

[FI Spyder]

Not whims really. In Harris's words, (Paraphrased) an unbadged car looks unfinished so they put on what they had. They had done some work for MG but not Triumph so they put on MG on the front and Magna or Magnette what ever it was on the back because that's what they had in the "badge box."

The MG contest entry was mid engined with hydrolastic suspension, expensive to make and not what BL or their N/A dealers wanted or thought would sell. It looked somewhat like a Saab Sonnet II without the exposed headlights.

I was taking to a few MG guys at a car show a few years back and they were convinced that the TR7 was a MG design that was made into a Triumph because the upper management was filled with Triumph executives. Surprising rumors that were circulated for over 25 years even with the advent of the internet were the real story filtered through.


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

[Rich in Vancouver]

I am inclined to think that BL considered various options for badge-engineering. They were stuck with a stable of outdated designs and a dealer network that was desperate for new product to sell. Don't forget that the Mini was badged as Rileys, Wolseleys, Austins and Morrises. As it was MG ended up with badge-engineered versions of the MG Metro and the Montego (was that a Triumph Acclaim?)
I have been tempted to do some badge engineering of my own and make up a set of "MG Magna" Badges for my 7 to ruffle both MG and Triumph feathers at car shows. I just have to paint up some magnetic sign material to match my car and letter that.[:D]

Cheers,
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[tr7jim]

John,

Its a shame the book going be so late. We could have invited David Knowles onto the TR Drivers Stand at Stoneleigh to sell Signed copies.

That would have caused some interest

Jim Johnson

[John Clancy]

We may just have the signed copies ready for Stoneleigh - I hadn't thought of that. However, we're going to try to get Mr. Mann to sign the foreword too so that will undoubtedly cause a bit of a delay. Whatever, I'll wait because if it comes off it will be something really special.

David Knowles is a really nice chap. It was because of him we were able to film the Lynx and Broadside prototypes out in the open at the Heritage Motor Museum. Also, Jim and I had good fun whipping the roof down on the silver Broadside which clearly hadn't been done for years. Well, they said we could do whatever we liked with them!

[FI Spyder]

now if you changed the headlight design similar to what Toyota had done in the past and sweep back the swage line just behind the front wheel you would have a car that looks like the model presented to Lord Stokes. Now that would be a car that would be talked about in Triumph and MG circles.

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

[Rich in Vancouver]

Interesting, I'm all for shaking things up a bit but I don't think that I would want to permanently b**tardise my car just to raise a few eyebrows.
Will you be coming over for the All British Field Meet in May?
I have entered both my MG Magnette (More badge engineering!)and my TR7. At the moment I am not to happy with the 7 as I blew out my right knee while trying to push it off a busy street after the fuel pump failed. It hasn't been a good weekend![:(]

Cheers,
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Any photos of said car?

[FI Spyder]

Rich I am considering coming over. Depends on whether I get to waxoiling my sills before or if the weather promises to be sunny (it is usually pretty iffy weather wise).

I have to replace my mechanical fuel pump on my Tercel every three years or so.

The pictures are in the Project Bullit DVD.

Can we legally link to pictures on another website if we aren't locked out?

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