76 TR7 victory edtion

[brichmond]

does anybody have any information on this car? anything and everything?

[Urchin]

I don't have my copy of Michael Cook's book, Triumphs in America, handy but as I remember the Victory Edition was an effort to shift the slow moving TR-7 coupe. Emulating American sales efforts of that era, Leyland's US operation created a few option packages to attract buyers.

Triumph dealers had only leftover TR-6's, Spitfires and TR-7's to sell. As the 7 came only as a coupe then, and had few options to bolster dealer profits, the cars were harder to sell than in earlier years. Dealers claimed they made less money per car on he TR-7, so they needed some volume in order to keep up their own profitability. And the '76 cars looked just like the ones from '75. So British Leyland's US operations looked to the then-popular "option packages" as a way to move more cars. The ads for American cars would claim that you would "save" money by purchasing the package car rather than if you "purchased the options separately." Maybe, but it begged the question of whether you actually needed all the options.

The Victory Edition featured "go faster" stripes on the body [like a version of Nike swooshes], a vinyl roof, and different "spoker" wheels. Supposedly you were celebrating the Group 44 successes in SCCA racing, but of course, no racer would ever increase weight with options! Actually, the car was bone stock.

There's an advertising poster on sale on Ebay that has a photo and description of the car.

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

[brichmond]

thanks!! anybody know anything bout the powertrain? i know its 2.ol dual zenith carbs.. this one has a 5speed one in it..uum anybody got like specs for it?

[Urchin]

The engine is the same as every other TR-7 sold in the US: 2-liter, slant 4 cylinder, twin Stormberg carbs, overhead cam. The 5-speed transmission was a Rover unit that was a huge improvement over the Spitfire/Marina 4 speed that preceded it.

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

[Rblackadar]

I have a Victory Edition. Check my pics. The only differences between the VE and the regular cars is strictly ornamental. Spoker wheels, thick stripes down the side, emblem on the glovebox and vinyl top. That's it! Spoker wheels are harder to find because they were re-called. Under normal driving conditions they are fine. If you are a spirited driver forget it, they could develop cracks in the welds and that's really, really bad. I'm keeping the Spoker wheels because I'm in no way a racer.[:p]

[Rblackadar]

Also, I don't think it's a real Victory Edition. If it has a five speed, it's probably a later car with the add-on's put on later. Or someone converted it to a 5 speed. (which in that case in my opinion is not original either) The VE was mainly sold in the early half of 76' when only the 4 speeds were available(The cars sold in early 76' were obviously made in late 75' so there was no way it had a 5 speed) Then again it was built at Speke so who knows what the hell went on in that crazy factory. The 5 speeds arrived later that year. No matter what you hear about 4 speeds, they are not bad boxes as long as you take care of them and <b>don't beat on them</b>. They are easier and cheaper to overhaul and they are less than half the price of a 5 speed when buying them remanufactured. Get the commission number (VIN) and com back here to see if we can help you when your bad boy was built.[;)]

[brichmond]

it did come stock with a 4speed manual, it does have the vinal top and the logo on the glove box..so what u guys are saying is that its not any better than the other tr7's no performance gains or anything...?

[Rblackadar]

None whatsoever. Same car as the regular ones. It was just special decorative features to make them stand out more than the regular 7's. I hated the look of these things at first....silly looking vinyl roofs....Then, it grew on me and then I ended buying one....love it!!!! I even was patient and found a new Vinyl roof on Fleabay for $90 bucks and an original Victory edition stripe kit for $80 bucks on my upcoming resto.

[brichmond]

ok thanks guys!!! couple more questions.. whats the gas mialage on these ? and whats a good site to get parts? original and aftermarket

[Rblackadar]

Just check out the links icon on the homepage here for vendors. They can get up to 35 MPG if in tune and not driven like a mule.

[brichmond]

are there any us vendors?

[Rblackadar]

Yes, plenty.....again,look at the links page. We have Victoria British, Moss(they suck though as everything you need from them is not available), Team Triumph, etc.... And as always, do a Google search for what you need (Like TR7 parts). There you'll find a lot of small operations (mom and pops) that I tend to support more. Like BP Northwest, The Wedge Shop. You just got to look and research and get catalogs before you start tearing stuff up....It takes a little time but we are always here.

[brichmond]

u guys are great! thanks for the help!!