TR7 DHC development start?

[Graham.Fountain]

Does anybody have anything on when the convertible started its development? I have it in mind the design was Michelotti, the engineering Triumph, and the first 25 or so were built in 1978 at speke, presumably between the end of the big strike at the end of Feb and the closure in May.

Graham

[rugbyref1]

I own ACT 007 which was finished in April 1978 and ACT 109 which was finished in Feb 1979 (but started in April 1978)

[XSeries]

The glass for my dhc quarter lights was made by Triplex back in 1977
Brian

[John_C]

Development started in 1974. The styling design was the Harris Mann original but modified by John Lloyd and Tony Lee whereby they instructed one of their tinsmiths to cut off the roof. After lunch they decided it didn't look too bad and so a prototype coupe that had been finished with was driven down to Michelotti so he could do a more professional job on the modifications necessary to turn the back of the car into something flat so a soft top could be done in the tried and tested way. This is all detailed by Tony Lee and Norman Rose in 'Bullet Reloaded' and also written up in David Knowles tome 'TR7 The Untold Story'.

Michelotti's studios may not have had anything to do with the TR7 we all came to know, other than the limited involvement above, but they did do a mock-up for the later Broadside proposal. I don't suppose many of us would think the completed style was a step forward but I do think it would have grown on us over time. Norman Rose still has Polaroid instant colour photos of the car under construction which he snapped during one of his visits.

[sydney.wedgehead]

It would benefit the wedge community if Norman Rose's "Polaroid instant colour photos of the car under construction which he snapped during one of his visits" to Michelotti's studios were published in the public domain.

I'd be happy to tip in to the can to see this happen.

Owen

[John_C]

I'm pretty sure I published them in 'Bullet Reloaded' Owen. Being Polaroid's they're not brilliant quality.