Don't Dismiss the DHC.

[REPLIC8]

Hi all, havn't been posting much recently due to ill health but I have been reading the threads to keep me occupied. I've noticed a lot of enthusiasm for the early 4 speed FHC's among the members.
This is in some ways a good thing as we all know that for many years these early Speke cars were regarded as poorly built rubbish by many people and only the late DHC cars were worthy of ownership.
However I think we're in danger of shooting ourselves in foot and turning full circle with people starting to think that only the early cars are worth having and every rusty 4 speed car must be preserved at all costs. No one seems to give a toss how many knackered late cars are srapped on Ebay for a few quid.
There was a comment in a thread this week asking an owner of a 4 speed FHC not to do his V8 conversion and do it to a DHC instead! These decent late cars are getting as rare as the early ones now so we should be preserving all model types. My TR8 is a conversion but it's still worth saving along with rest as there aren't really many left in total. I've been looking for an immaculate Canley/ Sollihull FHC TR7 for a long time and I think they're even harder to find than proper TR8's
Doing things like having an NEC stand with only speke cars isn't going to help promote our cars to wider public, all it will do is reduce the values of the rest of the models. We all have our favourite models, I'm no exception, but focusing too much on particular varients above all others is in my opinion the wrong way to go.
This is not a personal poke at any one in particular, just a general thought. We're all enthuiastic about our cars, but we musn't accidently devalue them ourselves.[:)]

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]

[John Wood]

All cars have their merits and should all be cherished equally. It is down to personal preference, but any owner should be able to do what they wish to their car.



1977 TR7 Sprint

[FI Spyder]

That is true however bare in mind the rarest car is a stock car. It's a fact that the most valuable car is a car that is the same one that rolled off the factory floor, just check any of the cars sold at Barett-Jackson (a numbers matching car). Our cars aren't in that category but the same rules apply. The hot rod scene has always been with us and is a billion dollar industry but it's only for the individual concerned that it exists.



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

[j.johnson23]

Got to admit that I was persuaded to buy a DHC.
Still hanker after a nice FHC though,just think it has the edge in looks when done properly and of course its a lot more rigid in its structure(corrosion ignored of course).
And as for the Group 44 cars,no one could call those ugly,could they?

[gaz]

I dont think the fhc is any worse rust wise than the dhc it all depends how there looked after
my dhc was a in a poor state prior to me getting my hands on it and my fhc well bootifal unrestored never welded it does need some body work but where its important its solid only rot is in the door botlid and bonnet.....

I have to agree though all marques need praise

http://mytr7.weebly.com/

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car
1976 FHC 2.0 Litre

[Chris Turner]

Andy, after many years of being told by experts that the later cars are better built and more reliable than Speke built ones, it is nice to see the early cars getting a bit of recognition. I personally have no preference I must admit that my favourite spec is 5 speed with a sunroof, not bothered which factory it was built in.
The NEC stand is chosen from the cars we are offered, usually on a first come first served basis, we try to cover all the models.

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

[Roy Hankins]

Andy,it's great that the early cars are at last getting some attention, but this most definitely does not mean the Canley and Solihull cars are no longer of any interest. The last of the Solihull FHC are great looking cars and as you say very rare in top original condition. At the end of the day we all love the TR7 and TR8, and it doesn't matter if it's a FHC,drophead,V8 conversion or a standard car. For me it's the early FHC that floats my boat, but I still think your drophead is a stunning V8 and a real credit to you.
Roy

[birdseye]

Very well put Roy. [:)]
Mx
[:)][:)][:)][:)]

[john 215]

Hi,

Couldnt have put it better Roy if i tried, I have as you know a very modified DHC and a almost completely standard FHC and enjoy them both the same. As for your car Andy, its more original than a lot of original TR8's i have seen and a credit too you.

One thing as a sideline, i noticed up the NEC that a North American spec SD1 appears to have the same or very very similar cast iron manifolds to standard TR8, i know you were after one. Was talking to the owner and he brought back loads of spares from the states, he may be able to help [?] He can be found over here, he may be able to send you some pictures etc to confirm or not

http://www.roversd1club.net/forum/default.asp

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 !!!!

[Neil_W]

<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 Chris Turner</i>

Andy, after many years of being told by experts that the later cars are better built and more reliable than Speke built ones, it is nice to see the early cars getting a bit of recognition. I personally have no preference I must admit that my favourite spec is 5 speed with a sunroof, not bothered which factory it was built in.....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

All I think depends on what you want out of a car but agree with Chris about the Fixed Head with a Sun roof.
After a few years with my DHC I am toying with the idea of selling it & looking for a FHC with a sun roof but finding a good late one has not come up yet, which proves the point of some of the other posts. If not it's Triumph 2500s & I can get a full length sun roof fitted.
Reason getting older - when it rains it is a stop at the side of the road, think I would use it more on showery days & in the winter due to my job being away every other summer.
To me a soft top car should always be driven with the hood down which is not practical in the UK.

I have no regrets when seeing any DHC TR7 being broken for parts as it is the owners car, if you want to buy it & save it you can, finally money doesn't grow on trees to save all the lame ducks.

Anyway lets keep promoting the TR7 as we all aiming for the same thing [:)]

[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 john 215</i>

Hi,

Couldnt have put it better Roy if i tried, I have as you know a very modified DHC and a almost completely standard FHC and enjoy them both the same. As for your car Andy, its more original than a lot of original TR8's i have seen and a credit too you.

One thing as a sideline, i noticed up the NEC that a North American spec SD1 appears to have the same or very very similar cast iron manifolds to standard TR8, i know you were after one. Was talking to the owner and he brought back loads of spares from the states, he may be able to help [?] He can be found over here, he may be able to send you some pictures etc to confirm or not

http://www.roversd1club.net/forum/default.asp
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for that John, I have however located a pair of original manifolds. They're currently at an engineering shop having new studs fitted, blanks put in the EGR valve holes & then bead blasted. Should pick them up this week sometime.[:)]

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]

[John Clancy]

The point of my post was that there are very few 4 speed cars left. By contrast there are many more dropheads and general 5 speed cars. I do think it's a shame that a rare car is going to be converted into a supercar but so what? It's up to the owner and I just passed my opinion. Sorry it upset you. I won't state my opinion in future but I'll try not to let if affect all the effort I've put in to turning the TR7s reputation around. I've actually had some success with that in recent years and I do have communications from all over the world from people dragging cars out of scrap yards and hedges to have them restored and preserved. A few of them have turned out to be early four speed cars and my advice to these people has been to keep it as is.

<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphdvd.co.uk"]Triumph TR7 and other car documentaries on DVD here[/url]</b></center>

[silverseven]

<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 John Clancy</i>

The point of my post was that there are very few 4 speed cars left. It's up to the owner and I just passed my opinion. Sorry it upset you. I won't state my opinion in future....

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">


John you have more supporters than you think, your point was well spoken and the real crime would be if you stopped passing your opinion on the site.

I see nothing wrong with this thread either, and no different than what conversations you would have at a meet or show, everybody has opinions on the resto/modification issue and we should all accept the opinion of others. The most important issue is preservation of the marque and this is what individual make and model websites like ours do best !!!

Ron.

[Neil_W]

<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 John Clancy</i>

The point of my post was that there are very few 4 speed cars left. By contrast there are many more dropheads and general 5 speed cars. I do think it's a shame that a rare car is going to be converted into a supercar but so what? It's up to the owner and I just passed my opinion. <font color="red"><b>Sorry it upset you. I won't state my opinion in future but I'll try not to let if affect all the effort </b> </font id="red"> I've put in to turning the TR7s reputation around. I've actually had some success with that in recent years and I do have communications from all over the world from people dragging cars out of scrap yards and hedges to have them restored and preserved. A few of them have turned out to be early four speed cars and my advice to these people has been to keep it as is.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

John - please keep your advise & thoughts coming.
The great thing about this forum is the wide & varied discussions regarding the TR7 / 8.
Your opinion is as valid as anyones else & upsetting people is the last thing anyone, especially you, would have set out to do. Personally I can't see where you did this.

Actually I see nothing, but a good discussion going on & it is very healthy.

Believe you me there are forum's out there, where the contributors could hardly string a sentence together never mind a inteligent discussion so we are luckly on here.( it has a Griffin in the badge )

I tell you this - this forum, because of people like you is more lively than the a certain one I could mention near Didcot on wet bank holiday weekend.
Opps thats upset someone now [:0]

[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 John Clancy</i>

The point of my post was that there are very few 4 speed cars left. By contrast there are many more dropheads and general 5 speed cars. I do think it's a shame that a rare car is going to be converted into a supercar but so what? It's up to the owner and I just passed my opinion. Sorry it upset you. I won't state my opinion in future but I'll try not to let if affect all the effort I've put in to turning the TR7s reputation around. I've actually had some success with that in recent years and I do have communications from all over the world from people dragging cars out of scrap yards and hedges to have them restored and preserved. A few of them have turned out to be early four speed cars and my advice to these people has been to keep it as is.

<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphdvd.co.uk"]Triumph TR7 and other car documentaries on DVD here[/url]</b></center>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

John,
I did say this wasn't a personal poke at anyone in particular, although it did pick up on a comment you made, it was a general note that a lot more people are putting the early cars on a pedistall than before.
You are as entitled to your opinion as anybody else and I certainly wouldn't want you stop posting them. We're all enthusiastic about our favourite models etc, which helps keep a healthy mix of our cars alive. This was the main point of the subject. Certainly don't mean to offend or upset people with anything I post on here. I consider us to all be likeminded friends. [:)]

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]