1976 Triumph TR7

1976 Triumph TR7 Coupe  Introduced in 1975, Triumph's TR7 coupe represented a bold new styling direction for the British automaker, whose other coupe and convertible offerings were beginning to show their age.  With a distinctive and futuristic wedge shape, the TR7 put the company back into the spotlight, and accomplished its mission of drawing sports car buyers back into Triumph showrooms.  As described in this print ad from the TR7's first year on the market, the car's slippery shape knives through the air, forcing the front wheels down, for solid and uncannily precise handling.  The low drag shape had another benefit too: enhanced fuel economy, a major selling point to buyers with vivid memories of fuel shortages and drastic gas price increases.   For consignment, a 1976 Triumph TR7 coupe with an engine redux in 2021 and a repaint, the car has also been the recipient of service performed by Ragtops and Roadsters, one of the premiere British car shops in the country.  Exterior A prominent black bumper fronts the wedge which is painted British Racing Green, contrasted in the back as well by the rear bumper and along the rocker panel trimmed in black.  There's also a unique black trim piece on the rear pillar and the laurel wreath Triumph logo decal on the nose of the hood.  Hidden headlights help the car slice through wind while a pair of hood vents relieve the engine of some heat.  The back of the window and door gap share their angle with the steeply raked windshield which leads to a straight roof line that drops vertically at the rear window.  The lines repeat over a straight trunk lid and vertical tail, interrupted only by the luggage rack on top.  Twin tailpipes extend past the rear bumper and 13-inch wheels wear tires with a late 2020 date code.  The very British taillights are small and spread wide, flanking the recessed cove where the license plate lives with enough room for a European plate.  Imperfections include some bubbling in the paint, chipped paint on the door handle, and some orange peel paint.  Interior Green and black plaid patterned inserts highlight the door panels which feature small sized hardware to fit the car's diminutive scale.  The bucket seats share this pattern on the inserts, surrounded by black vinyl in shapely side bolsters and small head restraints.  The Triumph embossed steering wheel leads to a tidy black backed dash and gauge cluster behind plexiglass with simple gauges, while the center stack houses two more gauges and a variety of switches over the vent controls surrounding an AM/FM radio.  A leather booted stout shifter is in the center console and low pile black carpet covers the floor.  A light colored headliner is up top, loose in some spots but fully intact.  Overall, the interior is in great shape with no cracks or glaring marks on the seats, or plastic components.  Drivetrain Though the strut towers show some chipping paint, the engine itself is very clean and is a 1998cc SOHC inline 4 cylinder rated at 86 horsepower and fed fuel by the 2 Su carburetor setup.  A 4-speed manual transmission sets the green wedge in motion and sends power to the rear wheels where 3.67 gears are found.  Power brakes are onboard with discs in front and drums in the rear.  Undercarriage Patina in the form of surface rust is prominent underneath but we're not seeing invasive rust, sludge build up on the knuckle, nor much in the way of leaks.  The rear differential has residual oil on it but the underneath beyond that is mostly dry.  MacPherson struts are up front while semi-trailing arms and coil springs are in the back.  The single exhaust runs from headers to a single glasspack style muffler just before exiting through chrome tips.   Drive-Ability We're rarely disappointed by well sorted Triumphs and this one is consistent with that.  It's a spry little wedge that takes to the test loop with adequate acceleration, fantastic handling, and very goo