TR CLUBS: WE’LL MAKE TR7 PARTS OURSELVES
Clubs respond to the discontinuation of Triumph TR7 panels by commissioning their own – but they need your help
Triumph enthusiasts with collections of TR7 spares are being urged to come forward and check their stock after the TR Drivers’ Club revealed that it is going to make body parts itself.
Triumph clubs decided to take matters into their own hands after British Motor Heritage decided to cut off supplies ( CCW, 18 July). Club official, John Clancy, said that that work has begun to ensure the model’s continued survival, but added that in order to produce a complete set of spares, a new-oldstock nose/ headlamp panel needs to be found.
He said: ‘Accident damage is going to be a concern for any Wedge driver now as that is when we need complete panels.
‘The people whom I have spoken to can produce new panels using existing parts to produce patterns. From those patterns wooden bucks would be produced and then the steel would be panel-beaten into shape.’ After consulting with fellow TR experts, the club believes that the spares supply can be sustatined but is struggling with nose and headlamp panels. Inner sill tooling, which is crucial for rust repairs when restoring a TR7, has survived. Aftermarket press tools for both coupé and convertible rear wings exist and are in the hands of Triumph restorers, too.
John added: ‘Robsport has one of every panel (new panels, not second hand) but because the headlamp panel press tool was damaged and awaiting repair for years they’ve run out of nose/ headlamp panels. Robsport also has tooling for the inner sills, which is probably the most important single part of the car.
‘Several people have told me that Triumph’s tooling was cheaply produced and had a limited shelf life; after finding out that Robsport’s TR7 headlamp panel press tool got damaged, I thought there might be something in that assertion.’
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ communications director, Geoff Lancaster, said: ‘Like engineering drawings and safety critical parts, a steady supply of body panels remains essential for preservation of marques and models. It seems churlish not to have given the various TR7 clubs a say before discontinuing the supply of panels.’
TR Register TR7 archivist, Christopher Smith, added: ‘The tooling for quality wings alone will probably be in the region of £30-50k per side. The TR Register doesn’t have that kind of money and the market is too small to support it, but we wish the TR Drivers’ Club’s pattern-making venture well.’ trdrivers.com
‘Several people have told me that Triumph’s tooling was cheaply produced and had a limited shelf life’ JOHN CLANCY, CLUB OFFICIAL