The shape of things frozen in time

Harris Mann’s famous wedge design is the Triumph TR-7’s blessing and curse – a curse in that it was very polarizing when the car was new, a blessing in that the radical shape has aged pretty well – and began to look even better when many cars turned into blobby amoebas in the 1990s.

Some people still hate that radical shape, but it’s worth noting that some very successful vehicles later refined the basics of this look – particularly the A60 series Toyota Celica. The TR-7 has forever remained associated with the 1970s, but it would have looked perfectly at home in showrooms if the Rover Group had seen fit to continue building it into the late eighties (as Bertone did with the X1/9).

It didn’t, of course.

When it was new in 1975, the TR-7 was launched with a big PR campaign called “The shape of things to come.” Dealers in the United States, in those early months, couldn’t keep the cars in stock, the shape was so intriguing to the public. That warm reception turned cold after those early cars kept coming in for service to remedy various quality ills. Even if it wasn’t well made (it got better in later years), the car was still good to drive (if not as fast as the looks might suggest), and did well in SCCA competition.*

After the first year on the market, British Leyland created the “Victory Edition” which added distinctive tape stripes, a black vinyl top, and racing inspired “Spoker” wheels designed to look like racing wheels. The V.E. was primarily available in Yellow, White, and Red, though a few other colors, including green, have been documented. The first Victory Edition I ever saw was a sad looking blue example (with white stripes) in the early 1990s.

The “Victory Edition” TR-7 lasted for only a year before being retired, and as early TR-7s were especially prone to quality and rust issues, there aren’t many left. In a parts yard since the 1990s, this car won’t be returning to the road but probably will yield some very useful spares.

Speaking of spares, thanks to Ben Jacob at British Auto Salvage for the photo op.

*Just how well is a matter of debate. The most famous TR-7 racing wins came some time after the Victory Edition was out of production, but the Victory Edition advertising claimed recent victories at Lime Rock, Nelson Ledges, Pocono, and other events.